NCPN2026 conference in New Orleans
It’s always enlightening to hear from community college students when gathering at national or state conferences. Last week I had the privilege of moderating a student panel at the National Career Pathways Network #NCPN2026 conference in New Orleans. The students were from the Nunez Community College Aerospace Manufacturing Technology program - each with a unique background and insights to offer conference attendees:
＊ a dual enrollment student from a local high school completing both high school diploma and Associate’s degree together this spring
＊ a parenting student working full time who enrolled in the program to be able to tell her young kids their mom builds rocket ships -- now doing just that after completing her degree and working in the field!
＊ a first-year student who loves building things and learned about the program at a career fair at her high school
Chris, Emily and Rachel are amazing individuals who shared their community college stories and highlighted strengths of the Nunez Aerospace program:
✓ Faculty with deep industry experience
✓ Course schedules and modalities that meet the needs of busy students
✓ Compassionate, patient and accommodating faculty and staff
✓ Seamless educational pathways into the workforce & to further education
The students also offered practical recommendations to attendees:
➢ Treat students and workers with dignity, respect and empathy
➢ Offer strong onboarding for students including important tools and resources available
➢ Encourage faculty to share their passion for teaching and convey to students to keep working hard
➢ Provide high school students with more career exploration opportunities and better awareness of all dual enrollment pathways
Thank you to the students for sharing their time and expertise and to Hope Cotner, Jennifer Jirous-Rapp, PhD and Maria Coons from Center for Organization Research and Design (CORD) for centering students at the conference. Much gratitude as well to M. Shannon Williamson, Ph.D., Duane Jardine and the whole Nunez Community College team for coordinating efforts to bring students there!
