10/15/2026
I had the opportunity last night to introduce myself to members of the Building Contractor's Association here in Northeast Indiana.
As a higher ed educator, the trades are very important to me. One of the most important things when working as an educator is being able to help students find the fields they will thrive in - and those aren't always 4 years degrees. I felt a responsibility in that role to understanding how to discuss these fields with my students when they were struggling in a 4 year program.
Our trades impact our lives every day, and ensure that we have safe, healthy, clean spaces to live and work in. We are in a building trades crisis, and those who want to go into these programs deserve the education needed to do so. Respect those who are in the trades!