We’re partnering with the faculty, staff and students at Lackawanna College in Scranton to bring you a unique perspective on all things NEPA and to illustrate the college’s strong ties to the region it so proudly calls home.
Stay tuned to this space every other month for academic program updates, campus events and NEPA connections from our proud Lackawanna College Falcons.
Students train for careers in Industrial tech at Lackawanna College’s Center for Technology Innovation.
Building on Lackawanna College’s reputation as one of the world’s most innovative companies, the Center for Technology Innovation (CTI) opened in the Fall of 2023. The CTI serves as an education and corporate training space for both new students and existing professionals in the industrial technology workforce. The CTI currently operates two innovative programs – Robotics and Integrated Technologies, and Cyber Security, with a third opening in the Fall of 2025 – Electric Vehicles and Advanced Automotive.
Lackawanna College’s Robotics and Integrated Technologies program prepares students for careers in automation including programing and maintaining Industrial Robots used in manufacturing and warehouse distribution centers throughout our region. These high-tech careers are highly in demand by industries looking to fill “New Collar Jobs”, as dubbed by Dr. Jill Murray, President and Chief Innovation Officer of Lackawanna College. “The CTI will prepare students for future-proof careers by combining academics and technical, hands-on learning,” explains Murray.
Automation systems like robots, conveyors, and vision systems are being used by large corporations to gain efficiencies, as well as by small businesses to be more competitive.
Lackawanna College’s Cyber Security program prepares students for careers in information technology specializing in protecting the computer systems that store our most sensitive information including healthcare, financial and department of defense. The program is modeled according to the NSA’s Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) framework which helps ensure the program’s standards for careers in the law enforcement and with federal agencies.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 32 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
“We’ll be helping people in Northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond become workforce ready,” explains Marc Gonzalez, Executive Director. “I find that remarkably compelling, because it means the education provided by the CTI will change lives and make prospects brighter for entire families.”
Lackawanna College recently hosted a visit from nationally recognized blogger and keynote speaker, Jake Hall, #TheManufacturingMillennial. The event was sponsored by Production Systems Automation (PSA), a national robotics and automation company headquartered in Duryea, PA. During the event, students from the Wilkes Barre Areas School District and West Scranton High School had the opportunity to control robots from Fanuc and ABB. They also had the opportunity to do tricks and play fetch with Jake’s best friend — his robotic dog!
Featured image (top) courtesy of Lackawanna College.
