Bridging Recovery and Workforce with PCC’s Wildland Fire Academy & Mathew Barboza, Dean of Business and Enrollment Management Episode 170
About this episode
The episode discusses the impact of Pasadena City College’s Wildland Fire Academy on community resilience and workforce readiness following the Eaton fire.
What does it take to turn a crisis into an opportunity for community resilience and meaningful careers? In this episode of The Future of Work podcast, our host Dr. Salvatrice Cummo, talks with Pasadena City College’s Dean of Business and Enrollment Management, Mathew Barboza, to discuss the rapid launch and far-reaching impact of the college’s Wildland Fire Academy. Sparked by the urgent needs following the Eaton fire, this program trains and empowers students to become skilled wildland firefighters—meeting a critical demand as California’s fire season becomes a year-round reality. Tune in as we explore what it takes to adapt education for real-world challenges, hear the inspiring stories of students called to serve, and learn how innovative training is shaping the future workforce and helping rebuild lives and communities in the Altadena and Los Angeles Region. You’ll learn: Why short-term, high-impact training programs are critical for workforce readiness and regional recovery The importance of timing academies to synchronize with hiring cycles for organizations like U.S. Forest Service and Cal Fire Why up-to-date equipment, strong advisory committees, and close industry…
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