Eastern North Carolina – [March 10, 2025] – STEM East, an initiative of NC East Alliance, recently hosted a successful Lunch and Learn series aimed at strengthening career pathway awareness in eastern North Carolina. The sessions brought together career development coordinators (CDCs), middle and high school counselors, and career center advisors to discuss regionally significant career clusters and strategies for integrating industry connections into education.
There were three sessions held across the region, hosted by Craven Community College’s VOLT Center, Edgecombe Community College, and College of the Albemarle (CoA). The sessions engaged a total of 88 attendees representing 25 school districts and six community colleges. Participants explored the career clusters currently supported by STEM East’s Industry in Schools program, which include:
- Aviation
- Biopharma
- Blue Economy
- Energy Sector
- Health Science
- Smart Agriculture
These industries play a crucial role in eastern North Carolina’s economy, and STEM East is committed to ensuring that students have access to career pathways that align with their interests and regional workforce needs.
The Lunch and Learn sessions featured a presentation from Jamie Vaughn, Senior Analyst for Market Intelligence at the North Carolina Department of Commerce, who provided insight into labor market data and career development plans for students in grades 5 and 10. Natasha Roberson, a career center coordinator at Martin Community College, also co-presented, emphasizing the importance of equipping educators with the tools to guide students toward sustainable, in-demand careers.
“Educators are key in connecting students to career opportunities,” said Bruce Middleton, Director of STEM East. “By increasing awareness of industry needs and integrating real-world career examples into classroom instruction, we can better prepare students for the workforce and keep talent within our region.”
Each session also highlighted NCcareers.org, an essential resource for students to explore career options and build career development plans.
With Industry in Schools Leadership Institutes serving as a foundation, STEM East continues to collaborate with regional partners to enhance career exploration opportunities. These efforts ensure that educators can effectively guide students toward pathways in high-growth industries that support economic development in eastern North Carolina.
For more information about STEM East’s workforce development initiatives, please contact:
Trey Goodson
Chief Information Officer, NC East Alliance
Phone: (252) 814-0484
Email: [email protected]
About NC East Alliance & STEM East
STEM East is an education and workforce development initiative of NC East Alliance, a regional economic development organization dedicated to promoting growth in eastern North Carolina. Through programs like Industry in Schools and collaborative partnerships, STEM East bridges the gap between education and industry, ensuring that students have the skills and knowledge to thrive in the region’s workforce. The NC East Alliance model of combining economic development, education, workforce development, and marketing is a unique and innovative solution for rural economic development.
This Lunch and Learn series is another step forward in preparing eastern North Carolina’s students for meaningful, high-demand careers while strengthening the connection between education and industry.