Daemen President Gary Olson
Daemen College President Gary Olson was one of three higher education leaders chosen to participate in a regional symposium on the role of higher education in preparing a highly skilled workforce for business and industry, held on Sept.11.
The symposium, which included University at Buffalo President Satish Tripathi and Medaille College President Kenneth Macur, was co-sponsored by Buffalo Business First and Phillips Lytle LLP. Other panelists included representatives from: Tesla, HSBC Bank USA, Invest Buffalo Niagara, and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The panelists discussed the goal of businesses to attract highly skilled talent and the goal of colleges to produce life-long learners, and they stressed the need to create partnerships to bridge the gap.
“At Daemen, we focus on preparing students for success in life while also helping them prepare for specific professions,” explained Olson. He pointed out that a liberal arts education provides many of the key skills businesses are looking for, such as critical thinking, high-level communication skills, ethical discernment, and a global perspective.