Adela de la Torre, the President of San Diego State University, Michael Sorrell, President of Paul Quinn College, and Jacob Fraire, President of the ECMC Foundation, dive into the critical role of regional colleges in innovation and workforce development. They discuss how these institutions can uniquely adapt post-COVID, emphasizing student engagement and tailored programs. The conversation includes navigating workforce alignment in the age of AI and the importance of flexible credentialing to meet diverse learner needs, underscoring their potential to drive economic mobility.