Former Advisory Board Member: James Jacob

Term Expired March 2013

Dr. Jacobs is a national expert on workforce development and community colleges with more than two decades' experience working through community colleges to meet the training needs of manufacturers in multiple industries. At Macomb Community College, Dr. Jacobs initiated the Machinist Training Institute, a college program that trained entry level machinists for small and medium sized manufacturing firms. This program was the first NMCS (National Metalworking Standards Council)-certified machining center at any community college in the nation. Dr. Jacobs was also responsible for the establishment of community college training programs between the Industrial Technology Institute and Michigan community colleges. He also coordinated the Mid-American Training Group, a group of 15 major community colleges in the mid-west that performed education and training activities with auto and steel manufacturers in their communities. He has also conducted major studies on the impact of new manufacturing technologies on skill requirements of firms both for the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Labor.