Investing in workforce development can be challenging, especially when balancing time, cost, and productivity. Penn State’s College of Engineering offers targeted microcredentials designed to build both technical skills and business knowledge, empowering your employees and advancing your organization. This webinar explored how these microcredentials can support your upskilling goals, and how WEDnet funding can help offset training costs. Learn how to make professional development more accessible, impactful, and cost-effective.

Speakers:

Dr. Meg Handley is an Associate Teaching Professor at Penn State University and an Associate Director for the Engineering Leadership Development program. Dr. Handley’s research efforts focus on workforce development and she co-leads the College of Engineering Microcredential Program. She has received two grants for the development of manufacturing microcredentials and has developed numerous online courses and microcredentials to support non-technical skill development.

Shannon Munro is the Executive Program Officer for WEDnetPA, a statewide program that provides training grants to help Pennsylvania companies offset the cost of upskilling their workforce. Each year, WEDnetPA assists more than 700 companies and their 20,000 employees in the manufacturing, life sciences, energy, agriculture, and robotics & technology sectors.

Previously, Shannon served as Vice President of Workforce Development at Pennsylvania College of Technology and as Executive Director of Advance Central PA, the workforce development board representing nine rural counties. She holds a B.A. from Bloomsburg University and an M.S. from Shippensburg University.