ACE - American Council on Education

05/05/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 05/05/2026 08:33

ACE’s Building Pathways Initiative Examines the Ecosystem of Economic Growth Through Higher Education in Pennsylvania

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​The current successes and unlimited potential of higher education as an economic engine driving development and strengthening communities throughout Pennsylvania were the focuses of an April 28 convening of ACE's Building Pathways initiative.

Hosted by Northampton Community College (NCC), the convening brought together higher education leaders, employers, and partners based nationally and in the commonwealth.

Attendees heard presentations by a cross-sector of leadership from NCC, the Pennsylvania State Board of Higher Education, LINC, Urban Institute, St. Luke's University Health Network, East Stroudsburg University, and the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania. A panel of student leaders-first generation, military serving, and parenting students-shared powerful stories about how access to higher education unlocked a lifetime of learning, improved the trajectory of their lives, and sparked generational shifts. The event included more than 10 higher education institutions and 25 local and national organizations.

Among those participating in the panel was Cynthia Perez, a military service member attending NCC. Perez spoke about balancing studies and parenting her children, with three of them as well as her husband currently enrolled at NCC. Her family's multi-generational engagement with higher education exemplifies the transformative power of educational access.

As NCC President David Ruth noted, "when our students and graduates succeed, everyone grows." 

NCC President David Ruth

The Building Pathways Initiative, a project of ACE's National Engagement Office, is a limited series of state convenings designed to advance student success by elevating state-led priorities and connecting them with national insights and resources. The inaugural Building Pathways convening took place last year in Virginia, continues next with a May 6 webinar featuring system leadership from Alabama and North Carolina.

The series will culminate May 26 at ACE's Building Pathways Summit, hosted by Virginia Tech at the Innovation Center in Alexandria, VA. Speakers include ACE President Ted Mitchell, Anne Kress, president of Northern Virginia Community College, and President Ruth. Stay tuned for more information and additional exciting speakers.

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ACE's Building Pathways Initiative to Conduct Events Focusing on Cross-Sector Partnerships, State Strategies for Student Success
ACE - American Council on Education published this content on May 05, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 05, 2026 at 14:33 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]