Michael Voss is Mesa Community College Dean of Instruction, overseeing Allied Health, Applied Sciences & Technology, Business, and Computer Information Systems programs. An experienced and innovative leader, he has been recognized throughout his career for his commitment to career and technical education, academic inventiveness, accreditation, and student success in and out of the classroom. Most recently he was recognized as the Association for Career and Technical Education AZ Postsecondary Professional of the Year.
A first generation college graduate, Michael’s professional journey has been shaped by the belief that education can change the direction of a person’s life and that community colleges have a responsibility to help transform the lives of others. A community college graduate himself, he went on to earn a bachelor’s in emergency medical services, and a master’s in education administration.
At MCC, much of Michael’s work has focused on building systems that make it easier for students to enter college, experience success, and complete their educational pathways.
One of the initiatives he developed is Proactive Graduation. Recognizing that many students had already completed the requirements for certificates but had not applied to receive them, Michael and his team developed a process for identifying and awarding those credentials. MCC recognized approximately 2,300 additional certificates of completion during the initiative’s first major implementation year.
He helped develop MCC’s prior learning assessment framework, creating pathways through which students could receive appropriate academic credit for college-level learning acquired through employment, professional training, and other experiences.
Michael has also worked to strengthen the relationship between the college and communities by securing workforce funding, developing regional collaborations among Maricopa County Community Colleges, expanding partnerships with employers and universities, and supporting innovative educational pathways in information technology, advanced manufacturing, construction, and other high-demand fields.
He is a three-time winner of the Innovation of the Year award for his initiatives including “CTE Innovation and Excellence at MCC,” the “Apple Everyone Can Code” project, and the “Accelerating Student Completion through Proactive Graduation” program, among many other honors.