Future of Education for Austin Technology
This session is about supply and demand. As Austin and the tech industry grows, how will our local schools (K-16+) adapt their education to the needs of the workforce and the city? The session will also cover Govt regulations and policies that are impeding our education system's ability to be more nimble. Finally, the panel will review trends like MOOCs, Early and Dual College, and new software like campus2careers that will help students pursue academic pathways for in-demand careers.
Presenters
Don Christian
Dean
Concordia University
Dr. Donald Christian serves as the Dean of the College of Business for Concordia University Texas, a position he has held since the fall of 2005. During that time, the College has grown from just under 100 students to over 700 students today. Dr. Christian attributes much of that growth to creative programming and hard work by a dedicated faculty.
Dr. Christian received his Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix where his research and dissertation focused on the correlation between leadership skills and interagency collaboration among organizations. His teaching expertise is in the areas of leadership and management, focusing on developing the critical and creative thinking process for his students. In addition to his work at Concordia, Dr. Christian serves in leadership positions on two community not-for-profit boards.
Prior to his work at Concordia, Dr. Christian served in a variety of positions, including Headmaster for a Lutheran High School; Parish Life Administrator at a church in downtown Houston; and as a high school band director.
Donald Tracy
Dir, Business Operations & Mktg
Austin Community College
Donald Tracy serves as the Director of Business Operations and Marketing for the Continuing Education Division at Austin Community College. Don is passionate about the transformative role that education plays in the lives of individuals and the communities in which they live, and has worked in Central Texas for over 15 years leading collaborative, community-wide and state-wide skills development initiatives focused on preparing workers to grow in their current jobs or transition to new careers.
Nathan Green
VP of IT Solutions
SureScore
Nathan Green is the founder of the Austin Young Chamber (AYC) and Campus2Careers, which was recently acquired by SureScore: a leader in college and career readiness solutions. The AYC is the second largest chamber in the city and largest YPO in the state.
Prior to these endeavors, Nathan was the youngest executive at Pearson, a global 300 education company, and previously held executive positions at Accenture, Bloomberg, and the Everest Group. He is a graduate of Cornell University’s Industrial and Labor Relations school and a frequent guest lecturer, occasional keynote, and constant talker.
Nick Parker
VP, Engineering
uShip
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