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From My Desk: President & CEO, Dr. Aisha Francis
The Franklin Cummings Tech community is still abuzz with the excitement of celebrating the opening of our new campus. Students and staff are marveling at the modern labs, cutting-edge equipment, bright workspaces, and tech-filled classrooms. Scholars and employees alike are breaking in the new spaces as they teach and learn, while sharing that they feel more comfortable and welcome in the many communal areas, breakout spaces, shared offices, and staff and student lounges–all designed by Studio G and Studio Enée.
We are also enjoying building new habits that integrate businesses and services available to us in our Nubian Square community.
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It’s been especially fitting to celebrate our first Black History Month events in Roxbury, the heart of Black Boston. Our culminating event takes place on February 26th where our keynote address will be given by Rahsaan D. Hall, the esteemed President and CEO of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, with whom we partner on a number of workforce development initiatives benefitting the local community.
As I have shared in previous editions of The Spark, intentional partnerships made our new campus possible and activates our mission. In this and in future editions, we will delve into the anatomy of some of our deepest partnerships that make student success possible. Whether it's the Commonwealth Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, the City of Boston, or hiring companies like Cummings Properties, Parkway Toyota, or Schneider Electric, government and industry connections are instrumental to placing Franklin Cummings Tech alumni on a pathway to economic advancement through well-paying, meaningful careers.
I should note that partnership also comes in the form of direct individual and organizational support for our mission. On Wednesday, April 8th, Franklin Cummings Tech will host the Momentum Celebration, our signature scholarship fundraiser. With an ambitious $1M fundraising goal, the Momentum Celebration will serve as a launch pad for the newest chapter in our storied history of technical education, workforce readiness, and community transformation in Boston. I hope you will consider joining us that evening and providing for student scholarships through a sponsorship or by purchasing tickets here.
Sincerely,
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Aisha Francis, PhD
President & CEO
| | | | Behind the Massachusetts Workforce: FC Tech Apprentices | | |
Franklin Cummings Tech is proud to partner with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD), giving students like Mario De Leon real-world experience through registered apprenticeships and our paid co-op program, building the next generation of trade leaders.
As a Massachusetts Registered Apprenticeship program, and with guidance from the Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS), we align classroom learning with employer needs, helping students build meaningful, well-paid careers.
Mario’s story captures this perfectly: from doubting himself on day one to gaining confidence at A&M Construction Co., his journey reflects the broader impact these hands-on programs have in preparing all students for success through collaboration between education, employers, and the Division of Apprentice Standards.
Learn more about this powerful collaboration in the latest #BehindtheWorkforceMA blog and at mass.gov/Apprenticeships.
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Franklin Cummings Tech President and CEO Aisha Francis, Ph.D., was recently featured in the Washington Post, making the case for two-year technical colleges as vital pathways to good jobs amid tech-driven changes in the workforce.
Below is her thoughtful letter to the editor, published in the February 4th edition.
Consider college alternatives
Advancements in technology are leading employers to hire fewer people and prompting students to question the value of a traditional four-year degree.
Instead of seeing only the negative, students and employers should take a broader view of “college” and consider other pathways to good jobs, such as the nation’s two-year technical and trade colleges.
Boston showed strong support for this approach to college last month with the opening of a new $75 million campus for Franklin Cummings Tech, a private, nonprofit, two-year technical college, which I lead as president and CEO. This investment, made by partners across government, the private sector and philanthropy, reflects a shared belief in the power of technical education to expand economic opportunity while supplying employers with the skilled workforce they need.
Prosperity doesn’t have to require a four-year degree and significant debt. Higher education includes practical, high-value pathways that prepare people for in-demand careers and lead to economic stability.
| | A Century of Partnership with the City of Boston | | |
We’re spotlighting our deepest gratitude to the Mayor of Boston and her extraordinary team for their leadership, partnership, and unwavering commitment to our institution and our students.
Since our founding in 1908, every Mayor of Boston has served as an ex-officio member of our Board of Trustees. That tradition reflects more than ceremonial connection—it underscores our identity as a municipally affiliated institution, proudly rooted in and accountable to the City of Boston. Half of our students come from Boston, and our mission—to deliver transformative technical and trade education that leads to economic advancement—is closely aligned with the City’s commitment to expand opportunity, strengthen neighborhoods, and build economic mobility.
Over the past several years, we have had the benefit of working closely with Mayor Michelle Wu and her senior leadership team to re-envision how Franklin Cummings Tech deepens its partnership with the City because the college helps meet the workforce demands of the local economy. Their guidance has helped us sharpen our academic focus on high-demand career pathways in the tech and trade programs offered at the college.
