Aligning Education with STEM Workforce Needs
About the series
MSEN is hosting a series of panel discussions aimed to foster a conversation on the development of collaborative efforts to empower and prepare our region’s
youth for fulfilling, engaged lives and productive careers, now and for decades to come.
Why We Must Connect Education and the Future of Work
LaVerne Srinivasan, Elise Henson, and Farhad Asghar, Future of Learning and Work, Carnegie Corporation of New York, February 3, 2022
“Fundamental goals for American public education are to ensure that each student is prepared to be an active participant in a robust democracy and to be successful in the global economy. This requires coordinated efforts among government, philanthropy, the business community, and the education sector. However, as our nation’s economic and labor market opportunities evolve, the lack of alignment among K–12, higher education, and the world of work is further exposed and compromises our resilience and success. Our institutions are working to meet the opportunities and demands of the future of work in relative isolation. We must encourage systematic connections that reach across the educational, political, and economic domains to holistically prepare students for life, work, and citizenship. This demands a redesign of educational and employment options for all students. We must ask tough questions about what contributions are needed from each sphere today to prepare the workforce of tomorrow.”
Additional Resources:
Human Capital for the 21st Century: Aligning Education with Future Workforce Needs
Bob Wise & Javaid Siddiqi, The COVID Constituency
10 Steps to Building Talent Locally
A Local Talent Handbook, Lumina Foundation
Session 3: Thursday, October 24, 2024
Building and Retaining the Life Sciences Workforce
Panel Discussion on Regional Efforts for the Development and Sustainability
of the Life Sciences and Biotechnology Workforce
Hosted by MSEN in collaboration with 495 MetroWest Partnership
Although Massachusetts’ life sciences job growth increased by just 2.5% in 2023, the state continues to grow the industry, according to a new MassBioEd report. “Massachusetts continues to grow its life sciences industry, with each of the state’s major segments outpacing its national counterparts,” the report stated. “While employment trends point to slowing growth relative to levels seen both during and immediately following the pandemic, the projected 10-year growth remains strong.”
To nurture this longer-term growth, the MassBioEd report made recommendations for ways in which stakeholders in industry, academia, government and other sectors can contribute to:
Building the Talent Pipeline (page 6)
Growing & Retaining the Workforce (page 7)
Expanding Career Opportunities & Diversity (page 8)
PANELISTS
Co-facilitated by Irene Porro, Ph.D., MetroWest STEM Education Network and John Brothers, Senior Director of Workforce Development Strategy at MassBioEd and co-author of Massachusetts Life Sciences Employment Outlook 2024.
John Brothers
Senior Director of Workforce Development Strategy
MassBioEd
John joined MassBioEd in 2021. As Senior Director of Workforce Development Strategy, John works closely with stakeholders across the Massachusetts Life Sciences Industry, academic institutions, and workforce development partners to develop and implement strategies that result in an expanded pipeline with more diverse talent entering the sector. Before joining MassBioEd in 2021, he served as Executive Director of Training, Inc. and the International Learning Center, programs of the YMCA of Greater Boston, where he built partnerships and employer relationships to support job training and adult education. John holds a B. A. in International Affairs from American University and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the Questrom School of Business at Boston University.
Elizabeth Warren
STEAM Coordinator
Department of Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment
Framingham Public Schools
The Department of Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment coordinates curriculum review and development; supports the professional development of FPS staff; oversees the administration of formative assessments and the analysis of local and state assessments; and supports school improvement efforts, including the ongoing monitoring of School Improvement Plans and the District Strategic Plan. In this context, Elizabeth works with other FPS leaders on a new life sciences project funded by a $159,617 grant Framingham Public Schools received in July through the Massachusetts Life Science Center’s (MLSC) STEM Equipment and Professional Development Grant program. With this grant FPS will support four schools serving 2,673 students and provide professional development for more than a dozen teachers. The funds will be used toward high-quality instruction material for life science units for students and educator training. The funds will also be used to purchase virtual/augmented reality equipment to support highly engaging life science curricula.
