Meet Catalyze’s New Director, Michelle Cheang, Ed.D.
We are thrilled to introduce Catalyze’s new Director, Michelle Cheang, Ed.D., who recently joined the team.
We asked Michelle a series of questions to delve into her background and to understand what drives her passion for creating equitable career opportunities for young learners from historically underserved and underrepresented communities. The Catalyze community can look forward to hearing more from Michelle in the coming months!
Can you share a little bit about your background and what drew you to this position with Catalyze?
My north star is social justice for learners of all ages — with a focus on historically underrepresented youth — through the reduction of barriers to equitable access for post-secondary education and career pathways. For more than a decade, I have worked at the intersection of education, workforce development, and social services.
As a nonprofit practitioner, I launched a youth education and workforce department, operating three centers for opportunity youth; successfully partnered with K-12 public schools and industry leaders to provide college and career exploration and readiness programs; and strategically engaged with funders to align investments with organizational priorities. During my tenure as a community college dean, I expanded career technical education pathways through K-12 dual enrollment partnerships, academic support services and instruction, and employer engagement.
I joined Catalyze because I believe in our mission to enable young people to reach their potential and achieve fulfillment through transformative career-connected learning experiences that lead to rewarding employment. We — philanthropy, education institutions, community-based organizations, and employers — have an opportunity and obligation to disrupt structures that create barriers and elevate solutions that increase learner outcomes.
What trends are you seeing currently in career-connected learning that the Catalyze community should know about?
Strong partnerships between educational institutions and industry are crucial for effective career-connected learning. By working together, educators and industry professionals can ensure that the skills being taught align with the needs of the job market. When we think about the career development continuum, there is a need for an employer voice. Whether learners are exploring their own identity and interests, exploring careers and labor market trends, developing durable and technical skills, or gaining direct career experience, employers can help shape internal and external practices to better prepare young people for the world of work.
Preparation for the world of work is expanding to younger learners in middle school and early high school. Models connecting exploration of identity and interests with career exposure are sparking curiosity, early dialogue, and establishing social capital and networks.
Many employers are shifting their focus to skillsets from specific degrees or qualifications. They are recognizing that skills can be acquired through various avenues. Skills-based hiring allows individuals to showcase their abilities and potential, regardless of their formal education background. Additionally, while technical skills are still important, there is an increasing emphasis on transferable skills as they contribute to productivity, collaboration, and innovation in the workplace.
What excites you most about the future of Catalyze?
Catalyze was formed to push bold ideas in career-connected learning forward. With the upcoming Round Three Catalyze Challenge* themes focused on career identity and activating employer partnerships to prepare young people for the world of work, I'm excited to see the implementation of career-connected learning solutions and their impact on learners — in particular young people that have been historically underserved and underrepresented — as well as an expansion of industry partners championing the work.
*Round Three of the Catalyze Challenge opens on July 31 — stay tuned for more information about how to apply for a grant!
