Underscoring El Camino College's reputation as a premier provider of career and technical education, Dr. Maloney was recently appointed to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Commission on Economic and Workforce Development. The commission is one of 10 authorized by the AACC board, with members chosen by the board chair-elect annually.
The Commission on Economic and Workforce Development is charged with examining ways to close the American skills gaps by focusing career and technical education on preparing students with the knowledge and skills required for existing and future jobs in regional and global economies. In addition, the commission showcases cutting-edge innovation in workforce and economic development with outcomes that improve student success, while also offering affordable, high-quality technical assistance in areas that support student success.
President Maloney is a longtime advocate of building partnerships between education and business/industry, recognizing that a well-educated workforce contributes to successful regional economic development and is prepared for employment opportunities in rewarding careers. New ECC programs include an apprenticeship initiative to develop aerospace technicians; a National Science Foundation grant that provides scholarships for students pursing computer science degrees; and a collaboration with Amazon Web Services to offer a cloud computing certificate. El Camino College is also part of the Strong Workforce Program, a California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office initiative designed to improve the quantity and quality of Career and Technical Education programs that lead to employment opportunities and/or wage increases for students.
The AACC is the primary advocacy organization for the nation's community colleges. The association represents nearly 1,200 two-year, associate degree-granting institutions and more than 12 million students.