Central Community College NCNGM Faculty Updates

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Welcome to Our Newest Leadership Member

Andrew Dunn is an Industrial Technology Trainer based at Central Community College’s Columbus, Nebraska campus, providing hands-on training throughout the college’s service area. He holds Associate degrees in Mechatronics and Drafting from Central Community College and delivers practical instruction in industrial maintenance with an emphasis on real-world troubleshooting. At Central Community College, Andrew helped develop PLC, HMI, and servo training systems that reflect real industrial environments. His industry experience includes working at ADM as an ethanol operator and advancing into a controls and automation technician role at BD Medical. He also supports iMEC 2.0, expanding mechatronics dual-credit opportunities in high schools to strengthen the future workforce pipeline. Andrew’s goal is to help organizations quickly upskill employees, improve reliability, and build confident, capable technicians through hands-on training.

Special Thanks to Douglas Pauley

The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing sincerely appreciates Douglas Pauley, the former Associate Dean of Community and Workforce Education at Central Community College, Nebraska, for his meaningful contributions to the community college. We are also grateful for his steadfast support of both the national center and the National Science Foundation. Pauley started his journey at the Columbus Campus in 1990 as an energy management circuit rider. In this role, he conducted energy audits for schools, cities, hospitals, and nursing homes; helped establish CCC as a regional training hub for alternative-fueled vehicles; and developed energy-related training courses. As these courses became more industry-focused, Pauley took on the role of training and development director. He has been serving as the director since 2018 and will continue at Central Community College part time as a respected and knowledgeable consultant.

Good Luck on Future Endeavors

The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing sincerely extends its heartfelt thanks to Jerry Muller, an industrial technology coordinator and trainer who passionately delivers training across Central Community College’s service area in Nebraska. We deeply appreciate his unwavering support for both the national center and the National Science Foundation. He also leads the iMec 2.0 grant from the National Science Foundation, which aims to bring mechatronics education to many high schools across Nebraska. At CCC, he's generously repaired injection molding units for the plastics program, installed robotic welders in the welding lab, and taught engaging courses in mechatronics and instrumentation for high school teachers and administrators. He also coordinated with vendors to secure free or discounted equipment, helping the college make more of its resources. Due to his expanding responsibilities, Jerry Muller regrets that he can no longer serve as a co-principal investigator on this grant. The entire leadership team wishes him a bright future in his endeavors.

Left to right, Douglas Pauley, Central Community College; Jerry Muller, Central Community College, former Co-Principal Investigator; Timothy Baber, College of the Canyons, Co-Principal Investigator; Karen Wosczyna-Birch, Director and Principal Investigator, National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing.

Congratulations on New Position

Pictured is Daniel Davidchik Associate Dean at Community and Workforce Education, located on the Columbus, Nebraska campus, will be responsible for overseeing various programs aimed at enhancing the educational opportunities and workforce development initiatives for the Central Community College service area. His role will involve collaborating closely with faculty, staff, and community partners to develop and implement strategies to address the evolving needs of students and the region's workforce. He aims to equip students with the skills needed for immediate employment while emphasizing lifelong learning and professional development, both essential in today’s rapidly changing job market. As Daniel embarks on this new chapter in his career, he is eager to build strong relationships within the community, ensuring that Central Community College remains a vital resource for education and workforce training in Nebraska. His vision includes partnering with local businesses and organizations to create internship and job placement opportunities for students, thereby strengthening the link between education and employment.