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Nursing Program Honor
Danielle Gibson knew she had the brains for a career in health care. What wasn’t obvious, though, was how she’d find a way into the high-wage, high-demand profession.
Doors to jobs in hospitals don’t just open for girls growing up on Cleveland’s east side. “These sort of careers aren’t put in front of kids from the inner city,” Gibson said. “They’re not presented as options.”
That’s a reality shared by millions of Americans — particularly women, people of color and those from lower-income communities who have historically been underrepresented within STEM fields.
Change is coming, however, through award-winning programs at Cuyahoga Community College and other two-year schools.
This past fall, Tri-C’s nursing program won a coveted Excellence and Equity in Community College STEM Award. The award is given out every two years by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program and the Siemens Foundation.
Eight colleges across the country earned 2020-2021 honors, which recognize: • Outstanding preparation and training for high-demand jobs in advanced manufacturing, energy, health care or information technology • Intentional outreach and support of diverse populations that typically are underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math — commonly referred to as STEM Tri-C President Alex Johnson called it an honor to be among the recipients. He said the College is committed to opening opportunities for students like Gibson, who expects to graduate from the Nursing Center of Excellence in December.
Gibson is one of seven outstanding Tri-C students selected as a Siemens Technical Scholar as part of the award. Each student received a scholarship. (See box on page 15.)
“Removing barriers for those who are under-resourced and underrepresented in higher education is a priority at Tri-C,” Johnson said. “We strive to create pathways to higher-income jobs and a stable future for those who need it most.”
U.S. employment in STEM fields is projected to grow at almost double the rate of non-STEM occupations. More than half of all STEM jobs across the United States require no more than an associate degree and pay wages that average more than $50,000 annually.
Tri-C and others honored with the Excellence and Equity in Community College STEM Award play a critical role in working to meet this demand, particularly when it comes to reaching populations underrepresented in STEM fields.
“Success often begins with the belief in what’s possible, particularly for those feeling the weight of socioeconomic determinants,” said Wendy Batch-Wilson, Tri-C’s dean of nursing. “Supports within our nursing program — including peer mentoring by those who have already completed the journey — help build confidence for students to achieve and advance in the profession.”
CHANGING THE FACE OF THE STEM WORKFORCE
STORY BY John Horton
TRI-C NURSING PROGRAM WINS NATIONAL AWARD FOR BUILDING CAREER PATHWAYS THAT BENEFIT DIVERSE POPULATIONS UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE FIELD
Student recruitment for the nursing program aligns with Tri-C initiatives centered on access. The College recognizes the unique equity challenges facing its diverse community and continually works to strengthen support systems to help students achieve.
There are currently more than 800 students enrolled in Tri-C’s nursing program. Last year, data showed that 97% of Tri-C nursing graduates were hired as registered nurses within six to nine months after earning their associate degree.
Gibson is among those next in line to add to the list of success stories. “It hasn’t been easy, and there are times I wanted to give up,” said the 28-year-old mother of three. “But I had a fire in my belly. I wasn’t going to stop until I made it.”
—Alex Johnson, President, Cuyahoga Community College SIEMENS TECHNICAL SCHOLARS
As part of the Excellence and Equity in Community College STEM Award, Tri-C — in partnership with the Aspen Institute — selected seven students to be recognized as Siemens Technical Scholars.
Each received a scholarship of $3,500 to $4,000. This diverse group will also share their stories with their peers to demonstrate the economic opportunity available in STEM careers.
The College’s Siemens Technical Scholars are Sara Alnaasan of North Olmsted; Ariel Austin of Cleveland Heights; Nadirah Brown of Cleveland; Diamond Frizzell of Bedford Heights; Danielle Gibson of Cleveland; James Hatano of Lakewood; and Kelly Jones of South Euclid.
