Brown Spurs Dayton Region College Presidents
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today highlighted the efforts of Dayton, Ohio area college presidents and regional business leaders for a summit at Sinclair Community College on strategies to combat the “brain drain.” Attendees discussed ways to train college students and Ohio workers for 21st century jobs and strategies to create and retain good-paying jobs in Ohio.
“By bringing together college presidents and business leaders, we can ensure Ohio has a workforce that is ready for 21st century jobs,” said Brown. “A skilled workforce and economic development go hand-in-hand. We must work together to bring more jobs to Ohio and fill them with Ohio graduates.”
“With the recent attention to the development of a creative class in our region, our discussion kicked off with a look at the role of education in those efforts. This is yet another example of the history of collaboration between education and business to better the economic development of our region,” said Sinclair Community College President Steve Johnson, who hosted the summit.
“Ohio’s colleges and universities have a responsibility to the citizens of the state to be leaders in the revitalization of our economy. And we are responding with academic programs that prepare the workforce of tomorrow, research that brings the best and brightest to Ohio, and aggressive efforts to increase the number of college graduates in Ohio. It is a responsibility we take very, very seriously,” said Wright State University President David Hopkins, who co-hosted the summit.
University of Dayton Interim Provost Joe Saliba, who also co-hosted today’s summit, said, “As Ohio’s largest private university, we are pleased to be part of this conversation with our partners in higher education and that Senator Brown is addressing these concerns in Washington. We share with them our commitment to educating a talented workforce and keeping our graduates in Ohio.”
Today’s forum was the fourth of six regional conferences Brown’s office is holding throughout Ohio. These regional forums resulted from a first-of-its kind meeting of Ohio college presidents convened by Brown last April. Held in Washington, D.C., this conference was attended by 46 of Ohio’s college and university presidents.
Attendees shared ideas and best practices for preparing students for the 21st century and ensuring that Ohio’s educational institutions strategically promote educational access and economic opportunity.
Participants discussed how to address the disparity between high unemployment rates and a shortage of skilled workers for many emerging industries. Ohio’s economic development has been stunted by workforce development issues. According to a November 2007 report released by Governor Ted Strickland’s office, four out of ten employers statewide reported having a difficult time finding qualified applicants.
Brown is the author of The “Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize Regional Success (SECTORS) Act of 2008,” bipartisan legislation he introduced with Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME). This legislation would provide funding for workers seeking specialized training for emerging industries.
The College and University Rural Education (CURE) Act, legislation Brown introduced earlier this year, was signed into law in August as part of the Higher Education Opportunity Act. The CURE Act authorizes grants to rural universities and businesses to create an employment pipeline for regional economies and enhance educational programs to provide targeted training for professions with worker shortages.
Participants in today’s summit include Susan Bodary, EdVention; Sean Creighton, SOCHE; Frank DePalma, MCESC; Dan DiBiasio, Wilmington College; Terrence Glass, Central State University; Judy Hennessey, Dayton Early College Academy; Dave Hopkins, Wright State University; Steve Johnson, Sinclair Community College; Tom Lasley, University of Dayton; Jim Leftwich, Dayton Development Coalition; Marsha Leonard, Greene County Career Center; Bob Mengerink, Kettering City Schools; Brad Neavin, Eaton Community Schools; Stephanie Precht, Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce; Joe Saliba, University of Dayton; Charles Scriven, Kettering College of Medical Arts; Kurt Stanic, Dayton Public Schools; Nick Wilson, Miami Valley Tech Prep Consortium; Ken Yowell, Edison Community College; Dave Bodary, Sinclair Community College; Peter Bolmida, Sinclair Community College; Rebecca Butler, Sinclair Community College; Michael Carter, Sinclair Community College; Dave Collins, Sinclair Community College; Judy Cook, City of Oakwood; Marva Cosby, Eastman Kodak Company; Mary Gaier, Sinclair Community College; Richard Gates, Jefferson Township Schools; Lynette Heard, University of Dayton; Gary Honnert, Sinclair Community College; David House, Sinclair Community College; Gwen Jones, Sinclair Community College; Doug Kaylor, Sinclair Community College; William Kirby, Huber Heights City Schools; Joanie Lair, Student Representative; Jan Lepore-Jentleson, East End Community Services; Paul Marshall, University of Dayton; Sue Merrell, Sinclair Community College; Ken Moore, Sinclair Community College; Mary Lynn Naughton, Mathile Family Foundation; Sherry Parr, Valley View Local Schools; Dan Sadlier, Sinclair Foundation; Rod Sommer, LJB, Inc.; and Kevin Turner, Preble ESC.