Workforce Design in Action at the Community College of Aurora

Last week, Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee, President of the Community College of Aurora, welcomed Governor Jared Polis, Colorado Department of Higher Education Executive Director JB Holston, and Colorado Community College System Chancellor Marie DeSanctis to the Center for Applied Science and Technology (CAST).

The visit underscored Colorado’s continued commitment to aligning higher education with workforce demand and economic mobility.

CAST, which opened in Fall 2025, represents a strategic investment in applied STEM education and skilled trades training. Developed in partnership with BuildStrong Academy of Colorado, the facility connects hundreds of students to hands-on, industry-aligned pathways designed to move learners quickly into high-demand, family-sustaining careers.

For Dr. Brownlee, the significance of the visit extends beyond celebration.

“This is what disciplined workforce alignment looks like,” he shared. “When state leadership, industry partners, and higher education move with shared clarity of purpose, students gain real opportunity — and our economy grows stronger.”

During the tour, state leaders engaged with students and faculty in hands-on lab environments, witnessing firsthand how technical skill development, credential attainment, and employer partnership converge within a single facility.

The visit served as a visible affirmation that Colorado’s investment in higher education is rooted in outcomes — strengthening talent pipelines, expanding access to STEM careers, and positioning community colleges as engines of innovation and growth.

As Colorado continues to navigate economic shifts and evolving workforce needs, the Center for Applied Science and Technology stands as a model of systems-level collaboration — and a testament to what is possible when leadership aligns around purpose, performance, and opportunity.