In this video from NJBIA’s recent Workforce Development Summit, a panel of experts in K–12 education, higher education, and state agencies offer their insights on the opportunities for deeper collaboration to strengthen New Jersey’s workforce pipeline.
“We’re a state of home rule, a state of very independent colleges and K-12 systems,” said Dr. Deborah Cornava, of the New Jersey Education Association. “There’s no sure way of failure than to say, ‘here’s the model you must all follow.’
“But if you develop strategies and you say, ‘here are the people we know and we have lined up from the state that are great partners and here's the clearinghouse where businesses can come for internships, and these are the sectors that we really need positions in and (then) the state helps manage that. The state has a unique responsibility, and I would always advocate for more money, (but) it’s less about the money at this point as it is bringing people together...” she said.
The panel discussion, moderated by Catherine Frugé Starghill, Vice President of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC), included:
- Dr. Yolanda H. Allen, Assistant Commissioner for Workforce Development, Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- Robert Bullard, Associate Vice President for External Relations and Economic Development, Rowan University
- Dr. Deborah Cornavaca, Director of Government Relations, New Jersey Education Association
- Scott Shaw, President & CEO of Lincoln Technical Institute
