Meet Alberto Urbina (PLSP-ECMC Foundation fellow)
Meet Alberto Urbina, dean, material science, Center of Excellence, Houston Community College. Urbina’s interview appears as part of a spotlight series on 2020–21 fellows in the Postsecondary Leadership Success Program at ACTE – Sponsored by ECMC Foundation.
What leadership skills do you hope to develop as part of the Postsecondary Leadership Success Program at ACTE – Sponsored by ECMC Foundation?
The leadership skills I hope to develop include strategic planning, CTE partnerships and program review. Strategic planning is very important for CTE leaders because of the dynamics of working with industry, students and institution leadership. Partnerships are critical because guided pathways increase student success, achievement and program completion. Therefore, support from industry partners facilitates matriculation from training to workplace.
Effective, rigorous programming is also essential for student success. Programs should continuously be reviewed, evaluated and updated. This also goes for faculty. Faculty should regularly attend professional development in their content area to stay current with industry trends and changes.
How do you anticipate your participation in the program will better equip you to support career and technical education (CTE) students, particularly underserved groups, toward career success?
Participation will allow me to network with other education professionals throughout the United States, allowing me to learn from others and share best practices. Guest speakers and presenters have done an excellent job in speaking about recent changes in CTE due to COVID-19. Along with a greater awareness of trends, connecting with other CTE professionals will help me in serving underserved groups. There are many great models of CTE instruction — cohort, block schedule and guided pathways — and through collaboration with PLSP–ECMC Foundation fellows, I will be able to best serve Houston Community College’s CTE students.
In your opinion, what are the most important elements of professional development for postsecondary leaders?
In my view, the most important elements of professional development for postsecondary leaders include a culture of change, continuous improvement and data analytics. Higher education is constantly changing and, therefore, being able to lead change is an important skill for a leader to have. Having a plan for continuous improvement will ensure that programs stay relevant, rigorous and sustainable. Last, analysis of student data is critical for leaders so that their decisions, policies and strategic plan are developed in the best interest of students.
Learn more about the PLSP–ECMC Foundation.
The Postsecondary Leadership Success Program at ACTE – Sponsored by ECMC Foundation presents a yearlong professional development experience. The program is intended to develop the organizational leadership and management skills of postsecondary CTE professionals, with an emphasis on addressing the needs of underserved populations. Applications for the third cohort accepted Oct. 1–Dec. 15.
