Workforce Development Training, Federal Financial Aid, Career and Technical Education, Student Access, Student Success, Higher Education, and Labor Market Participation

Tracee Matthias is a doctoral student interested in investigating the feasibility of making federal financial aid available for workforce training courses offered through community colleges.

Why? The nature of work is changing, and people need to acquire skills at a faster pace. Micro-credentials, industry certifications, and other short-term workforce training courses are designed to meet immediate industry needs but are not eligible for federal financial aid.

Education Background

She started her undergraduate education at Towson University, where she completed a BS in Economics with a minor in Business Administration, a graduate certificate in Management and Leadership Development, and MA in Liberal and Professional Studies. She also completed her MBA at Frostburg State University. Tracee was the first person in her family to earn a college degree.

Significant Accomplishments

Tracee has been awarded nearly $1.2 million in a mix of federal, state, and foundation grants. The awards funded projects that served students enrolled in K-12 and adults interested in college. Areas of focus included robotics education, youth literacy, period poverty, youth employment, and college access services.

Experience and Interests

Before devoting her time to full-time doctoral studies, Tracee worked in higher education for more than 20 years. Her time was evenly split between workforce development departments at community colleges and grant-funded initiatives serving primarily low-income and first-generation students and youth released from juvenile detention.

Her experiences in workforce development and continuing education departments influenced her research interests. She is extremely good at researching policies and procedures to find resources and money to support initiatives. Her future research initiatives will contribute to policies that make it easier for students to fund their skill development.

 

College Board Regional Fellowship - 2020 - Granted registration, lodging, and travel to attend The Institute on Financial Aid - Cancelled due to COVID-19

  • Excellence in Equity Award – Montgomery College’s Office of Equity and Inclusion – 2019
  • President’s Volunteer Service Award – President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation – 2019
  • 40 Under 40 Award – American Association for Women in Community Colleges – 2017
  • Outstanding Service Award – Montgomery College’s Office of Human Resources through a recommendation from the Office of Admissions and Enrollment Management – 2012
  • Above and Beyond the Call Award – Montgomery College’s Office of Institutional Advancement – 2012
  • Fannie Lou Hamer Commitment to Excellence Award in Education – D.C. Chapter of the National Hook-Up of Black Women, Inc. – 2011
  • Special Recognition Award – Montgomery College’s Office of Human Resources through a recommendation from the Office of Admissions and Enrollment Management – 2007 – 2010
  • STAR Award for Excellence in Training – Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Community Youth Corps Program – 2005
  • AmeriCorps Education Awards – University of Maryland, Baltimore County Shriver’s Center Choice Jobs Program – 2002 and 2003
  • Literacy Grant Award - The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi - 2023 - Funded the BRIDGES Book Club at Takoma Park Elementary School and Piney Branch Elementary School located in Takoma Park, Maryland
  • Love of Learning Award - The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi - 2022 - Funded the Association for the Study of Higher Education annual conference. 
  • Literacy Grant Award - The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi - 2020 - Funded the BRIDGES Book Club at Takoma Park Elementary School and Piney Branch Elementary School located in Takoma Park, Maryland
  • Youth Literacy Grant - Dollar General Literacy Foundation - 2019 - Funded the BRIDGES Book Club at Takoma Park Elementary School and Piney Branch Elementary School located in Takoma Park, Maryland
  • Love of Learning Award - The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi - 2019 - Funded the Inside HigherEd's Future of Public Higher Education meeting
  • Community Grant - Towson University Alumni Association - 2019 - Funded Project STRONG, a service project addressing period poverty for teen girls
  • Student Success Grant - National Education Association Foundation - 2019 - Funded robotics instructional materials for grades K and 2 elementary school teachers
  • Robotics Program - Maryland State Department of Education - 2018 - Funded robotics instructional materials for all STEM students at Takoma Park Elementary School
  • Innovation Fund - Montgomery College Foundation - 2015 - Funded the development of an A.A.S. Veterinary Technician program which aligns with the noncredit veterinary assistant training program
  • Educational Opportunity Center - U.S. Department of Education - 2011 - Funded the TRiO program which provides college access services to adults
  • Program Enhancement Grant - Carl M. Freeman Foundation - 2007 - Funded Leadership Montgomery participation