Community engagement has always been a top priority for the Community College of Allegheny County.
But now, school leaders have taken an extra step to signal the vitality of it to the college’s mission.
That is through the new vice president for strategic initiatives and community engagement role created this summer. Evon Walters, who previously served as CCAC’s northwest regional president, stepped into the inaugural position in July.
The creation of this position is all about intentionality, Mr. Walters said.
“For us to be effective, this role signifies to the broader community that we as a college were looking to not only be a partner, but we’re being more intentional and aggressive,” Mr. Walters said. “We’re listening and we’re learning with an overarching objective of having the desire to partner more in-depth.”
Through the role, CCAC is building upon its already established partnerships and relationships in the greater Pittsburgh area.
Daily, Mr. Walters works closely with community partners, such as chambers of commerce, K-12 schools, businesses, community-based organizations and local officials.
The goal, Mr. Walters said, is to have deeper working relationships with the community. Historically, CCAC has aimed to uplift underserved and economically disadvantaged populations, and this role builds upon that objective.
One area of outreach is with the Neighborhood Learning Alliance, an Allegheny County-based nonprofit that aims to improve education and opportunities for lower-income families.
Partnerships between Neighborhood Learning Alliance and CCAC allow high school students to take CCAC courses in areas such as English, information technology and electronics, free of charge. CCAC credits are transferable if students choose to pursue their associate or bachelor’s degrees.
“You could get so many certifications at CCAC,” said Kashif Henderson, executive director of Neighborhood Learning Alliance. “We just want to make sure we’re educating [students] about the many opportunities that they could [use to] pursue their dreams and make them become a reality.”
And CCAC’s outreach expands beyond the K-12 sector. Through both the strategic initiatives and community engagement aspects of Mr. Walters’ job, CCAC is also preparing for the upcoming demographic cliff: an anticipated drop in college-aged people over the next 15 years.
The college is particularly interested in attracting more adult learners who may be interested in bolstering their credentials or changing careers.
“It boils down to establishing stronger relationships and ultimately establishing credibility in which we can partner in a way that facilitates increased access [and] enhanced awareness,” Mr. Walters said. “Ultimately, [we want to] help those populations to have an opportunity to live the American dream in terms of post-secondary opportunities — whether it's a short-term credential, an associate degree or transfer [pathways] to a four-year college.”
With four campuses and three centers in Allegheny County, CCAC enrolled 10,451 students in fall 2023, according to Department of Education data. The college offers more than 130 degree, certificate and diploma programs.
CCAC’s ultimate goal is to increase economic and community development in the region, Mr. Walters said. The college wants to be a key “strategic thought leader” in Allegheny County’s workforce and labor market — and Mr. Walters’ new position is one way that the college is trying to accomplish this.
“It really contributes very directly to our region's economic growth potential. Having that well-trained workforce will be key,” Mr. Walters said. “I think, with this position, building upon the legacy of what we have historically done as a college speaks very directly to what we’re looking to do in having an even greater impact on the community.”
First Published: March 17, 2025, 9:30 a.m.
Updated: March 18, 2025, 4:23 p.m.
