In September, Advance CTE and ECMC Foundation announced the second cohort of The Postsecondary State Career Technical Education (CTE) Leaders Fellowship at Advance CTE—Sponsored by ECMC Foundation. The Advance CTE — ECMCF Fellows include representation across multiple demographic categories reflecting the Fellowship’s goal of intentionally building a postsecondary leadership pipeline for underserved populations in Career Technical Education (CTE) that closes racial representation gaps and removes equity barriers to postsecondary leadership advancement.
Over the next several weeks, this blog series will introduce each Fellow participating in the second cohort of emerging leaders from 14 states, including 12 professionals of color.
Dr. Angela Lawhorne – Virginia
Dr. Angela Lawhorne has more than 15 years of experience supporting career development grants for two-year institutions and serving in regional and state leadership roles for workforce programs. Her passion for workforce development began during her service in the United States Air Force, where she supported diet therapy training programs. Currently, she serves as Director of Career Education Programs & Workforce Partnerships at the Virginia Community College System Office, adjunct Assistant Professor with Old Dominion University and Chair of the Southampton County Public Schools CTE Advisory Committee. Dr. Lawhorne holds an executive master’s degree in Business Administration from Texas A&M University and a doctorate in Community College Leadership from Old Dominion University.
Nancy Ligus – West Virginia
Nancy Ligus leverages her unique experience as a former small business owner, industry manager, and workforce educator to design curricula for industry development and work-based learning. Currently, she serves as Director of Workforce, Continuing Education and Economic Development for Pierpont Community & Technical College in West Virginia. She earned both a Human Resource Management Certificate and an associate degree in business marketing from Community College of Allegheny and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Seton Hill University.
Leisa Mathews – Wyoming
Leisa Mathews’ career began her career in the industry sector in human resources and workforce training roles for the oil and gas industry, including designing an international competency-based training curriculum. Her path eventually led to postsecondary administration and workforce development, where she currently serves as the Workforce Development Coordinator and Perkins Coordinator for Western Wyoming Community College.
