Ivy Tech Community College today announced the appointment of three staff members to key leadership roles that will impact the College’s statewide operations, specifically around workforce development.
Molly Dodge, formerly the chancellor of Ivy Tech’s Madison campus, will now serve as senior vice president of workforce and careers. Matthew Connell will serve as the vice president of healthcare, joining Ivy Tech from the State College of Florida where he served as dean of nursing and health professions. Shabbir Qutbuddin now serves as assistant vice president for the School of IT for workforce and careers. He was previously the director of IT sector partnership at Ivy Tech’s South Bend-Elkhart campus.
“Filling these three positions was critical to ensure Ivy Tech continues our laser focus on workforce development,” Ivy Tech President Dr. Sue Ellspermann said. “Ivy Tech’s workforce mission has never been more important than it is today as employers are experiencing workforce shortages and we have the opportunity to attract students to programs in high wage, high demand careers which both support Indiana’s economy and Hoosier prosperity.”
In her new role, Dodge will work with employers across the state to ensure the College has the programs and capacity to fill the State’s workforce pipeline. Additionally, she will oversee the College’s partnership with the Indiana Department of Correction.
“I am excited to work with President Ellspermann and our faculty and staff to further enhance the College’s offerings to quickly skill up Hoosiers with shorter-term microcredentials, certificates and associate degrees that seamlessly transfer to our four-year partners,” Dodge said. “Working with the Commission for Higher Education and the Indiana General Assembly will make Indiana the best State to compete successfully in the global economy.”
With over 18 years’ experience in higher education, healthcare, and business process, Connell will build on the existing momentum of the College’s work in the healthcare sector and with the expansion of the College’s nursing program.
“It’s evident that Ivy Tech has made great strides in the healthcare field, from partnering with healthcare providers to their advocacy at the Statehouse to advance critical healthcare legislation,” said Connell. “I look forward to working with my teammates to continue this work and finding new ways to keep healthcare at the forefront for our stakeholders and employer partners statewide.”
Qutbuddin, whose time at Ivy Tech South Bend-Elkhart included training, work-based learning, professional development, career services, and community engagement initiatives, will focus on realigning the School of IT.
“We know that Indiana is seeing an increased demand for IT professionals, and Ivy Tech is uniquely positioned to meet that need,” said Qutbuddin. “In this role, I hope to continue elevating Ivy Tech’s IT programs and establishing partnerships that offer students across our state opportunities to excel as IT professionals, whether that’s through a credential, certification, or degree.”
For more information about Ivy Tech programs and initiatives, visit www.ivytech.edu.
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