Taija Jackson is the Director of Business and Trades at Uintah Basin Technical College (UBTech) in Vernal, Utah. As a UBTech alumnus, her passion for career and technical education began when she was a welding student during her teen years. Taija holds a Master’s degree in Management and Leadership from Western Governor’s University and is currently pursuing her doctorate through Utah State University’s Caeer and Technical Education Ph.D. program. With 16 years of experience as a private industry business owner as well as nearly a decade of experience as a K-12 educator and postsecondary administrator, Taija draws on her diverse professional background and experiences to provide a unique perspective on career and technical education in today’s world.