Kankelborg Accepts Montana Health Care Consortium Coordinator Postion at Montana Tech

In response to a $15 Million federal infusion of grant dollars into Montana’s higher education system to enhance Health Care Workforce Development, Montana Tech announced today that Annette Kankelborg, who was the Associate Director for Student Success Services with the Institute for Educational Opportunities at Montana Tech, has been hired as the Montana Health Care Grant Coordinator.

“We are delighted to bring Annette’s extensive experience working with students and grants to this important project,” noted Karen VanDaveer, Director of Nursing at Montana Tech. “This project is a collaboration with a 15-college consortium, the Montana Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education (OCHE), and the Montana Area Health Education Center (MT AHEC), a US DPHHS funded program. It will create a seamless transition for associate of science nursing degree students from Montana’s two year campuses to Montana Tech’s four year RN program.”

 Kankelborg has worked at Montana Tech for over 15 years. She began her time on campus as a volunteer with AmeriCorps and has also worked as a grant administrator and community service project coordinator. Her accolades include: directing the regional science fair, administering the AmeriCorps program, advising pre-college students with college preparatory services as an Upward Bound coordinator, and hosting seven math and science summer camps for Native American middle school students. Ms. Kankelborg has also authored and administered support programs for low income students pursuing STEM degrees. Both the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation have funded her support interventions due to their effectiveness at recruiting and retaining students who are traditionally underrepresented in the STEM education pipeline.

“With Annette’s career change, it is the end of an era for the Institute,” noted Amy Verlanic, Executive Director for the Institute. “But I am ecstatic that Ms. Kankelborg will remain on campus and continue to advance educational opportunities for students from all over Montana.”

For more information, please visit www.mtech.edu or for information specific to the Institute for Educational Opportunities, please visit http://institute.mtech.edu/.