Peter Dettmer, Blackhawk Technical College’s Dean of the Manufacturing, Apprenticeship, Transportation and Technology (MATT) Division, was recently named one of five Fellows in the fourth cohort of the Community College Presidents’ Initiative in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (CCPI-STEM) Education.

Dettmer works with faculty and industry partners to expand applied STEM education and workforce training.

“My goal is to contribute practitioner-driven leadership that strengthens employer engagement, expands apprenticeship pathways, and builds sustainable models that align technical education with evolving workforce needs ensuring STEM education remains relevant, accessible, and impactful,” he explained in his application for the Fellows program.

The purpose of the Fellows program, which is funded through the National Science Foundation, is to strengthen community college faculty and administrators and nurture their leadership skills in order to grow and diversify the STEM technician workforce.

“This opportunity comes at an exciting time in my professional journey as I begin pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at Edgewood University, with a concentration in Leadership Excellence. My research will focus on flexible education models in applied STEM programs, exploring how community and technical colleges can better support student success while meeting the evolving workforce needs of industry,” Dettmer said.

The CCPI-STEM Fellows program is open to individuals pursuing or beginning to pursue graduate degrees and conducting research related to STEM education and workforce development in community colleges. The criteria used to evaluate the applicants considered educational background, STEM-related experience, leadership potential, STEM leadership potential, STEM community engagement, and the focus of their proposed research.  

“I look forward to learning from the CCPI-STEM community and contributing to conversations about the future of applied STEM education, workforce development, and leadership in community and technical colleges,” Dettmer said.