Higher Education Leadership Forum: Human Potential Recognized: Making Learning Visible in a Skills-Based Economy
Explore how colleges can make learning more visible through digital credentials and Learning and Employment Records to connect graduates’ verified skills to opportunity in a skills-based economy.
Tekla Moquin, Skills to Jobs Lead – Americas and Asia-Pacific, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Dr. Michael A. Brown, Director of Educational Resources & Innovation, Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
Noah Geisel, Micro-Credential Program Manager, University of Colorado
Credentials aren’t just digital artifacts — they translate human potential into opportunity.
As skills-based hiring and AI-driven talent systems expand, higher education faces a powerful opportunity: to more clearly articulate the depth, rigor, and applied learning already embedded in its programs.
From experiential learning and employer partnerships to co-curricular leadership and research, institutions cultivate capabilities that often remain invisible beyond the transcript. By embracing intentional skill validation through digital credentials and Learning and Employment Records, colleges and universities can translate that learning into trusted, discoverable signals that connect graduates to opportunity.
This panel brings together perspectives from higher education, state workforce leadership, and employers to explore how institutions and hiring organizations can work together to make learning more visible in a skills-based economy. Panelists will discuss how credential strategies, emerging workforce infrastructure, and evolving hiring practices are reshaping how skills are recognized and what institutional leaders can do now to align learning with opportunity while preserving the enduring value of the degree.
About the panelists
Tekla Moquin
Skills to Jobs Lead – Americas and Asia-Pacific
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Tekla Moquin leads Skills to Jobs for the Americas and Asia-Pacific at Amazon Web Services, overseeing the Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance growth strategy in those regions. The Tech Alliance aims to modernize higher education programs of study to align with industry demand and connect learners with meaningful experiential learning in collaboration with AWS customers who need skilled talent. Under Tekla’s leadership, AWS has launched Tech Alliances in Brazil, Colombia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the United States. For over 16 years, Tekla has led cross-sector partnerships to develop skills-based pathways to jobs in collaboration with governments, employers and education providers.
Dr. Michael A. Brown
Director of Educational Resources & Innovation Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
Dr. Michael A. Brown is the Director of Educational Resources and Innovation for the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, where he leads systemwide efforts to advance instructional technology, digital learning, open education, and accessibility across Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges. His work focuses on strengthening teaching and learning, improving student success, and supporting institutions as they navigate emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
With more than 15 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Brown has held leadership roles in academic libraries, learning support, and student success. He brings a cross functional perspective to his work, grounded in both academic and operational leadership.
Dr. Michael A. Brown is particularly focused on building institutional capacity for AI fluency, advancing accessible and inclusive learning environments, and fostering collaboration across colleges to support innovation that is aligned with student and workforce needs.
He holds a PhD in Curriculum Instruction and Design from Texas Tech University and a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology.
Noah Geisel
Micro-Credential Program Manager
University of Colorado
Noah Geisel serves as Micro-credentials Program Manager at the University of Colorado Boulder, as well as founder and coordinator of the annual Badge Summit Conference. His background is as a World Languages, EdTech and Digital Badges consultant and teacher passionate about helping educators and students make awesome happen. He has 20 years of experience teaching Spanish, English and Technology, and was recognized as the 2013 ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year. He is a constant collaborator in online communities and professional associations. As a community organizer and champion of digital badges and credential innovation, he seeks to amplify others’ efforts to change the world through the powers of storytelling and recognition.
He is a learner, sharer, traveler, and giver of high fives. Noah makes his own buttons, collects ViewMasters, and takes his uncle duties to Lilah and Jonah very seriously, even though Jonah tattles.