Faculty Externships Align Tri‑C Teaching With Today's Workforce

Industry-based learning experiences help translate workplace practices into stronger, relevant curriculum for students

Faculty at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri‑C^®) have a new, unique way to connect classroom learning to emerging workforce expectations through faculty externships, supported by the College's Center for the Future of Work.

Nine externships in the Spring 2026 semester have placed faculty directly into industry, nonprofit, government and higher education environments, giving them firsthand exposure to current workplace practices, emerging technologies and evolving skill needs. That real‑world experience will be incorporated into curriculum updates and applied learning activities and will strengthen employer relationships — ensuring Tri‑C students are prepared for the demands of today's and tomorrow's jobs.

"Faculty externships are giving our instructors firsthand insight into current workplace practices and emerging skill needs, helping them shape course content that truly reflects today's workforce expectations, while also providing a benefit to our employer partners across the region,"  said Jessica Colombi, director of the Center for the Future of Work. "This real-world experience will ensure our students' applied learning experiences are preparing students for the future of work — which is now."

Externship experiences span a broad range of academic disciplines and workforce sectors.

In the Captioning and Court Reporting program, faculty are visiting multiple professional sites throughout the semester to observe modern court reporting practices, including stenography, voice writing, digital reporting and the growing role of AI in transcription workflows. Many of the host sites are owned or staffed by program alumni, further strengthening connections between graduates, employers and the College.

Sociology faculty are partnering with community organizations to examine practical issues such as civic engagement, volunteer motivation and compassion fatigue in emotionally demanding work. These experiences will be used to design applied research projects that connect sociological theory to lived community experiences.

In advanced manufacturing and engineering, faculty are embedded with employer partners to observe smart manufacturing processes, identify operational challenges and collaborate with industry professionals on potential improvements. The insights gained will directly inform classroom instruction, lab activities and case studies that meet employer needs.

Other externships introduce faculty to workforce tools and environments that students will encounter after graduation, including labor market data platforms, nonprofit consulting practices, community health initiatives, early childhood education settings and advanced research laboratories. Across disciplines, the focus remains consistent: understanding how work is changing, ensuring instruction keeps pace and providing tangible benefits to the employer where the externships take place. 

"These experiences provide clarity about the skills, tools and expectations that will prepare students as they progress into more rigorous work environments," Colombi said.

By investing in faculty externships, Tri‑C continues to reinforce its commitment to workforce‑aligned education — preparing students with relevant knowledge, practical skills and clear pathways from classroom to career.

Participating faculty and their hosts sites include:

• Kolleen Barnes and Kelly Moranz, Captioning and Court Reporting (multiple locations)
• Robyn White, Sociology (Friends of CITY DOGS Cleveland)
• Issam Boukabou, Electrical Engineering (Eaton Corporation)
• Michael Flatt and Rachel Stehle, Sociology (Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland)
• Kellie Emrich, Business and Marketing, (Inbloom Consulting)
• Mussab Abdelsalam, Smart Manufacturing and Engineering (Talan Products)
• Margaret MacDonald, Biology (Kent State University)
• Desiree Sanders, Nursing (First Year Cleveland)
• Karen Goulandris, Early Childhood Education (Smart Start Learning Center)

Learn more about the Tri-C Center for the Future of Work.

April 09, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT: Anthony Moujaes, 216-987-3068 or anthony.moujaes@tri-c.edu