The Office of Partnerships & Outreach helps to facilitate Towson University’s anchor mission to support local purchasing, local hiring and workforce development, and strategic community engagement and partnerships. At a recent ATHENAPowerLink® Baltimore event focused on women in the trades, Michelle Joyce, TU’s workforce development coordinator, connected with Lauren Tigue Meredith, coordinator for advising and mentor programs in the College of Business & Economics (CBE). They began exploring how TU students in CBE’s MentHER program could connect with TU’s Skilled Trades Education Pathways (STEP) program.
This spring, the students conducted a case study to understand and address current workforce challenges connected to the skilled trades and identify how TU can grow the STEP program.
To prepare for the case study, the MentHER students met with Michelle to learn more about STEP and dig into the challenges and opportunities that the skilled trades workforce is facing. The discussion highlighted key issues like gaps in resources, the aging workforce, and financial barriers that impact participation. Students were then tasked with developing recommendations on how TU can grow the STEP program and support the skilled trades workforce.
After a week of working on their recommendations, the students presented their findings to STEP and TU leadership. Their recommendations focused on identifying funding sources, strengthening marketing efforts and connecting the program participants to other groups on campus. The students were able to provide actionable next steps for the program and will be following up with STEP for implementation. For many of the students, this was their first introduction to the trades industry, and it was their first experience working on a case study. Overall, feedback from both the students and from TU leadership was positive, and MentHER is exploring future case study opportunities.
As a MentHER student, I’ve always believed in the power of economic pathways and building leadership skills for women. This case study put that belief into action. I wasn’t just a student in that room, I was a voice, a problem-solver, and a bridge between the community and the institution.
—Neyat Daniel, TU student
About the Skilled Trades Education Pathways (STEP) program
STEP is a unique professional development partnership for high school students and recent graduates who are interested in getting into the trades. In this program, participants are provided on-the-job training and structured hands-on experience so they can progressively build their technical skills while working in a real-world environment. Participants move through various trade shops at TU as a cohort, allowing them the opportunity to gain experience in multiple areas and help them decide what trade they may want to pursue. Through direct mentorship and supervised training, they develop foundational competencies that serve as a stepping-stone for future career opportunities.
About MentHER
MentHER is “lift as you rise” program that combines networking and mentorship among women to support the growth, education, and empowerment of college and high school students in the Baltimore area. TU students are connected with women mentors in the business world, and in turn serve as mentors to students at Lansdowne High School to help prepare them for college.