Jennifer Hanselman, Ph.D.
Associate Provost and Dean of Research
Clark University
Jennifer joined Clark University in August 2024 after serving as the Dean for the School of Health and Natural Sciences and the School of Business and Technology at Fitchburg State University. She successfully spearheaded efforts to modernize and enhance departmental curricula to meet evolving industry and academic standards, integrated emerging technologies, and secured grant funding to develop and promote research and other high-impact practices. Her strength in building institutional infrastructure to advance and amplify research success, and establishing key partnerships will serve Clark well, focusing on deepening the resources needed to sustain a broad range of initiatives and yield new research opportunities. Jennifer earned her Ph.D. from Florida Institute of Technology in Biological Sciences.
Susan Godwin
Head of Projects Portfolio Department
MA BioCampus, Sanofi
Susan Godwin joined Sanofi in 2012, and has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for more than 10 years, holding lead roles in engineering, project management, and strategic planning. In her earlier career, Susan held roles of increasing responsibility in the areas of engineering, construction, maintenance, emergency response, work management, financial support, and health, safety, & environmental in the nuclear and utility industries. Susan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Lafayette College, and a master’s degree in management from St. Joseph University, which are both in Pennsylvania. Susan completed Green Belt, Black Belt, and Lean Six Sigma certificate programs at Villanova University, to expand a continuous improvement and operational excellence mindset. Susan resides in Holbrook, Massachusetts, with her husband and two children. Susan supports her community of Holbrook as a member of the Finance Committee, Capital Planning Committee, and Town Meeting Member.
Session 2: Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Panel discussion to explore the workforce needs in the clean energy sector
MassBay Community College - Center for Health Sciences, Early Childhood, and Human Services
Hosted by Solect Energy
According to the Massachusetts Workforce Skills Cabinet, the Greater Boston region is projected to see the greatest increase in total number of clean energy jobs by 2030. If Massachusetts is going to grow the clean energy workforce to keep pace with the demands of its decarbonization commitments, clean energy occupations must be equally accessible and welcoming to all potential workers.
A comprehensive analysis of the clean energy workforce needed to meet the state’s ambitious 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, coupled with strategies to expand and diversify the clean energy workforce.
Expanded clean energy career awareness is a crucial first step to growing and diversifying the pipeline for tomorrow’s climate-critical workforce. Providing accurate, comprehensive information about clean energy careers is an essential component of driving career awareness. To have an even greater impact, career awareness efforts must customize the messaging to resonate with different demographics and communities and build strong partnerships with workforce development organizations and Community-Based Organizations that are on the frontlines of working with job seekers. A well-integrated, sustainable and scalable approach can ensure that youth statewide have the information needed to explore the many clean energy occupations that are projected to be in high demand.
PANELISTS
Matt Shortsleeve
Senior Vice President for Marketing & Policy, Solect Energy
Matt oversees legislative and regulatory affairs and advocates policies and regulations to foster the region’s transition to a clean energy economy powered by a modern electric grid. He manages the Solar & Storage Program with PowerOptions. As a renewable energy professional, Matt has developed over 100 solar and storage projects for cities, school districts, state agencies, and businesses for over a decade. His expertise spans diverse areas of solar and storage solutions, including rooftop, canopy, and ground-mounted projects to multi-megawatt renewable energy and storage systems.
Joe DeLisle
Director of Facilities,
MassBay Community College
Joe has been Director Of Facilities at MassBay Community College for the last 8 years. He has 30 years of experience in facilities management, capital planning, energy projects, and reducing the college’s carbon footprint. He’s a member of the Wellesley Sustainability Committee and has worked on the MassBay Community College net zero building, Geothermal Pilot Project in Framingham, and collaborative projects with Solect Energy, and Greener U.
