Your Division Bought AI Tools—That’s Not the Same as an AI Strategy.
Continuing education and workforce development divisions are under more pressure than ever to...
Author Profile
Stephen Griffin | Chief Learning Officer and Vice President of Skill-Based Education & Career Pathways, Cuyahoga Community College
Current Position and Past Experience
Stephen Griffin is the Chief Learning Officer and Vice President of Skills-Based Education & Career Pathways at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C). As a first-generation college student, he has dedicated his career to expanding educational access, advancing workforce development, and aligning academic outcomes with regional economic needs. With nearly two decades of experience across higher education, technology, and consulting, he brings a strategic and collaborative approach to academic leadership and institutional transformation.
Stephen currently serves as a Fulbright Specialist with the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (2024–present), an experience that has deepened his global perspective on higher education and cross-cultural collaboration. He was also selected as an ACE Fellow (2024–2025), the nation's premier higher education leadership development program, through which he deepened his preparation for senior executive leadership by immersing in institutional decision-making at another institution.
At Tri-C, his portfolio spans skills-based education strategy, workforce pathways, noncredit-to-credit articulation, Career Services, and AI-enabled student platforms. Prior to Tri-C, Stephen served in executive roles at Wilberforce University, including Interim Provost, where he led academic operations and accreditation recovery. He also co-founded Cantoo, an AI-powered career exploration platform, reflecting his longstanding commitment to technology as a tool for student readiness and economic mobility. His background in psychology shapes a leadership style that blends empathy with results-oriented strategy.
Stephen remains committed to positioning community colleges as catalysts for economic mobility and to ensuring first-generation and underserved students have the tools to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy.
Education, Honors and Achievements
Stephen holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Memphis, an M.A. in Clinical Psychology and a PsyD from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology (Chicago Campus), and an MBA from the University of Dayton. He is recognized as a Fulbright Specialist (U.S. Department of State, 2024–2027) and an ACE Fellow (2024–2025).
Personal Details and Community Involvement
When he's not thinking about workforce pathways, Stephen is probably in the kitchen. He bakes naturally leavened bread, has strong opinions about pizza dough, and takes his craft cocktails seriously. He lives in the Cleveland area and believes that feeding people and educating people well aren't all that different at their core.
Stephen Griffin is the Chief Learning Officer and Vice President of Skills-Based Education & Career Pathways at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C). As a first-generation college student, he has dedicated his career to expanding educational access, advancing workforce development, and aligning academic outcomes with regional economic needs. With nearly two decades of experience across higher education, technology, and consulting, he brings a strategic and collaborative approach to academic leadership and institutional transformation.
Stephen currently serves as a Fulbright Specialist with the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (2024–present), an experience that has deepened his global perspective on higher education and cross-cultural collaboration. He was also selected as an ACE Fellow (2024–2025), the nation's premier higher education leadership development program, through which he deepened his preparation for senior executive leadership by immersing in institutional decision-making at another institution.
At Tri-C, his portfolio spans skills-based education strategy, workforce pathways, noncredit-to-credit articulation, Career Services, and AI-enabled student platforms. Prior to Tri-C, Stephen served in executive roles at Wilberforce University, including Interim Provost, where he led academic operations and accreditation recovery. He also co-founded Cantoo, an AI-powered career exploration platform, reflecting his longstanding commitment to technology as a tool for student readiness and economic mobility. His background in psychology shapes a leadership style that blends empathy with results-oriented strategy.
Stephen remains committed to positioning community colleges as catalysts for economic mobility and to ensuring first-generation and underserved students have the tools to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy.
Education, Honors and Achievements
Stephen holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Memphis, an M.A. in Clinical Psychology and a PsyD from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology (Chicago Campus), and an MBA from the University of Dayton. He is recognized as a Fulbright Specialist (U.S. Department of State, 2024–2027) and an ACE Fellow (2024–2025).
Personal Details and Community Involvement
When he's not thinking about workforce pathways, Stephen is probably in the kitchen. He bakes naturally leavened bread, has strong opinions about pizza dough, and takes his craft cocktails seriously. He lives in the Cleveland area and believes that feeding people and educating people well aren't all that different at their core.
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