GateWay Community College’s Danny Fisher Selected for Prestigious National CTE Leadership Fellowship
Dean of Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, and Trades Named to 2026 NextLevel Postsecondary CTE Leaders Fellowship Cohort
PHOENIX, Ariz. — GateWay Community College is proud to announce that Danny Fisher, Dean of Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, and Trades, 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. Fisher joins a select national cohort of postsecondary CTE professionals chosen for their leadership potential and commitment to expanding opportunity.
At GateWay Community College, Fisher leads programs that prepare students for careers in advanced manufacturing, semiconductor technology, and the skilled trades. His work is centered on building strong partnerships between education and industry to ensure students are equipped for evolving workforce opportunities and emerging technologies. A signature initiative under his leadership is the Future48 Semiconductor Workforce Accelerator—a state-of-the-art training facility developed in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority—through which he collaborates with college systems across Arizona to establish consistent semiconductor technician curriculum and industry-recognized credentials that support statewide workforce development.
Fisher’s career reflects a broad commitment to career and technical education across multiple sectors and levels. He previously served as CTE Director for Park City School District in Utah and Mesa Public Schools in Arizona, and as Principal and Chief Operations Officer at the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT), a career and technical education high school in Mesa. Earlier in his career, he worked in construction trades, pharmaceuticals, nonprofit organizations, and both small and Fortune 500 companies — real-world experiences that continue to shape his practical, workforce-centered approach to leadership.
Fisher holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Westminster College in Utah, as well as a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah.
“I am honored to be part of this national fellowship and to learn alongside such a talented cohort of CTE leaders,” said Fisher. “My goal has always been to create career pathways that create lasting opportunities for students, their families, and their communities. The NextLevel Fellowship will help me strengthen my leadership skills and bring fresh perspectives back to the work we are doing here in Phoenix.”
Outside of his professional work, Fisher is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys camping, hiking, kayaking, and mountain climbing with his family — pursuits that reflect the same sense of challenge and perseverance he brings to his leadership in career and technical education.
For more information about the NextLevel Postsecondary CTE Leaders Fellowship, visit www.acteonline.org/professional-development/leadership-development/nextlevelcte/.
About GateWay Community College
GateWay Community College is a public institution within the Maricopa County Community College District in Phoenix, Arizona, offering affordable, high-quality education with a strong focus on career and technical education. For more information, visit www.gatewaucc/edu.
About ACTE
The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit education association dedicated to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for careers. For more information, visit www.acteonline.org.