Rhodes State College is proud to announce its involvement in the Community College Baccalaureate Association (CCBA) Conference 2024. This year's theme, "Growing Talent for Local and Global Impact," set the stage for a dynamic exploration of the pivotal role community college baccalaureate programs play in shaping the future workforce.
One of the most informative aspects of the conference was the Industry Panel, which featured leaders from high-demand industries. This panel, which included Rhodes State College Board of Trustees Vice Chair, Dr. Ann Pohl, RN DNP, of Lima Memorial Health System, provided insights into the importance of community college baccalaureates, their endorsements of such programs, and their expectations for graduates. Moderated by Dr. David Harrison, President of Columbus State Community College, the panel also included Dr. Kristi Wellington Baker of Amazon Web Services, Ron Davoli of Wharton-Smith Construction Group, and Sheriff Dennis Lemma of the Seminole County Sheriff's Office. Dr. Pohl's membership on Rhodes State College's Board added a unique perspective to the discussion, emphasizing the significance of collaborative partnerships between academia and industry.
Additionally, Rhodes State’s own Angela Heaton, Dean, Health Sciences and Public Service, and Dr. Melissa Harvey, Chair, Nursing Services, BSN and LPN Program Administrator, provided an engaging presentation titled, “Nurturing Local Healthcare Talent: Unveiling the 3Ps – Partnerships, Innovative Programs, and Pathways. The presentation highlighted how the RSC innovative on-line nurse aid training program was developed in the midst of the COVID pandemic to meet the needs of local hospitals, along with three years of collected data to illustrate the success of the program in cultivating nursing pathways for local impact.
