Community College of Philadelphia Announces Ayanna Washington as Career and Advanced Technology Center Executive Director

Originally published: March 17, 2022 
Contact: 
Barry Johnson 
Email: btjohnson@ccp.edu  
Cell: 267-666-7881

Washington joined the College in 2014 and most recently served as director of Career Connections 

PHILADELPHIA – Community College of Philadelphia has announced that Ayanna Washington will serve as executive director of the College’s Career and Advanced Technology Center (CATC). The CATC is a 75,000 square foot state-of-the-art learning facility that will offer for-credit and noncredit courses and programs to support the job pipeline needs in Philadelphia’s transportation, manufacturing, and health care fields. 

Washington joined the College in 2014 as the director of Business Development for Corporate Solutions. She most recently served as director of the Career Connections Department within the Division of Workforce and Economic Innovation, where she strategically transformed the department, its services to students, and its outreach and engagement efforts with employers.  

“Community College of Philadelphia is proud to announce Ayanna Washington as the executive director of our highly anticipated Career and Advanced Technology Center,” said College President Dr. Donald “Guy” Generals. “Ayanna is an action-oriented and results-driven leader who is able to connect with students, establish strong relationships with employers, and maintain the trust of the community in which we will serve. She is the perfect fit for this position, and we can’t wait to see how she will transform the lives of our students.” 

As executive director of the CATC, Washington will be responsible for all operations at the center, including programming and services to ensure student, community, and employee needs are met. She will additionally serve as a liaison to industry partners and external stakeholders, monitor program and project outcomes, and supervise ongoing operations of the CATC.  

While the College’s Automotive Technology program will serve as the anchor of the CATC, students will be able to pursue training that aligns with the needs of employers in Philadelphia and throughout the region. This includes Advanced Manufacturing programs such as Electro-Mechanical Technology and Welding, and entry-level health care career training such as Nurse Aide and Dental Assisting. Spaces and technology will also be used to support local entrepreneurship and for public use.   

“I am excited to serve as the executive director of the CATC, and look forward to promoting the benefits and impacts of the CTE certificates and degree programs offered here at Community College of Philadelphia,” said Washington. “The CATC will help Philadelphians access the education and employability skills needed to obtain livable wage job opportunities, and will further our role as the city’s go-to talent pipeline, helping to fill key shortages in the skilled trades industries. It is my hope that our stakeholders will recognize the importance of this major community and educational resource, and help us grow this model across the city.” 

Prior to joining the College, Washington served as campus director at Strayer University for 10 years where she was responsible for the successful start-up, retention, and enrollment goals of eight brick and mortar campuses in Georgia, Alabama, New Jersey and Philadelphia.   

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Temple University with a minor in Education, a Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Global Management from University of Phoenix, and a Master’s in Education from Strayer University with a concentration in Educational Management.   

The CATC is expected to official open this fall. Additional information on the College’s Career and Advanced Technology Center can be found by visiting ccp.edu/catc. 

 

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