We are deeply grateful for the collaboration that made our new campus in Nubian Square possible. The Roxbury campus development has been an ambitious and transformative undertaking, supported by regular planning meetings, creative problem-solving, and sustained collaboration at every stage of the multi-year development process. All the while, Mayor Wu's direct involvement, along with that of the Planning Department—its willingness to lean in, address challenges directly, and champion this project—has been instrumental.
FC Tech could not be more appreciative of the Mayor's leadership and the City’s partnership as we enter this exciting new chapter, serving a growing number of Boston students and contributing to the future strength of our City’s workforce and economy.
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Cummings Employee of the Year:
Our Very Own Jasper Bator
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Franklin Cummings Tech Practical Electricity '24 alum Jasper Bator was elected by his peers as Cummings Properties' Employee of the Year, receiving the “Cummings Award” from CEO Dennis Clarke at the Winter Party before nearly 300 colleagues and guests.
Hired as an electrical apprentice in 2024 soon after graduation, Jasper has made an enormous impression across the organization in a short time.
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Clarke said: A fast learner with a strong sense of initiative, Jasper takes ownership of his assignments and consistently steps in without waiting for direction. Always willing to help—whether or not a task falls within his formal role—he approaches every challenge with a team-first mindset. Dependable and unafraid to tackle jobs big or small, this likeable colleague does whatever it takes to support his teammates and get the work done.”
In conversation after the event, Jasper shared how much he’s learning in his role at Cummings and how well prepared he felt by his Franklin Cummings Tech education.
We are especially proud of Jasper for making such an amazing early impression at his employer.
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Vanessa Hackett Appointed Program Chair, HVAC&R Technology
Join us in cheering the appointment of Vanessa Hackett as Program Chair for HVAC&R Technology, marking an exciting next chapter of leadership for our largest and most in-demand program. Drawing on more than a decade of industry experience in HVAC and refrigeration, along with a strong record of teaching and leadership at the college—including overseeing the move of our labs to 1011 Harrison Avenue—Hackett embodies the technical excellence and student-centered commitment that define our mission.
A Boston native who began her career as an HVAC&R apprentice, Hackett went on to manage large commercial and residential projects, earn her Construction Supervisor License, and build a reputation for excellence in system design, safety compliance, and workforce training. As a respected instructor at Franklin Cummings Tech, she prepares the next generation of technicians through engaging instruction, mentorship, and real-world applications, advancing HVAC&R education through innovation, safety, and workforce readiness.
Welcome, Professor Hackett!
| | From Passion to Mastery—How Parkway Toyota Builds Technicians for the Future | | |
For current scholar Ismail, cars have always been more than transportation. As a teenager, he worked on classic BMWs, helping prepare them for show presentations. After immigrating to the United States, Ismail faced the challenge of figuring out what came next. Encouraged by cousins who had attended Franklin Cummings Tech, he enrolled in the automotive program while working long hours at his father’s pizza shop.
Through an apprenticeship at Parkway Toyota, Ismail stepped into a workplace that takes technician development seriously, pairing him with a mentor, exposing him early to advanced repair work, and supporting his progress through Toyota training modules and ASE preparation. His journey reflects the power of aligned partnership between Franklin Cummings Tech and employers like Parkway Toyota to create life-changing career pathways for emerging technicians.
Learn more about Ismail’s story and our Automotive Technology program here.
| | 2026 Boston Marathon Team Spotlight | | |
For the second year, Franklin Cummings Tech is participating in the 2026 Boston Marathon with a team of six runners who celebrate our students’ stories and believe in the transformative power of hands-on education for better career opportunities.
Last year, five runners raised funds for vital student support like scholarships and emergency services. This year, with the support of Schneider Electric, our team is again running this historic race for our students.
We are proud to feature three runners turning passion into purpose by fundraising to increase access to technical and trade education.
Runners create momentum. Impact propels students.
Together, we build legacy.
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Kyle Manning
History enthusiast from Illinois, Kyle has conquered Chicago, New York, London, Berlin, and Tokyo marathons, saving Boston as the capstone of "The Big Six"—drawn by Benjamin Franklin's legacy and his family's educator tradition.
He sees students' journeys like marathons: starting with one foot forward to achieve lasting community impact.
Read his full story here.
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Nick Carnevale
Mechanical engineering graduate and Schneider Electric team member, Nick is running the Boston Marathon with #SEGreenRunners to showcase the power of hands-on learning and inspire others in manufacturing and construction.
His co-op experience proves how real-world skills can open doors and create opportunities.
Read his full story here.
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Stefanie Reineke
First-generation college graduate and automation specialist at Schneider Electric, Stefanie wants to help students like her succeed.
From her experience as a co-op at BMW to the support she’s found through her friends and family, she’s running the Marathon to help open doors for others and hopes her story inspires students to pursue their own path.
Read her full story here.
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