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In the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, the life sciences industry experienced a surge in demand for biotechnology professionals. In 2020, more than 11,000 biotechnology jobs were created in the Research Triangle.
As pharmaceutical companies around the world scrambled to develop a vaccine, local companies started calling Durham Tech more than ever before.
They needed skilled workers in their labs, and fast.
Telicia Hunter, then-Curriculum Developer for Biotechnology courses at Durham Tech, said it was a challenge, but she was up for it.
“All of a sudden, all eyes were on biotechnology – the College president, Durham and Orange Counties, the Back-to-Work Initiative, the BULLS Initiative. Covid brought a lot of awareness into our industry and companies were reaching out to us needing people trained and ready to work,” she said.
As pharmaceutical companies around the world scrambled to develop a vaccine, local companies started calling Durham Tech more than ever before.
They needed skilled workers in their labs, and fast.
Telicia Hunter, then-Curriculum Developer for Biotechnology courses at Durham Tech, said it was a challenge, but she was up for it.
“All of a sudden, all eyes were on biotechnology – the College president, Durham and Orange Counties, the Back-to-Work Initiative, the BULLS Initiative. Covid brought a lot of awareness into our industry and companies were reaching out to us needing people trained and ready to work,” she said.
DURHAM, NC – Dr. Angela Davis, Vice President, Chief Talent and Equity Officer at Durham Technical Community College was a recent participant of the 2022 Thomas Lakin Institute for Mentored Leadership, which was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania October 2-7, 2022.
The Lakin Institute, which is sponsored by the Presidents’ Round Table of African American CEOs of Community Colleges, is a national professional development program designed with the intent of preparing senior-level executives for roles as community college chief executive officers and presidents.
Davis, a Durham resident, is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive talent management strategy to leverage talent for institutional growth, while leading the development and implementation of proactive equity, inclusion, and diversity initiatives to support the college’s strategic plan.
The Lakin Institute, which is sponsored by the Presidents’ Round Table of African American CEOs of Community Colleges, is a national professional development program designed with the intent of preparing senior-level executives for roles as community college chief executive officers and presidents.
Davis, a Durham resident, is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive talent management strategy to leverage talent for institutional growth, while leading the development and implementation of proactive equity, inclusion, and diversity initiatives to support the college’s strategic plan.
Durham Tech President J.B. Buxton thanked Durham voters for their support Tuesday night following the overwhelming support and passage of the 2022 Durham County bond referendum for Durham Tech. The $112.7 million bond will fund new facilities in healthcare and life sciences that put more Durham residents in high paying careers.
Durham County voters overwhelmingly supported a $112.7 million bond referendum Tuesday that will construct two state-of-the-art facilities for healthcare and life sciences training.
With booming career opportunities in healthcare and life sciences, Durham Tech is well-positioned to train local talent and provide a diverse workforce pipeline to area companies. Durham Tech leadership has worked with industry partners to plan and design the new facilities.
Durham Tech President J.B. Buxton thanked Durham voters for their support Tuesday and said the new facilities would put more Durham residents in high paying careers.
With booming career opportunities in healthcare and life sciences, Durham Tech is well-positioned to train local talent and provide a diverse workforce pipeline to area companies. Durham Tech leadership has worked with industry partners to plan and design the new facilities.
Durham Tech President J.B. Buxton thanked Durham voters for their support Tuesday and said the new facilities would put more Durham residents in high paying careers.
Through the Power of Us program, Durham Tech seeks to recruit, support, and retain more female or female-identifying students to a targeted set of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.
View professional learning presentations for Spring 2023.
When the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down college enrollment around the country, Cosmetic Arts programs at Durham Tech flourished – growing more than 300% since 2019.
Maria Steele, Director of Cosmetics Arts at Durham Tech, said it was likely due to a growing interest in entrepreneurship after so many people lost their jobs.
“COVID affected so many large businesses, that people wanted to start working for themselves, and becoming a cosmetologist allows them to specialize in multiple areas and become entrepreneurs,” she said. “You will always be able to make money in this industry because cosmetologists can do anything. You will never be stagnant. You can always reinvent yourself. It's such a versatile field, you can be an independent contractor at different salons and do everything.”
Steele is the driving force behind all Cosmetic Arts programs at the College, including cosmetology, esthetics, and manicuring – an industry that has remained resilient through both a recession and pandemic.
Maria Steele, Director of Cosmetics Arts at Durham Tech, said it was likely due to a growing interest in entrepreneurship after so many people lost their jobs.
“COVID affected so many large businesses, that people wanted to start working for themselves, and becoming a cosmetologist allows them to specialize in multiple areas and become entrepreneurs,” she said. “You will always be able to make money in this industry because cosmetologists can do anything. You will never be stagnant. You can always reinvent yourself. It's such a versatile field, you can be an independent contractor at different salons and do everything.”
Steele is the driving force behind all Cosmetic Arts programs at the College, including cosmetology, esthetics, and manicuring – an industry that has remained resilient through both a recession and pandemic.
Wolfspeed and Durham Tech recognized 71 employees who completed a Manufacturing Process Technician or Manufacturing Equipment Technician course at a ceremony last Tuesday at Wolfspeed’s global headquarters in Durham. Tuesday’s graduation represented 10 cohorts from December 2021 through November 2022.
Wolfspeed and Durham Tech have worked together for more than 20 years to develop customized training for the organization. The technician training partnership began in January 2020 to increase qualified talent for technician positions within their organization. The training includes topics such as workplace success, safety, chemistry, electronics, sensors, robotics, Lean Six Sigma, problem solving, and statistical techniques.
Wolfspeed and Durham Tech have worked together for more than 20 years to develop customized training for the organization. The technician training partnership began in January 2020 to increase qualified talent for technician positions within their organization. The training includes topics such as workplace success, safety, chemistry, electronics, sensors, robotics, Lean Six Sigma, problem solving, and statistical techniques.
The Customer Service Success program focuses on the importance of customer relations in the business world. Emphasis is placed on learning how to respond to complex customer requirements and to efficiently handle stressful situations.