NMSU faculty to present on career pipelines at national CTE conference

Two New Mexico State University Family and Consumer Sciences faculty members will present this fall at a national conference, sharing strategies to bridge the gap from secondary to postsecondary education and strengthen career and technical education pipelines across New Mexico and the borderland region. 

Kelley Cleary Coffeen, associate professor in Fashion Merchandising and Design, and Jamie Molina, assistant professor and program director in Family and Consumer Sciences Education, have been selected to present at the 2025 National Association of Career and Technical Education Postsecondary Conference, taking place October 5-9 in Austin, Texas. 

The annual summit brings together a community of educators, practitioners, researchers and professionals from across the country to exchange ideas and shape the future of postsecondary CTE. 

"This opportunity came through a competitive proposal process, where we showcased the innovative, data-driven work happening in New Mexico State University's Family and Consumer Sciences program," Molina said. "Our efforts focus on building strong family and consumer sciences and career and technical education pipelines across the New Mexico and the El Paso, Texas, region." 

Their session, "Building FCS and CTE Pipelines: A Data-Driven Approach to Bridging the Gap from Secondary to Higher Education," will showcase how NMSU prepares students for high-skill, high-wage and high-demand career fields. 

In alignment with the New Mexico Perkins V State Plan, which includes 66 approved CTE programs of study, nine in FCS, students can begin coursework and career planning in middle school, continue through high school, and graduate with an industry-recognized certification. Texas offers nine similar FCS programs under CTE. 

At NMSU, Molina said that pipeline continues through higher education, connecting secondary programs to degrees in Family and Consumer Sciences Education, Fashion Merchandising and Design, Human Development and Family Science, Food Science and Technology, and Human Nutrition and Dietetic Sciences. 

"We take a top-down approach, linking higher education programs to the secondary level to create seamless career transitions," Molina said. 

Some topics of the presentation will include how to turn labor market data into powerful CTE planning tools; strategies for building seamless secondary to post-secondary career transitions; interactive scenario planning with real-world applications; and insights on aligning Perkins V goals and regional workforce needs. 

Molina said they will also share research on partnerships with K-12 schools, industry leaders, and community stakeholders which are connections critical to addressing educator shortages, declining enrollments, and evolving industry demands. 

"This work is especially timely as schools and colleges nationwide search for ways to adapt to changing workforce needs," Coffeen said. "Strong pipelines support both future educators and professionals in fields like FCS Education and fashion merchandising." 

The session will also include New Mexico Public Education Department data on enrollment, course offerings, and teacher demographics to illustrate the state's current CTE landscape. 

Molina added that presenting at the national level is both a platform for sharing and an opportunity for growth. 

"This kind of exposure positions NMSU as a destination for students pursuing innovative, career-focused degrees," she said. "By showing how secondary programs can boost postsecondary enrollment, we open doors to new partnerships that strengthen recruitment across multiple programs." 

Ultimately, Coffeen and Molina aim to bring new ideas and proven strategies back to campus and the community. 

"We're committed to keeping CTE and FCS at the forefront of meeting student and regional needs," Coffeen said. "As presenters, we bring deep expertise in FCS and CTE leadership, reflecting NMSU's land-grant mission to serve diverse communities. Attendees will leave with tools and strategies to strengthen their own programs." 

The full article can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/nmsu-faculty-to-present-on-career-pipelines-at-national-cte-conference/s/74460d62-fe7a-423e-96a8-6f2580603f71