So You Want to Start an Advisory Board?
Jessica Cinelli & Alissa Levine from Kingsborough Community College
April 30, 2025
This presentation focuses on practical strategies for refining your approach or establishing a new advisory board.
Session Recordings & Resources
ACE-UP Session Recordings & Resources
The following is a gallery of recordings and resources from previous ACE-UP group meetings. Feel free to use and share for the benefit of advancing community equity.
Collecting and Reporting Feedback to Improve Learners’ Academic and Employment Outcomes
Megan Elyse Williams and Rachel Whilby
February 26, 2025
At our June in-person meeting, teams engaged in a “sailboat” activity, identifying obstacles to effective data-driven decision-making. This session is designed to directly address those challenges and explore actionable solutions that can be operationalized within your institutions. Discussion occurs throughout the presentation tackling the specific challenges you’re facing.
Slide Deck
Video Recording
Advancing Opportunities Using Labor Market Intelligence
Steven Partridge
January 25, 2025
In this session, Steven Partridge shared current strategies and resources from Northern Virginia Community College, touching on topics like employer partnerships, data-driven program alignment, NOVA’s guaranteed interview initiative, and innovative pathways to support workforce success for non-traditional students. Steven Partridge is vice president of Strategy, Research and Workforce Innovation at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). In his role he leads the NOVA’s corporate and workforce engagement, non-credit education, marketing, branding and communication teams, career services, grant development, event services and institutional research. Partridge has testified before Congress and the U.S. Senate regarding the national skills gap and regularly consults with Congressional and Administration staff on workforce issues.
Video Recording
ACE-UP Employer Affinity Group: What Employers Need to Know to Access Diverse Talent
Carniesha Kwashie
August 12, 2024
The ACE-UP Employer Affinity Group meeting featured Carniesha Kwashie, Sr. Manager of Workforce Development, Corporate and Community Impact at PECO, in a session titled “What Employers Need to Know to Access Diverse Talent.” She discussed how PECO partners with education and training providers, offers learner supports, and invests in people and community to achieve the organization’s talent management goals. Additionally, Carniesha shared the organizational practices and apprenticeship models that have proven successful, offering practical strategies for employers looking to enhance their workforce development and attract diverse talent.
Video Recording
Bridging Workforce Gaps: A Model of Equitable Partnership
Celeste Granger with Melissa Stowasser
February 28, 2024
Celeste Granger presents insights into how aligning college offerings with attainable career pathways—informed by employer feedback—fosters upward mobility for workers. Furthermore, Celeste’s data-driven approach to addressing equity gaps underscores the importance of informed program design and strategic investments. By leveraging data to target underpaid roles and develop clear advancement routes, her initiative exemplifies how focusing on equity within robust industry partnerships can drive systemic reform. Discussion is accompanied by Melissa Stowasser, Vice President for Community & Continuing Education at Trident Technical College.
Slide Deck
Video Recording
Leading the Way: Championing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the NC Community College System
Keisha Jones
February 28, 2024
Step into the world of transformative leadership with Keisha Jones, a leader in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEIB), sharing insights into her role within the NC Community College System. This session delves into the journey of championing DEIB initiatives at both the system-wide level and the college level, specifically at Davidson-Davie Community College. Discover the strategies, challenges, and successes that have shaped a more inclusive and equitable educational experience across campuses.
Slide Deck
Video Recording
Beyond Box Checking: Making Equity Metrics Relevant
Megan Elyse Williams
December 4, 2023
Building on previous ACE-UP conversations on metrics and equity, Megan Elyse Williams shares insights on ensuring metrics actually reflect and serve learner populations and communities.
Slide Deck
Video Recording
More than a DEI Label: Using Measurement for Our Own Racially Equitable Accountability
Dr. Heather McCambly
August 9, 2023
Dr. McCambly studies the role of organizations in (re)producing systemic, racial inequalities, and draws on a range of analytic and interpretive methods to study the influence of aspiring change agents on institutionalized racial inequities in higher education practice and policy.
Slide Deck
Video Recording
Recruit, Retain, Advance: Employer-of-Choice Strategies for Equity & Community Growth
Dave Barrett
June 28, 2023
Dave Barrett describes employer-of-choice strategies designed to recruit, retain and advance a diverse workforce. He also provides examples of ways colleges can best engage employers in conversations on equity and retention, what colleges can do to support learner advancement from an employer’s perspective, and ways to develop strategic partnerships between colleges and employers.
Slide Deck
Video Recording
It’s An Inside Job: Conversations about DEI at the Intersection of our Heads and Hearts
Professor Natasha Robinson
April 26, 2023
Professor Robinson discusses the intersection and transformation of our heads and our hearts as it relates to doing DEI work. Combining the law, focal questions, answers, and metrics with practical strategies, Professor Robinson co-created personalized and communal solutions with attendees that enhance and strengthen DEI substantive objectives and procedural outcomes.
Slide Deck
Video Recording
