ACT Ready for Work
Podcast Episode 14
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Why are so many well-educated and well-supported American youths struggling to make successful transitions to adult life? It’s an important question and the first that Hans Meeder asks on Episode 14 of our Ready for Work podcast, which was recorded at our recent ACT Workforce Summit.
Hans works at the National Center for College and Career Transitions (NC3T), which he founded in 2012. His organization believes in a simple concept: every young American should have a dream and a plan. The problem? Millions of students don’t.
Hans argues that the missing piece is Career Connected Learning, which is defined as a range of activities that help students connect learning to the real world to develop the knowledge, skills, and mindset they’ll need to successfully enter the world of work, careers, and community life.
This concept isn’t only for some students. It’s for all students. The harsh reality is that so many students—regardless of location or demographic—are struggling to make the transition to adult life, even with a great high school education.
Hans also discusses elements of Career Connected Learning that are often overlooked, including hands-on learning and career navigation skills.
Listen as Hans provides his passionate insight on the successful profile of a career and life-ready graduate, how the design of a career development model engages students, families, and community members, and much more.
“Fewer than half of high school graduates can say that ‘my school helped me understand the steps I needed to pursue a career.’”
- Hans Meeder
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Hans Meeder
About Hans Meeder
Hans Meeder is co-founder and President of the National Center for College and Career Transitions (NC3T). The National Center for College and Career Transitions is a mission driven organization with the purpose of fostering regional college-career pathway systems that are supported and led by alliances of educators, employers, and civic organizations. NC3T provides a planning structure, coaching, and technical assistance to help community-based leadership teams develop and implement regional college-career pathway systems. Mr. Meeder and his organization, NC3T, have provided consulting, technical assistance, and professional development in over 33 states and the District of Columbia.
Mr. Meeder is the author of two books, The Power and Promise of Pathways and the STEM Leader Guide, and co-author of Advisory Boards That Matter and the online course, Career Connected Learning 101.
Mr. Meeder has an extensive and varied career in education and workforce policy and government leadership, with an emphasis on high school redesign, career and technical education, and workforce quality. Prior to founding NC3T, Meeder served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Education in the U.S. Department of Education Office of Vocational and Adult Education. In this role, Meeder led the Department of Education’s High School Initiative and guided policy development for implementation of the Perkins Act and the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act.
Mr. Meeder served as Senior Vice President for Workforce Development and Postsecondary Learning at the National Alliance of Business and as Executive Director of the 21st Century Workforce Commission, a Presidential Commission that made policy recommendations relating to the Information Technology workforce. Mr. Meeder also worked as Education Policy and Outreach Director for the House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Mr. Meeder lives in Columbia, Maryland with his wife and is the parent of four grown children. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland College Park and also holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Maryland’s University College.