Micara Lewis-Sessoms, Ed.D.
Director, Work Based Education, Durham Technical Community College; Research Affiliate, Belk Center
Bio
Micara Lewis-Sessoms, Ed.D. (she/her) possesses experience in Career and Technical Education (CTE) focusing on the value of work-based learning (WBL) to community college programming and workforce development. She collaborates with community college leadership, students, and employers to align learning outcomes in CTE programs with industry needs. She earned a Bachelors of Arts in Elementary Education and a Masters in Counseling, both from North Carolina Central University. Micara is also a graduate of the Community College Leadership doctoral program at North Carolina State University. Micara’s research highlights the significance of embedding opportunities for community college students enrolled in CTE programs to enhance their soft/employability skills through WBL. In 2019, Micara served as President of the North Carolina Work-Based Learning Association (NCWBLA).
Micara currently serves as Durham Technical Community College’s (Durham Tech) Director of Work-Based Education and Apprenticeship. In this collaborative role, she serves as a leader in connecting the value of WBL to labor market outcomes. In 2020, she was selected to lead the college’s Back-to-Work initiative, which focuses on highlighting short-term training leading to industry recognized credentials and enhancing workplace skills. Previously, Micara served as
Durham Tech’s Director, School-Age Education program, and Assistant Dean, Business and Entrepreneurship programs. Micara joined the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research as a Research Affiliate in 2021.