ACTE Postsecondary CTE Summit 2026

Dr. Cynthia E. Thomas is an educator, researcher, and leader in Career and Technical Education (CTE), workforce development, and equitable instructional practice, with over 15 years of experience across education and industry. She serves as Assistant Professor and Work-Based Learning Program Coordinator at SUNY Oswego, where she prepares future educators and leads initiatives that connect academic learning to real-world career pathways.
Dr. Thomas’s work focuses on designing and advancing instructional practices that support diverse learners, particularly within postsecondary and adult CTE programs. Her research examines how workforce education can be more responsive to learners’ identities and lived experiences, with the goal of improving access, engagement, and long-term career outcomes. Through her scholarship, she has developed research-informed approaches to curriculum design and career readiness that center both learner voice and workforce relevance.
She holds an Ed.D. in Learning and Teaching in Social Contexts from the University at Buffalo, a Master’s degree in Career and Technical Instruction from SUNY Oswego, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Instructional Design and Development from Syracuse University. She also has experience as a licensed cosmetologist, salon owner, and New York State Cosmetology Examiner, grounding her work in real-world application and industry alignment.
A recognized thought leader, Dr. Thomas was named the 2026 NYSACTE Postsecondary Professional of the Year and the 2026 Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE) Postsecondary Professional of the Year for Region 1. She actively contributes to the advancement of postsecondary CTE through her leadership roles as a board member of the NYS Association for Career and Technical Education (NYSACTE), the New York State Trade and Technical Teachers Association (NYSTTTA), and the New York State Career Readiness Educators Association (NYSCREA), where she serves as the Postsecondary Representative. She also serves as President of New York State Postsecondary Adult Career Education (PACE), leading statewide efforts to strengthen and elevate postsecondary and adult career education systems. Through her research, mentorship, and instructional leadership, Dr. Thomas remains committed to advancing equitable, student-centered practices that prepare all learners for meaningful and sustainable careers.