City of Mesa Mayor John Giles, Rio Salado College President Kate Smith, Mesa Community College President Dr. Richard Daniel
Rio Salado College President Kate Smith joined national leaders in Washington, D.C., for the U.S. Department of Education's “Raise the Bar: Classroom-to-Career Pathways” summit on Nov. 13, 2024.
This event highlighted strategies to connect education with careers, aligning with Rio Salado College’s mission to “anticipate the needs of our students and future workforce,” and empower students through accessible, career-focused education.
Dr. Smith was joined by Mesa Community College President Richard Daniel, Ph. D., spotlighting Arizona’s leadership in building workforce pathways. Both schools are part of the Maricopa Community College District.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcomed the 200 educational and workforce leaders taking part in the summit at the White House to kick off the event, where they discussed the impact of community colleges and career training in America.
Dr. Smith and Dr. Daniel joined higher education leaders from a number of schools including Northern Virginia Community College, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Harvard University, Clemson University, and Arizona State University.
The summit covered topics such as aligning coursework and credentials with career pathways, using data and technology to better connect educational programs to workforce needs, and redesigning work-based learning while growing industry partnerships.
It brought together Cabinet and senior administration, elected officials, business leaders, K-12 leaders and philanthropic organizations to discuss the investments being made to grow a workforce ready to enter many fields, including infrastructure, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and more.
“In today’s economy, most well-paying jobs require some education beyond high school- whether that is an industry credential, certificate, or two-year or four-year college degree,” the U.S. Department of Education stated in the event release.
“This was a tremendous opportunity to engage with the critical work being done across the country to elevate workforce education, opportunities, and industry partnerships,” said Dr. Smith.
"Raise the Bar: Lead the World,” is the U.S. Department of Education's “call to action to transform education and unite around what truly works—based on decades of experience and research—to advance educational equity and excellence,” the website states.
Rio Salado College is a leader in fostering workforce education, from launching specialized programs to meet semiconductor and technology industry needs to providing adult learners with career-ready skills and credentials. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona visited MCCCD in the spring to highlight the expansion of behavioral health programs, including the Addictions and Substance Use Disorders program at Rio Salado.
“Through innovative partnerships, a commitment to developing real-world skills, and faculty dedicated to bringing best practices for online learning to students, Rio Salado is preparing the workforce of tomorrow for Arizona,” Dr. Smith said.