Nashville State Leads Conversation on Community Colleges as Talent Pipelines

5.15.25

Organized by the Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education, Nashville State Community College recently hosted the Jobs for the Future Talent of Tomorrow Fellows, a national cohort of HR and recruitment leaders from corporate and nonprofit sectors. This marked a continued partnership following our initial full-day session in 2022.

As part of the site visit, Nashville State brought together alumni, academic affairs, workforce development and continued education, and career services to spotlight the college’s role in developing workforce-ready graduates. 

Through presentations and dialogue, Nashville State demonstrated how community colleges like ours are essential—and often untapped—partners in building sustainable, inclusive talent pipelines.

By showcasing proven strategies and success stories, Nashville State continues to lead the way in shaping how employers engage with higher education to meet evolving workforce needs.

Student voices were central to the event, with the following students sharing their story, career aspirations and academic experiences:

  • Ashley Barrett, Surgical Technology, School of Health Sciences, Class of 2025
    • Accepted position at Mayo Clinic in Florida
  • Stephanie Pedigo, Information Technology – Cybersecurity, School of STEM, Class of 2025
    • IT apprentice at Cat Financial Services
  • Jannette Torres, Paralegal Studies, School of Business and Professional Studies, current student

Organized by the Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education, Nashville State Community College recently hosted the Jobs for the Future Talent of Tomorrow Fellows, a national cohort of HR and recruitment leaders from corporate and nonprofit sectors. This marked a continued partnership following our initial full-day session in 2022.“The majority of our two-year A.A.S. degree students are retooling or reskilling into a new career pathway," said Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education IT Partnerships Director Rob Tudor. “These students have work and professional experience but are seeking a new start into a career dream they carry. This is where employer partners come into play, knowing that there is a massive talent pool that their people acquisition team may be missing within their hiring practices and processes. We want to expose them to successful employer partnerships, giving them ideas to build bridges to new talent sources and change lives in a positive way.”

During the day-long session, the Fellows shared key insights from hiring professionals with college staff members, focusing on the use of artificial intelligence as well as several other important topics related to workforce readiness and innovation.

Employers participating in the Fellowship include:

  • IBM
  • CVS Health
  • ALLETE
  • Paramount Global
  • Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare
  • Novelis
  • HCA Healthcare
  • Trane Technologies
  • Delta Air Lines
  • Wells Fargo
  • Country Maid, Inc.
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

 

Categorized As

Workforce DevelopmentFaculty & StaffBusiness & Professional StudiesAlumniPartnershipsWhite Bridge CampusSTEMCareer Services