My name is Meghan Wills and I joined the Advance CTE team in mid-August 2019. I will be serving as Director of Strategic Initiatives; in this new position, I will oversee and manage major organization-wide initiatives that support, promote and increase learner access to and success in high-quality Career Technical Education (CTE). I will oversee an expansion of state technical assistance to support the implementation of policies, programs and initiatives that increase equitable access to and success in high-quality CTE. In addition, I will lead Advance CTE’s partnership with JPMorgan Chase & Co. on career readiness and student completion of high-quality career pathways.
While I am newer to the CTE policy world, I bring deep knowledge of state policy from the time I spent at the National Governors Association (NGA). I worked at NGA from 2011 to 2019, where I led projects with governors and states on workforce development issues. I oversaw the provision of technical assistance to state workforce system leaders, as well as projects on work-based learning and apprenticeship, the future of work and the on-demand economy, occupational licensing reform and employment of people with disabilities. I look forward to leveraging this experience to strengthen the alignment between state CTE and workforce systems, ensuring that young people across the country are prepared for a lifetime of career success.
I am a passionate advocate for career exploration and providing learners with real-world, hands-on experiences in the classroom, and I strongly believe in the power of CTE in shaping the futures of young people. I look forward to meeting and working with State CTE Directors and other Advance CTE members!
By Meghan Wills, Director of Strategic Initiatives