Western Governors University School of Business leaders recently hosted The Future of Supply Chain Workforce Summit in Long Beach, California, connecting business leaders, educators and supply chain professionals for the latest event in a series of roadshows aimed at fostering partnerships that will shape tomorrow's workforce.

The percentage of U.S. adults who have little or no confidence in higher education has never been higher. How can higher education institutions reverse this trend? Leaders at the School of Business at Western Governors University (WGU) believe their academic model is a case study in how to prepare students to succeed professionally today, tomorrow and into the future.

Work-based learning is the way of the future to connect stranded talent in communities across America to jobs that need to be filled. Apprenticeships can support many industries, and a look into our nation’s K-12 education system provides just one sector where these new learning models can advance our communities.

Through personalized interactions, responsive support systems, and a commitment to psychological safety, higher education institutions can create environments that offer not just education, but transformation. In doing so, they foster connections that equip students with the confidence, resilience, and belonging needed to thrive beyond the classroom, ensuring that education becomes a lifelong source of empowerment and connection.

A conversation with US Army TRADOC, Partnership for Your Success Program Manager Antonio Johnson Sr. about his life of service and the importance of establishing employment prospects and support frameworks for veterans moving on to civilian lives. Johnson, who will attend the upcoming Roll Call professional networking event, served in the military for 22 years, has a master’s degree from WGU in management and leadership, and has forged a successful career in supporting transitioning soldiers.

Historically, support for for neurodivergent learners has been limited, often accessible only with official diagnoses and sometimes proving ineffective. Yet, as we venture further into the digital age of learning, innovative practices are emerging to bridge the equity gap for neurodivergent and situationally limited learners, particularly in fields like engineering or computing.