Empower Erie is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, headed by Atty. Ronald A. DiNicola. The goal of Empower Erie is to establish a Community College in Erie County as a way to improve the overall educational attainment and household income of Erie County Residents, meet employer’s current and future needs for skilled workers, make Erie a more attractive place for businesses, and create more family sustaining jobs.
Our volunteer Board of Directors is comprised of a dedicated team, with unique expertise and experience, to support the establishment of a Community College in Erie County.
With an Engineering – Teaching – Administration career trajectory in roughly equal arcs, Cheryl brings laboratory, engineering, teaching, administrative, and team leadership experience to solving complex education problems. Her professional experience spanning urban schools, major corporate grants, and project management in organizations such as the Smithsonian Science Education Center fuels her desire to exercise leadership, expand her scope of partners and improve learning opportunities for all.
Cheryl Rush Dix is a Fulbright Research alumna who investigated instructional practices and school reform in Finland, a former University of Pittsburgh lecturer in program evaluation and a graduate of Gannon and Mercyhurst Universities with degrees and graduate certifications in Chemistry, Organizational Leadership, teaching, administration and superintendent’s eligibility.
Empower Erie has created empowererie.org, and information on the community college effort can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.
...Fifty years ago on April 3, the state created a system of community colleges that ushered in dramatic growth in the network of schools that now enroll 300,000 students.
...Community colleges are beginning to receive more attention as students realize they are able to receive certification and degrees in a shorter period of time for less money.
...The survey of 500 randomly-selected Erie County residents was conducted in late February and early March as part a state-required feasibility study.
...Recently I read that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo pledged to cover tuition costs at state colleges for hundreds of thousands of middle- and low-income New Yorkers.
...Thursday evening event gives business, community leaders an opportunity to learn more about the community college proposal.
...At more than 200 campuses, more than half of incoming students must take remedial courses.
...Empower Erie officials believe there could be opportunities to work with the rural college if the local community college happens.
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