ECC President Attends White House Summit

It was a surreal moment for Dr. Greg McLeod, Edgecombe Community College President. What was initially a trip to attend an American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) commission meeting in Washington, DC, turned into a wonderful, additional opportunity to visit the White House for the Classroom to Career Summit.

“I received the White House invitation just prior to my trip to Washington, DC and thought the timing was great since I was already going to be there for my commission meeting,” recalls McLeod.

According to its website, the AACC “is the primary advocacy organization for the nation’s community colleges. The association represents more than 1,000 two-year, associate degree-granting institutions and nearly 12 million students.”

McLeod attended the AACC’s Fall meeting, held Nov. 12 to Nov. 15. In the third year of his appointment to the AACC Commission on Economic and Workforce Development, he says the group provides a space for community college leaders to share ideas and best practices with one another, and to inform the AACC on the economic and workforce development priorities and needs of our communities and students across the nation.

“We had a robust discussion, including sharing insights with the AACC and providing recommendations towards their activities,” said McLeod.

Regarding the separate White House visit, approximately 200 education and workforce leaders from around the country attended the Classroom to Career Summit held there and at the US Department of Education on Nov. 13. At the summit, President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, along with Cabinet members and senior officials, talked about the many high-quality, free community college programs available in high-demand fields, the growth of Registered Apprenticeships, and the benefits of attracting and retaining a skilled, diverse workforce in critical industries.

“They highlighted how our community colleges provide a great value for students to gain the training and skills needed to secure great paying jobs, and help their families not just to survive but to thrive,” recalls McLeod. “Mrs. Biden said that community colleges are shedding the label of being America’s best-kept secret to becoming America’s best-kept promise.”

According to Education Week, Biden elaborated on how his administration has continued the push to “create a bridge between the classroom and careers with a focus on community colleges.” This includes the creation of workforce hubs to train and encourage apprenticeships; tuition-free college and job training; strengthening and expanding the workforce and more.

To learn more about how ECC is already preparing students for various careers, visit edgecombe.edu.