California Competes Executive Director Dr. Su Jin Gatlin Jez has been awarded the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning’s (CAEL) Pamela Tate Rise Award for 2021. She received the award earlier today at the CAEL Annual Conference.
The committee was unanimous in its decision as Dr. Jez’s dedication and leadership in supporting adult learners has brought forth far-reaching impacts for bridging California’s higher education and workforce sectors.
CAEL established the Pamela Tate Rise Award in 2018, on the occasion of Tate’s retirement as president of CAEL, to perpetually recognize her commitment to connecting and empowering the community that serves adult learners. The award is a tribute to Tate and acknowledges her dedication to breaking the barriers between higher education, workforce development, and employers. With this award, CAEL recognizes those, like Dr. Jez, who have made significant contributions to expanding working adults’ access to economic mobility, community engagement, and continuing higher education.
“We’re honored to hear that Dr. Jez received the CAEL Pamela Tate Rise award,” says Lenny Mendonca, California Competes Leadership Councilmember and former Chief Economic and Business Advisor for the state. “From engaging California’s business groups into higher education issues to producing various research publications that help guide policymakers towards prioritizing adult learner success, Dr. Jez’s work continues to drive transformative impacts across California’s higher education system and workforce.”
“As we return to a state of quasi-normalcy and start the trek towards economic recovery, never has there been a more important moment than now to forge connections so more adult learners can reach their full potential and engage, contribute, and succeed in their rebounding communities,” Dr. Jez notes. “I, along with the Leadership Council and staff of California Competes, am committed to advancing policy solutions that create better higher education and workforce alignment and help more adult learners move successfully along pathways to high road jobs.”
