NACCE Member Spotlight: Michael Voss, Mesa Community College

Residence: Mesa, Arizona

Organization: Mesa Community College (mesacc.edu)

Title: Dean of Instruction, Applied Science & Technology, Business, and CIS

Current Projects

Proactive Graduation, Scaling Prior Learning Assessment, Dropout Detective Retention Support, Career Navigation Model, Industry Sector Institutes, and Ad Astra Strategic
Scheduling Implementation.

Three Things You've Gained Since Becoming a NACCE Member

Since becoming a NACCE member, I have gained:

• exposure to a national network of innovative community college leaders focused on entrepreneurship;
• opportunities to contribute to professional development initiatives with an emphasis on innovation and fundraising; and
• enhanced support through NACCE’s integration of the SkillPointe platform, which has been instrumental in recruiting students to high-demand and high-wage career and technical education programs.

How has NACCE Helped You?

NACCE has been instrumental in strengthening our employer partnerships through the SkillPointe student recruitment platform. We’re now making significant progress toward identifying employer partners to invest in SkillPointe, which could offset or lower our institutional subscription costs.

What Advice Would You Give Other Members Trying to Do Something Similar?

My advice to other NACCE members is to engage with NACCE’s network of likeminded,
creative thinkers. Connecting with this community can reveal best practices and strategies to enhance entrepreneurial initiatives at your college.

What Does Innovation Mean to You?

Innovation means having the courage to try something new with the goal of improving
a service, product, or process. It’s essential to understand that not every innovation will
succeed, but it’s okay to fail forward and learn from the experience.