Cultivating Partnerships: The Role Of Community Colleges In Workforce Development

Matthew Lenihan

Matt earned his bachelor’s degree from Siena College in 2005, then delved into the private business sector in NYC, gaining insights into talent pipeline management. Transitioning to Florida in 2014, he pivoted to higher education, focusing on workforce connection and incumbent worker training. At Polk State College for five years, Matt championed customized workforce training and served on key committees, contributing to the College's accreditation self-study. He earned his Master of Arts degree in Career and Technical Education from USF in 2019, enhancing his expertise in workforce education. Joining Saint Leo University in 2020, he rose to Director of the Saint Leo East Pasco Education Center in 2021, expanding corporate partnerships and spearheading recruitment efforts amidst the pandemic. He then moved to Palm Beach State College in 2022 as Director of Business and Community Relations, tasked with fostering external and internal relationships to bolster the College’s presence in Palm Beach County.

Dr. Belinda Mouradian

Dr. Mouradian started her career in clinical health practice at local hospitals in South Florida. She then transitioned to higher education in 2009 and worked as an adjunct, then moved to a tenured faculty position, and later became the Nuclear Medicine Program Director. Dr. Mouradian revised the entire curriculum and successfully brought the program to receive initial programmatic accreditation as well as significantly improving the licensure pass rate to 100% on first attempt. Dr. Mouradian became extremely interested in heightening her involvement with the accreditation process and became an ABHES evaluator in her early years of teaching in higher education. ABHES has been an instrumental part of her life as she has gained an immeasurable wealth of knowledge through the robust visits she has participated in for almost 10 years to date. After receiving tenure and working as faculty for nearly a decade, Dr. Mouradian moved into administrative roles as the District Director for Instructional Design and the Associate Dean for Health Sciences. She served as a Master Quality Matters Reviewer and a faculty facilitator where she avidly worked with training faculty on how to use the learning management system as well as how to transition courses to various instructional deliveries. Dr. Mouradian holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, a Master of Science Degree in Higher Education with a focus in online instruction. She currently holds a district administrative position overseeing all allied health science programs across five campuses at Palm Beach State College.

Edward Willey

Dean Edward Willey began his affiliation with Palm Beach State College in 1987 as a community education representative from Boca Raton Community Hospital (now Boca Regional) and as a member of the first Allied Health Advisory Committee on the Eissey Campus in Palm Beach Gardens. In 1989 he was hired as the first program clinical coordinator. During his almost 35-year tenure with Palm Beach State College, he has held numerous positions of leadership, including the positions of Coordinator with full time instructional responsibilities, Program Manager, Division Chairman, Associate Dean, Dean of Academic Affairs, Interim Dean of Health Sciences and Interim Provost. He was appointed Dean of Academic Affairs in 2000 and currently serves all five campuses as the District Dean of Health Sciences. He has earned both a graduate degree and undergraduate degree in Allied Health Science and Health Services Administration respectively and is a Ph.D. candidate in Education Administration and Leadership. At Palm Beach State College, he has served on numerous committees, including the PBSC Dental & Medical Sciences Project, Leadership Palm Beach County, Professional Development Committee, District Equity Committee, Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, Council of Instructional Affairs with memberships in National Council of Instructional Administrators, Florida Deans and Directors of Allied Health.