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Dunwoody Launches Podcast to Engage in Solutions-Driven Conversations around the Skills Gap

Dunwoody College of Technology, a private, non-profit institution and pioneer in technical education, today announces the launch of an original podcast that will explore how working in partnership can create positive impact in our communities. Hosted by Dunwoody President Rich Wagner, “Technically Speaking with Dunwoody College” begins streaming June 2 on Apple Podcasts, or wherever podcasts are available.

Each episode will bring together leaders in industry, education, and government for an open and results-driven dialogue around the complex issues of today’s ever-widening skills gap, income gap, and achievement gap. The podcast will explore how partnerships between organizations can be created and strengthened as we work together to make a difference in our communities.

“Dunwoody has been around since 1914 and has always met challenges with solutions,” Wagner said. “Our experience and perspective on things like closing the achievement gap, income gap, and skills gap is evolving as we grapple with the post pandemic reality. The importance of partnerships to address these challenges is critical to helping identify solutions to support Minnesota’s and our nation’s economy. These are also challenges I have a deep interest in and look forward to discussing.

In the first episode, Wagner speaks with Vicki Holt, manufacturing executive and former CEO of Protolabs, and Kimberly Randolph, Vice President of Energy Supply, Projects for Xcel Energy, for a conversation around how industry and education partnerships can address the skills gap.

The conversation explores the ways in which partnerships are already working, where opportunities for new partnerships exist, and what role each side plays in making them successful on helping to close the skills gap.

Listen to a trailer of the episode.

Future episodes will continue to explore issues affecting employers and the workforce; including the value of a college degree, the perceptions around the skilled trades, and the impact of evolving technology.

Conversations with organizations and entities around partnerships is something Dunwoody College has always embraced. By turning those conversations into podcasts, the College hopes to spotlight solutions, reach a broader audience, and inspire dialogue among others in our community. 

Subscribe to the podcase here, and tune in to the first episode on June 2.

ABOUT THE HOST

Dunwoody College of Technology President Rich Wagner, Ph.D. has a proven track record as an innovative, thoughtful leader who is focused on how Dunwoody can best serve students and employers in the years ahead.

Over the past decade, Wagner has driven significant changes at Dunwoody. His visionary leadership has led to Dunwoody’s enrollment growth, created programs to support Minnesota’s labor pool, built a unique student experience, and invested resources in Dunwoody’s aging infrastructure.

Wagner has focused on ways to build pathways for students to achieve success through technical education, to expand enrollment to develop the workforce needed to fuel Minnesota’s economy, and to build stronger community partnerships to ensure all communities have access to a Dunwoody education.

ABOUT DUNWOODY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Founded in 1914, Dunwoody College of Technology is the only private, not-for-profit technical college in the Upper Midwest. Having provided hands-on, applied technical education to more than 250,000 individuals, Dunwoody is the college for experimenters and makers, a place where the curious and the confident learn by doing. Located in Minneapolis, Dunwoody offers a unique campus experience in dedicated labs, studios, and shops that treats students like future professionals from day one. With certificates, associate’s, and bachelor’s degrees in more than 46 majors – including engineering, robotics, design and other STEM-related fields – Dunwoody challenges students to come determined and graduate destined. More information on Dunwoody can be found at dunwoody.edu or by following Dunwoody on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.