SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Van Ton-Quinlivan, vice chancellor for workforce and economic development for the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, has been appointed to the U.S. Department of Labor Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship.

Ton-Quinlivan was appointed to the committee by U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and joins 26 others on the committee representing organized labor, employers and the general public.

The committee provides advice and recommendations on the development and implementation of policies, legislation and regulations affecting apprenticeship programs that connect students and job seekers looking to learn new skills with employers looking for qualified workers.

The committee also is involved in the preparation of the U.S. workforce through employment and training programs and agrees on strategies that meet the labor demands of a global economy.

“With Vice Chancellor Van Ton-Quinlivan’s appointment we will have a strong voice within this national group advocating for higher education programs that train the workforce,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott. “Our community colleges continue to power the economic recovery by providing the workforce with highly trained individuals. It is through the efforts of Vice Chancellor Ton-Quinlivan and her team that we build even stronger relationships between our colleges and employers who are looking for skilled workers to expand their businesses and the economy.”

Before becoming vice chancellor of the California Community Colleges Workforce and Economic Development Division in 2011, Ton-Quinlivan spent more than 15 years in a variety of corporate leadership roles.

She most recently was director of workforce development at Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). While at PG&E, Ton-Quinlivan created PowerPathway, a nationally recognized best practice model program in workforce development.

“I’m proud to represent our 112 colleges and more than 2.6 million students on the apprenticeship committee,” Ton-Quinlivan said. “Apprenticeships are great ‘learn and earn’ models where individuals can acquire hands-on training while working.  The combination makes them into exactly the kind of skilled workers that industry is demanding.”

The U.S. Department of Labor Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship is comprised of 27 members and includes leaders from throughout the Registered Apprenticeship system and its partners, including the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, the National Association of State and Territorial Apprenticeship Directors, the National Association of Governmental Labor Officials, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Education.

To stay current on what the California Community Colleges system is doing to prepare students for the workforce, follow Vice Chancellor Ton-Quinlivan on Twitter: @WorkforceVan.

The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation. It is composed of 72 districts and 112 colleges serving 2.6 million students per year. Community colleges supply workforce training, basic skills courses in English and math, and prepare students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities.