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Career Education Deans

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Career Education Leadership Commitments

  1. Data Informed Decision Making - commitment to regional, local, and districtwide data infrastructure and application of data insights to celebrate, advocate, and improve CTE and Workforce Development programs, services, and initiatives. See Strategic Plan for Workforce Insights here. 
  2. Cross College and Regional Collaboration & Alignment

Priorities

  1. Economic wellbeing and upward mobility of SDCCD students
    • Outcome: Careers
    • Focus:
      • Post-completion outcomes (employment, wage gains, career advancement).
      • Equitable access to high-quality career services and work-based learning.
      • Equitable access to industry aligned instructional programs.
      • Completion rates and time-to-degree.
  2. A skilled, diverse workforce that meets local and regional labor market needs
    • Outcomes: Instructional Alignment & Futures Ready
    • Focus: 
      • Program-to-industry alignment across SDCCD colleges.
      • Employer satisfaction and engagement.
      • Responsiveness to emerging sectors and shifts in labor markets.

Metrics - Long-term progress of the committee’s work is measured by three external outcome metrics provided within the CCCCO DataVista:  Living wage attainment (802S),  Median change in earnings (801A), and Job within field of study   (701C) 

Leading Indicators: WBL activities | Program Completion/awards | course retention | course success

Lead Career Education Deans

Each SDCCD institution has one or more designated lead Career Education deans and associate deans assigned to coordinate Career Education grant management (Perkins and Strong Workforce), participate in regional Career Education initiatives, and lead local and districtwide Career Education efforts. These efforts include: industry alignment, work-based learning, work experience, apprenticeship program management, job placement, career pathways, and joint partnership efforts with San Diego Workforce Partnership. 

This districtwide group of lead Career Education deans and associate deans is convened monthly to support dialogue and coordination across the four institutions. These meetings meet Perkins grant requirements. Standing agenda items include: Career Education equity, Perkins, and Strong Workforce.

  • City College: Jesse Lopez, Dean, Business, Information Technology, Cosmetology and Engineering
  • Mesa College: Monica Romero, Dean, Business and Technology
  • Miramar College: Claudia Estrada-Howell, Dean, Business, Technical Careers & Workforce Initiatives
  • College of Continuing Education: Andrei Lucas, Dean, Automotive, Skilled and Technical Trades
  • District Office: Amertah Perman, Dean, Career Education & Workforce Development

Resources

Reporting Due Dates

Reporting Schedule for CTE Leads

Definitions Guide

Career & Technical Education (CTE) Definitions Guide - comprehensive list of how CTE is defined for different grants and programs

CTE Program Insights

Regional CTE Program Recommendations

Designated lead Career Education deans play a critical role in the required Regional Career Education Program Recommendation Process through the San Diego & Imperial Regional Consortium.

  • Each college has one vote assigned to the designated lead CTE dean
  • Lead CTE deans are responsible for submitting programs for recommendation and for reviewing programs that have been submitted for recommendation

Regional Process overview

District Curriculum & Instruction Committee (CIC) Updates

After each regional Deans Council meeting, updates on the outcomes of the program recommendations for City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges will be shared with the Vice Chancellor for Educational Services to be distributed to Districtwide CIC. 

Districtwide Career Education Leadership Committee

Lead Career Education deans and associate deans over Strong Workforce and Perkins are convened monthly by Career Education and Workforce Development.

2026-27 Committee Membership
  • City College:
    • Jesse Lopez, Dean, School of Business, Information Technology and Cosmetology
    • Sasha Knox, Associate Dean, Strong Workforce
  • Mesa College:
    • Cassandra Storey, Dean, Health Sciences & Public Service
    • Monica Romero, Dean, Business and Technology
    • Alex Berry, Associate Dean, CTE
  • Miramar College:
    • Claudia Estrada-Howell, Dean, School of Business, Technical Careers & Workforce Initiatives
    • Jen Pena, Acting Associate Dean of Strong Workforce
  • College of Continuing Education:
    • Andrei Lucas, Dean, Automotive, Skilled and Technical Trades
    • Bradley Dorschel, Interim Categorical Fund Manager
  • District:
    • Amertah Perman, Dean, Career Education & Workforce Development
    • Edward Matthews, Program Manager
    • Workforce System Manager / CTE Ressearch Expert

Regular Standing Agenda Items

  • Strategic investment of Career Education & Workforce Development funding 
  • Districtwide/cross college priorities
  • Local funding alignment
  • Strategic partnerships at the local, regional, and state levels
  • Career education programs
  • CTE Pathway transitions (noncredit to credit and high school to college, etc.)
  • Employer Engagement (industry aligned programs and Work-based learning)
  • CTE Faculty empowerment & professional development events, activities, and resources
  • CTE & Workforce Data Insights 
Committee Meeting Agendas & Materials

CTE Leadership Teams Folder

Related Workgroups:
  • Career Education Grant Management Workgroup
  • Apprenticeship Program Management Workgroup
  • DCP Program Management Workgroup
  • Work Experience Process Committee
  • CTE Subject Area Meetings
Related Committees:
  • SDCCD Career Services Distictwide Committee
    • Handshake Implementation Workgroup
    • Career Events Planning & Collaboration Workgroup
    • WBL Coordinator Workgroup
  • Regional Deans Council
  • Regional Workforce Development Council

 

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