Leadership Spotlight | Peter Provenzano on Student Success, Workforce Connections, and the Power of Collaboration 

This month’s spotlight features Peter Provenzano, Chancellor of Oakland Community College (OCC). Drawing on experience in government, finance, and higher education, Provenzano is leading efforts to expand access, strengthen workforce partnerships, and create a more seamless student experience. He shares how OCC is responding to changing student needs, connecting education to careers, and leveraging collaboration to expand economic opportunity across Southeast Michigan. 

For Provenzano, effective leadership starts with listening. 

Throughout his career in government, finance, and higher education, Provenzano has developed a leadership philosophy grounded in responsible stewardship, data-informed decision-making, and a commitment to the people he serves. 

As Chancellor of OCC, he combines that approach with regular conversations with students, faculty, and staff to ensure institutional decisions reflect the experiences and needs of the college community. 

“Those conversations help us understand the needs behind the numbers and ensure our decisions are grounded in the student experience,” Provenzano said. 

At a time when many colleges have faced enrollment challenges, OCC has focused on making higher education more accessible while helping students stay on track to completion. 

The college has expanded partnerships with K-12 districts, contributing to a 70% increase in early college and dual enrollment opportunities since 2022. OCC has also strengthened onboarding, student advising, and outreach while creating new opportunities for adult learners to return to college through Michigan Reconnect and its partnership with ReUp Education. 

Recognizing that students face challenges beyond academics, OCC has invested in mental health services, a debt reset program, and The Nest food pantry. 

“Student success requires supporting the whole student,” Provenzano said. 

These efforts are part of his broader “One OCC” vision, which aims to create a consistent, high-quality student experience for students, whether they attend classes on campus, online, or across multiple locations. 

As Southeast Michigan’s workforce needs evolve, OCC is strengthening connections between academic programs and career opportunities. 

Each year, the college works with more than 40 regional business partners on customized training, workforce development initiatives, and registered apprenticeships. During the 2025-26 academic year, students in OCC’s Economic and Workforce Development programs earned more than 700 industry-recognized credentials. 

The college is also expanding pathways into the skilled trades. Its pre-apprenticeship program has prepared more than 250 students and awarded over 1,500 academic credits, helping participants transition into employment and formal apprenticeship opportunities. 

For Provenzano, employer engagement is essential to ensuring students graduate with skills that translate into economic opportunity. OCC regularly engages industry advisory committees, from health care to emergency services to skilled trades and manufacturing and uses labor market data to keep programs aligned with changing workforce demands. 

“Our greatest opportunity is to involve employers throughout a student’s education, from helping shape academic programs to providing hands-on experiences and pathways to employment,” he said. 

Collaboration through D3C3 has helped OCC make career exploration and experiential learning a more intentional part of the student experience. 

With D3C3 support, OCC expanded career services staffing and programming, including dedicated Career Connectedness Coordinators who strengthen employer relationships and connect students with internships, apprenticeships, work-study opportunities, and employment. 

During the last academic year, OCC connected more than 2,800 students with experiential learning activities through a network of more than 430 employers. 

The college has also advanced micro-internships, pre-apprenticeships, accelerated degree pathways, and career readiness tools designed to help students connect their education with future opportunities. 

For Provenzano, these efforts demonstrate the value of collaboration across institutions, industries, and communities. 

“Simply put, we’re better together,” he said.

Provenzano sees significant opportunities for community colleges to rethink how education is delivered and how students receive credit for their skills and experiences. 

Shorter academic terms, credit for prior learning, work-based learning, and emerging technologies can make education more flexible for students balancing school, work, and family responsibilities. 

He also believes community colleges must continue emphasizing the value of education and the many pathways available to students. 

“There isn’t one path that’s better than another,” Provenzano said. “Whether students pursue a certificate, apprenticeship, credential, or degree, our goal is to help them find the pathway that works for them.” 

Ultimately, he sees community colleges as essential to both individual opportunity and the Detroit Region’s economic future. 

“When we do that successfully, we’re not just supporting individual students, we’re strengthening families, communities, employers, and the future of Southeast Michigan.”