AWC leaders present about transforming rural health metrics during ACCT Leadership Congress
October 13, 2023Yuma, AZ (October 13, 2023) – Arizona Western College administrators and district governing board members recently attended the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Leadership Congress in Las Vegas to share about local education and healthcare partnership success.
From Oct. 9-12, the ACCT Leadership Congress brought together nearly 1,900 college presidents and governing board members from across the nation to strategically collaborate on issues impacting community colleges. Other event attendees include leaders from philanthropic organizations, government agencies, and other national nonprofits.
In addition to nationally renowned keynote speakers, more than 150 peer-to-peer and expert presentations are also given during the conference to advance governance and student success. The event is designed for community college leaders to share their experience and expertise, network, and expand their knowledge of the community college sector.
Under the Transforming Communities category, AWC leaders gave a presentation on “Transforming Rural Health Metrics.” Presenters included AWC President Dr. Daniel Corr, AWC Entrepreneurial College Chief Executive Officer and Vice President of Workforce & Healthcare Programs Reetika Dhawan, and AWC District Governing Board Member for District #5 Maria Chavoya.
AWC’s presentation demonstrated the power of partnerships between educational institutions and healthcare providers. By utilizing the strengths of both organizations, Arizona Western College and Yuma Regional Medical Center created a unique, first-of-its-kind collaboration to address the rural healthcare workforce shortage. This innovative effort is designed to invest in the local population by providing access to early information about diverse career tracks in healthcare and training opportunities such as apprenticeships and internships, certifications, degree programs, and upskilling, as well as creating pathways for filling gaps in the healthcare workforce.
“This collaborative initiative is an example of how two organizations with strategic priorities based on identified community needs can come together to effect real change and provide meaningful solutions. I believe that our entrepreneurial college and hospital partnership will serve as a model for other rural communities,” said Dhawan.
This partnership has the potential to transform rural healthcare in Arizona and around the country by increasing access to higher education and providing new career opportunities for underserved populations. Ultimately, this project can empower people with the tools they need to break out of poverty and create thriving communities.
“We are committed to doing our part to create a future full of hope and opportunity for all, especially those living in rural communities,” said Dr. Corr. “We must continue to be champions of collaboration and work together to inspire our future healthcare heroes and innovators. Our collective efforts will make a real difference in the lives of many. By investing in our local population, we are creating a better tomorrow for everyone.”
In addition to Chavoya, three other members of the AWC District Governing Board attended the ACCT Leadership Congress including District #1 representative Richard Lamb, District #4 representative Olivia Zepeda, and Board President and District #3 representative Dennis Booth. Chavoya and Zepeda also attended additional Professional Board Development sessions for Public Policy and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Keynote speakers for the conference included Dr. Ben Armstrong, MIT Industrial Performance Center Executive Director and Research Scientist, and Dr. James L. Moore III, Assistant Director for the National Science Directorate for STEM Education.
Armstrong shared with attendees that changing economic conditions are providing the opportunity for community colleges to build an entirely new legacy, that of rebuilding the “middle of the country, the middle of the labor market, and people from all walks of life.” Changing demographics, steady growth in manufacturing jobs, and recent wage increases for bottom and middle-income jobs signal a break from the last four decades of growing income inequality, stagnant educational attainment, and limited opportunities for economic mobility, Armstrong said.
For Moore’s presentation, he encouraged community colleges to be a key partner in helping reach the “missing millions” in STEM education and careers. Moore stressed the importance of expanding access to STEM in rural and economically underserved regions through new kinds of partnerships.
The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) is a non-profit educational organization of governing boards, representing more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees who govern over 1,200 community, technical, and junior colleges in the United States and beyond. For more information, visit www.acct.org.
Contact:
Ashley Herrington
Chief of Staff
Arizona Western College
Ashley.Herrington@azwestern.edu
928-344-7501
###
Caption information: (Pictured from left to right) AWC District Governing Board Member for District #5 Maria Chavoya, Board President and District #3 representative Dennis Booth, AWC President Dr. Daniel Corr, and District #4 representative Olivia Zepeda.