Angie Alberto Escobar
Director Gas-to-Geo Transition, Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET)
Angie’s work revolves around enabling systems change through HEET’s theory of change that centers trust, inclusion and transparency. She works closely with HEET’s co-executive directors to develop national coalitions — of gas utilities, environmental advocates, geo industry, and workforce — to overcome rate-limiting obstacles by developing creative solutions with all stakeholders groups at the table. Additionally, she manages the Learning from the Ground Up research project which studies the outcomes and impacts of the first utility networked geothermal installations.
Jennifer Applebaum
Managing Director of Workforce Development,
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
Jennifer is a former teacher and entrepreneur with a broad range of curriculum, training, and program innovation experience, Jennifer oversees a portfolio of workforce development programs that support clean energy career exploration, equity workforce training in climate-critical occupations, and clean energy small business development among underrepresented populations. Prior to her work at the MassCEC, Jennifer led a statewide youth employment program centered on progressive skill-building and a curriculum-based career readiness initiative that reached over 100,000 participants across multiple states.
About the MassBay Center
The MassBay Center is a green building that is net-zero-energy ready and tracking for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification. The facility is designed to conserve energy, water, and resources, providing a healthy environment for learning while generating as much energy as it consumes each year. When walking throughout the campus, green placards explain the environmental details.
About Solect Energy
Solect Energy is one of the Northeast's leading commercial solar development firms, offering end-to-end tailored solutions, including design, installation, financing, operations and maintenance services, and beyond. In business for over 15 years, Solect has delivered 750+ solar projects for business enterprises, generating an impressive 140+ megawatts of clean energy throughout New England. Based in Hopkinton, MA, we are a fully-owned subsidiary of Pattern Energy.
Session 1: Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Panel Discussion hosted by MetroWest STEM Education Network in collaboration with Contexed
ABOUT CONTEXED:
Contexed works with global employers on their most important planning, decision making, and talent development initiatives. Working with Academic and Workforce Development Partners, Talent Management and Strategic HR professionals, Contexed develops and delivers state-of-the-art management education and executive coaching programs to enable employers to acquire and apply knowledge that matterssm for growing their top-line, improving their bottom-line, and developing their next-in-line managers and executives.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Paul Joseph
With more than 20 years of marketing, sales, management and executive education experience, Paul created Contexed with the singular goal of driving performance by improving business decisions that affect growth and change. His clients and past employers range from early stage start-ups to Fortune 500 businesses primarily in technology- and knowledge-based industries. Paul balances his professional time with his commitment to volunteerism and local government. Paul has held municipal political office and served as economic development committee chair in his home town of Natick, Massachusetts for six years. He is a board member of a local non-profit and works as a community liaison and advocate for other organizations focused on substance abuse prevention and empowering youth. You can learn more about Paul at: www.linkedin.com/in/pjoseph
Jonathan Salsman
Jonathan Salsman (Jon) is Director of Engineering for EV Charging at New Leaf Energy. New Leaf Energy is one of the most experienced clean infrastructure development companies in the U.S., with over 1.5 GW of projects developed to date and an active pipeline of solar, energy storage, wind, and electric vehicle charging projects across the U.S.
Jon joined New Leaf Energy in March of 2023, bringing with him over a decade of experience in transmission and distribution planning and the design and construction of renewable energy projects. Jon started his career at National Grid, where he worked in their Distribution Design, Transmission Planning and Utility-Owned Solar departments. More recently, Jon served as Director of Engineering for Industria Engineering, a Massachusetts-based construction firm, where he oversaw the design and construction of Industria’s solar and energy storage systems. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and his Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering (Power Systems) from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Jon is a Registered Professional Engineer in multiple states and he is also the chairperson for Electrical Wiring at Assabet Valley Regional High School. You can learn more about Jon at: www.linkedin.com/in/jonathansalsman
Questions? Contact jgreenwood1@framingham.edu