The Next Chapter for Boundless Potential

Author

Alison Griffin
September 24, 2025

Good afternoon!

After nearly six years of showing up in your inbox with hot-takes and sense-making at the intersection of postsecondary education and employment in Colorado, this will be my final edition authoring Boundless Potential.

Here’s what I am reflecting on: When we started this newsletter, I thought I would be writing primarily about policy developments and institutional innovation. What I discovered instead was a community of colleagues hungry for nuanced conversations about what postsecondary education could be—and should be. Our readers have taught me that the most important policy discussions happen when we connect data and research to real learner experiences, real community decisions, and real institutional challenges.

Readers have also been hungry for community with one another and building new relationships and partnerships with other colleagues across the state. Whether we are unpacking accountability frameworks, celebrating innovative programs, or wrestling with questions about access and affordability, you showed up with thoughtful questions and perspectives that made me a better thinker and writer. This community has embodied what I believe postsecondary education at its best can be: curious, collaborative, and committed to learner success.

I am stepping into a new role where I will be working to launch a coalition focused on expanding postsecondary pathways in Colorado. I’m excited to continue my work in a new capacity. This transition feels especially timely as the national conversation pivots from “college for all,” to one that elevates the range of quality postsecondary options available to learners. In fact, Lauren Camera, a former education journalist with U.S. News and World Report authored a guide that maps quality pathways for learners who are “thinking differently” about their futures. You can access the guide here and read my latest in Forbes here. 

I am excited to share that Boundless Potential will continue under the leadership of Annika Turnquist, who has been instrumental in supporting the writing of the newsletter for the last three years, and Julia Pasette-Seamon, associate editor of Whiteboard Notes, Whiteboard Advisors’ flagship newsletter. Both colleagues bring an equal passion for elevating Colorado voices and perspectives and understand that postsecondary education transformation is not just about systems and structures—it’s about learners and their boundless potential.

Thank you for six years of engagement, collaboration, and community. You can stay in touch with me through LinkedIn and by email.

All my best,

Alison

Spotlight on Colorado Education and Workforce

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This week, we spotlight a few stories and opportunities that caught our attention:

Colorado Faces Critical Shortage of Trade School Instructors: Colorado's trade schools are grappling with an instructor shortage just as student demand for career and technical education surges. Emily Griffith Technical College is facing this challenge: the school maintains full enrollment and waiting lists, but finding qualified instructors can take six to nine months. The shortage affects programs in welding, HVAC, automotive repair, and other skilled trades, with at least 26 states experiencing similar CTE teacher shortages for the 2025-26 school year. EGTC is getting creative by partnering with industry retirees, reaching out to departing workers during exit interviews, and recruiting through AARP to pitch "encore careers" in the classroom.

Older Coloradans Return to the Classroom for Enrichment and Connection: Colorado's aging population is increasingly turning to higher education for personal enrichment and social connection. Programs such as CU Denver's Change Makers attract professionals navigating midlife transitions, offering guided courses, social networking, and class audit opportunities. The adult students in the program represent a growing trend of older Coloradans seeking intellectual stimulation and community engagement through educational programs designed specifically for their demographic. Instructors note that these older students bring valuable perspective and preparedness to traditional undergraduate classes, creating enriching intergenerational dynamics.

The Courageous Colorado Activation Tour is coming to your community! You may recall that in the spring, Courageous Colorado’s Listening Tour reached nearly 150 Coloradans in 20 communities. This fall, the Activation Tour is the next step: moving from listening to building. You can learn more about the tour, Courageous Colorado’s mission and sign up for a conversation in your area here. Congratulations to my colleague and friend, Dr. Landon Mascareñaz for sparking a vision to bring dignity, curiosity and ‘courage’ to our conversations.

What We’re Reading (and Listening To…)

Postsecondary Education

  • AI Preparation: Only about half of recent graduates feel confident that their AI skills are job-market ready, according to a new report from Cengage. More than one-third wish their institutions had worked more closely with employers to create relevant courses and skill-building opportunities. At the same time, a new global report from Cambridge International Education on K-12 education practices across 150 countries found that teachers and students both cite digital skills as among the most crucial things for students to learn in preparation for their futures beyond formal education. [Forbes]

  • Affordability Gap: The National College Attainment Network (NCAN) released its third-annual Affordability Gap report, which digs into the disparity between the cost of college in the U.S. and available financial aid in 2022-23 – the last full IPEDS data set available. NCAN proposes that to be affordable, the total price of college for an in-state student plus $300 for emergency expenses should not exceed the combined total of grant aid, loans, Federal Work Study (FWS), an estimated Expected Family Contribution (EFC), and a student’s summer wagers. According to their analysis, just 35% of public four-year colleges and fewer than half (48%) of community colleges were financially in reach for students.

Future of Work

  • Skills Validation: The Partnership for Skills Validation released new guidance for employers seeking to adopt skills-based hiring, training and advancement practices. The Partnership – based at the Center for Skills by Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN) and comprising more than 60 workforce organizations, including Grads of Life, Education Design Lab, the SHRM Foundation, National Governors Association, and Aspen Institute’s Upskill American, among others – has created a set of free resources aimed at employers at every stage of adopting skills-based practices.

  • Skills Shortage: New research from the Georgetown Center for Education and the Workforce revealed that the U.S. will face a skills shortage of 5.25 million workers with at least some college education between 2024 and 2032.  The report predicts that 171 occupations will be impacted and points to the mass retirement of workers with postsecondary degrees as one of several major causes.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

Colleagues on the Move

  • Geoffrey Roche joined Risepoint as Senior Vice President of Healthcare Solutions, where he will oversee healthcare related academic strategy and manage the Healthcare Center of Excellence. He previously served as the inaugural North America Director of Workforce Development at Siemens Healthcare.

  • Dr. Holly Smith has been named as the new Executive Director of Reach University’s National Center for the Apprenticeship Degree (NCAD). Dr. Smith has extensive experience in higher ed leadership, having previously served as vice chancellor for academic affairs at University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville and Arkansas State University - Newport. She also previously served as vice president for learning at South Arkansas Community College.

  • NEW! Special Projects Director, Operations Director, and Human Capital Strategist with The National Center for Grow Your Own, Remote

  • NEW! National Research Manager/Senior Research Analyst with the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, Remote

Looking for your next opportunity in education? W/A Jobs features 3,500+ career opportunities from 280+ organizations across the education industry.