Kimberly Lea selected for prestigious national CTE leadership fellowship

Kimberly Lea, Palm Beach State College dean of workforce education and development, has been selected as a fellow in the 2026 NextLevel Postsecondary Career and Technical Education (CTE) Leaders Fellowship, a nationally recognized program administered by the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE). 

The NextLevel Postsecondary CTE Leaders Fellowship is a year-long professional development experience designed to elevate the next generation of leaders in postsecondary CTE programs. Fellows engage in monthly leadership webinars, in-person national conferences, mentorship with seasoned CTE professionals and a capstone institutional improvement project. The program emphasizes organizational leadership, strategic management and advancing access for underserved student populations. Lea joins a select national cohort of postsecondary CTE professionals chosen for their leadership potential and commitment to expanding opportunity. 

“I’m honored to be selected for this fellowship and to engage with a national network of leaders shaping the future of workforce education,” Lea said. “I look forward to advancing innovative, student-centered strategies that strengthen alignment between academic programs and workforce needs, support our community and create pathways to prosperity for students and their families.” 

Lea brings more than three decades of experience in academic leadership and institutional advancement to the fellowship. In her current role at PBSC, she provides districtwide oversight of workforce programs across five campuses, driving enrollment growth, securing multimillion-dollar public and private funding streams and expanding high-demand technical pathways.  

Her strategic leadership has increased enrollment by more than 10 percent through targeted program development, scheduling innovation and dual enrollment partnerships. She collaborates closely with academic deans to ensure program alignment with accreditation standards and institutional policy. 

Prior to her current role, Lea served as campus president at Keiser University, where she led all academic and operational functions of a SACS Level VI institution, overseeing enrollment growth, faculty leadership, accreditation processes and the launch of new professional programs. Her career also includes roles as dean of academics, associate dean of career and technical education and faculty member — a progression that reflects sustained expertise in academic affairs, workforce integration and organizational transformation. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Shippensburg University, an MBA from Florida Atlantic University, an education specialist degree from Keiser University and is currently completing her Doctor of Education at the American College of Education. 

Lea is also a recognized civic and professional leader in Palm Beach County. She has served as board chair of the Chamber of the Palm Beaches and in board leadership with Leadership Palm Beach County. Her contributions have been recognized with the Leadership Excellence Award, the Giraffe Award and the Woman of Worth Award. She is deeply committed to mentoring women leaders through her S.H.E. (Smart. Honest. Effective.) initiatives and through community-based organizations focused on educational attainment and workforce advancement. 

For more information about the NextLevel Postsecondary CTE Leaders Fellowship, visit www.acteonline.org/professional-development/leadership-development/nextlevelcte/.