College Of Desert Professor Selected For National Award

Press release from College of the Desert:

Jan. 25, 2022

Dr. Pamela L. Stegeman, who teaches business, entrepreneurship, and marketing programs at College of the Desert, has been selected as the inaugural winner of the Bellwether College Consortium's Outstanding Dissertation Award.

Her dissertation, "Characteristics of collaborative community college/economic development organization partnerships: A multiple case study," was selected from 30 finalists nationwide.

"Dr. Stegeman has demonstrated her exceptional talent for preparing our students to enter the business world with skills, knowledge, and passion. She is definitely deserving of this recognition," said College of the Desert Superintendent/President Martha Garcia, Ed.D.

The Bellwether College Consortium is comprised of award-winning colleges charged with addressing critical issues facing community colleges through applied research and the promotion and replication of best practices addressing workforce development, instructional programs and services, and planning governance and finance.

The Outstanding Dissertation Award recognizes a dissertation that substantially contributes to the literature and/or practice of community college instruction, governance, or workforce development. Dr. Stegeman will receive the award on February 27 at the 2022 Community College Futures Assembly in San Antonio, Texas.

Dr. Rose Martinez, director for the Bellwether College Consortium, stated, “Dr. Stegeman’s research provides new insights to a novel question, how do community colleges serve as platforms for high-demand employer training programs? Her study is an empirically-based roadmap to identifying and employing the characteristics needed to have community colleges become integral to a business growth model.”

"Receiving the inaugural Bellwether Outstanding Dissertation Award for my research in workforce and economic development underscores their forward-thinking on the importance of community colleges in the United States economy and the impact they make in people's lives. I am honored and grateful for this award as it reflects the work I'm undertaking every day with College of the Desert students," said Dr. Stegeman, associate professor of business.

Dr. Stegman, who holds a bachelor's degree in Government, a Master of Business Administration, and a Doctorate in Education in Community College Leadership, joined the College in 2013 after leading a variety of business and marketing/brand-building efforts at entities such as the Palm Springs Art Museum, Sprint Nextel, and Procter & Gamble.

This press release was produced by College of the Desert. The views expressed here are the author's own.