Education and Workforce At TribFest: Building Texas’ Talent Pipeline

Texas’ long-term prosperity depends on preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow. As new industries drive demand for specialized skills, education systems must adapt to ensure every student can find a viable path to success. At this year’s Texas Tribune Festival, two panels will spotlight how educators, employers, and community leaders are rethinking workforce development and higher-education transitions to strengthen the state’s talent pipeline and fuel inclusive economic growth.

These conversations will explore how innovation in career preparation and college transfer can expand opportunity, close equity gaps, and help Texas meet its growing workforce needs. What’s happening in Dallas County is providing a roadmap for the rest of Texas and the country.

Details for each panel follow below.

JPMorganChase Presents a Fireside Chat: Expanding high-quality career pathways in Texas

The workforce has undergone a substantial transformation. New industries have generated roles that demand highly specialized skill sets, yet the current workforce is not fully equipped to meet these evolving demands. This conversation will explore how academia, government, and business can collaborate on training initiatives that expand talent pipelines, align with the needs of a changing labor market, and foster prosperity for all. With:

• Todd Williams, Chairman and CEO, The Commit Partnership
• Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart, Austin Community College
• Melissa Johnson, Chief of Policy and State Strategies, National Skills Coalition‍
• Heather Higginbottom, Head of Research, Policy, and Insights at JPMorganChase (moderator)

When: 11 a.m. Thursday, November 13
Where: JPMorganChase Business Lounge at First Baptist Church, 901 Trinity St, Austin, TX 78701

The Commit Partnership Presents Building a Better Transfer

How can policymakers and higher education leaders better support students as they seek to transfer from two- to four-year institutions? Hear from the leaders of the Dallas Transfer Collaborative to learn how this innovative new model in North Texas can inform similar efforts statewide.

• Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, District 23
• Chancellor Justin Lonon, Dallas College
• Dr. Ricky Dobbs, Senior Vice Provost, East Texas A&M University
• Nimisha Savani, Founder and CEO, NVision Strategies

When: 1:45 p.m. Friday, November 14
Where: Raise Your Hand Texas Event Center, 1005 Congress Ave. #150, Austin, TX 78701

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