September 2026 AZ TechCast | Building Arizona’s Tech Talent Pipeline: Higher Education’s Role in the Innovation Economy
In this episode of AZ TechCast, hosts Steve Zylstra and Eric Miller sit down with leaders from Arizona Western College, Northern Arizona University and Grand Canyon University to explore the distinct roles their institutions play in Arizona’s science and technology landscape.
Episode Overview
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Arizona’s continued growth as a technology and innovation hub depends not only on attracting new companies and investment, but also on developing the skilled workforce needed to support them. From artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing to engineering, semiconductors and the skilled trades, higher education institutions across the state are adapting their programs to prepare students and working professionals for a rapidly changing economy.
In this episode of AZ TechCast, hosts Steve Zylstra and Eric Miller sit down with leaders from Arizona Western College, Northern Arizona University and Grand Canyon University to explore the distinct roles their institutions play in Arizona’s science and technology landscape.
Together, they’ll discuss how colleges and universities are responding to emerging technologies, strengthening connections with industry, expanding access to technology education across urban and rural communities, and developing new pathways into high-demand careers. The conversation will also examine the growing importance of AI education, advanced manufacturing and semiconductor workforce development, applied engineering and the skilled trades, as well as partnerships that allow education and training programs to evolve at the speed Arizona employers need.
Listeners will come away with a broader understanding of how Arizona’s higher education institutions are helping build the talent pipeline that will support the state’s next generation of innovation and economic growth.
To listen to this episode, follow AZ TechCast on your favorite podcast platform or check out the Council’s YouTube channel and turn on your notifications so you’ll be notified when the episode is posted.
Charles Chadwell |
Reetika Dhawan |
Paul Lambertson
|
Charles Chadwell, Ph. D., P.E. is Dean of the Steve Sanghi College of Engineering at Northern Arizona University and a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering. A licensed Professional Engineer with a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, he has more than two decades of leadership experience at Cal Poly and NAU, advancing student success, faculty excellence, and industry partnerships. At NAU, he has secured landmark funding—including a $10M naming gift, and he assumed leadership of a $13M semiconductor lab and workforce development award—while expanding research, academic programs, and global partnerships. Nationally, he serves as Executive Director of Chi Epsilon, the Civil Engineering
Honor Society, where he leads efforts to strengthen student leadership development across 147 university chapters.
Reetika Dhawan Dr. Reetika Dhawan is the 10th President of Arizona Western College, bringing a career focused on transforming education through workforce development, innovation, technology, and industry partnerships. Her leadership centers on creating accessible pathways that connect education directly to economic opportunity for students and communities across rural and border Arizona.
Prior to becoming President, Dr. Dhawan served as CEO of AWC’s Entrepreneurial College and Vice President for Workforce Development and Career and Technical Education, where she led the development and expansion of programs aligned with high-demand industries.
Today, she is advancing Arizona Western College’s work in artificial intelligence, semiconductor and advanced manufacturing education, healthcare, skilled trades, entrepreneurship, and emerging technologies. She has championed the Regional Center for Emerging Technology as a platform for AI education, professional development, industry engagement, and community learning.
Dr. Dhawan is also expanding partnerships with Arizona’s universities, employers, government agencies, and international institutions. Most recently, she led an AWC delegation to Taiwan to develop partnerships with universities, industry, and Taiwan’s Ministry of Education around semiconductors, AI, advanced manufacturing, student pathways, and faculty collaboration.
Dr. Dhawan holds an Ed.D. from National University, an M.S. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Washington, as well as graduate education in physics. Her leadership philosophy is grounded in a simple principle: education must continuously evolve alongside technology, industry, and the communities it serves.
Paul Lambertson is the inaugural Dean of Grand Canyon University’s College of Engineering and Technology (CET) since 2023 when the university split it from the College of Science, Engineering and Technology. He additionally leads three centers pertaining to workforce development, cyber, and semiconductor education and advancement. Prior to his role at GCU, he retired from numerous senior leadership roles in the Boeing Company including Chief Engineer, Factory General Manager, and Corporately as the Product Standards Leader. Lambertson is also a retired Air Force Command Pilot with service in numerous senior leadership roles at multiple organizational levels. He flew 3,300 flight hours, with 147 combat hours, across seven aircraft types in operations on all seven continents. He has served or currently serves in leadership roles with the Aerospace Industries Association, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, SAE International and is a Director on the AZ Tech Council Board.
About AZTechCast
The official podcast of the Arizona Technology Council, AZTechCast is dedicated to covering innovation and technology in Arizona and beyond. Through the art of the connected conversation, AZ TechCast’s hosts and guests share success stories, tech news and analysis about the region’s leading startups, companies and emerging technologies, as well as the latest industry trends and critical issues propelling Arizona’s growing technology ecosystem. Visit www.aztechcouncil.org/techcast to learn more or to listen to recent episodes.
About PADT, Inc.
Phoenix Analysis and Design Technologies, Inc. (PADT) is an engineering product and services company that focuses on helping customers who develop physical products by providing Numerical Simulation, Product Development, and 3D Printing solutions. The company is an Ansys Elite Channel Partner and a Stratasys Platinum Partner. They are also a channel partner for Flownex, EOS, and ZEISS #handsonmetrology. PADT’s worldwide reputation for technical excellence and experienced staff is based on its proven record of building long-term win-win partnerships with vendors and customers. Since its establishment in 1994, companies have relied on PADT because “We Make Innovation Work.” With over 90 employees, PADT services customers from its headquarters at the Arizona State University Research Park in Tempe, Arizona, and from offices in Torrance, California, Lakewood, Colorado, and Albuquerque, New Mexico as well as through staff members located around the country. More information on PADT can be found at www.PADTINC.com.
