2025-2026 ATE Future Leaders Fellows
AACC is pleased to announce the 2025-2026 ATE Future Leaders Fellows.
Aron Kamajaya
Program Director, Biotechnology
Los Angeles Pierce College, CA
Dr. Aron Kamajaya is an Associate Professor at Los Angeles Pierce College (LAPC) and the Director of the fastest-growing biotechnology program in the Greater Los Angeles Region, quadrupling the program size in just three years. In collaboration with the DNA Learning Center, Dr. Kamajaya has established an in-house student internship in protein biomanufacturing, producing enzymes to support bioscience classrooms regionally and nationally. Products and protocols developed from this program have also been shared nationally through the InnovATEBIO network. Dr. Kamajaya has sparked excitement for students and the college administration in biotechnology careers at LAPC. This has led to the DOE’s support for the development of the Biomanufacturing Baccalaureate program, which will launch in the Fall of 2026. Dr. Kamajaya has involved community college (biotech) students in research projects that have led to peer-reviewed publications. He received his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and two bachelor’s degrees from the University of California – Berkeley. Dr. Kamajaya is also an active member of the statewide Biotech community, InnovATEBIO (ATE center), MNT-EC (ATE center), and BioMADE.
Ellie Koss
Assistant Director, Grants Office
Columbus State Community College, OH
Ellie Koss is an experienced higher education professional with a focus on grants development, strategic partnerships, and postsecondary innovation. She currently serves as the Assistant Director of grant development at Columbus State Community College in Columbus, Ohio, where she helps secure funding to support student success, workforce development, and community impact initiatives. Ms. Koss holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in English, which ground her strengths in communication, writing, and critical thinking. She brings a strong track record in project development and cross-sector collaboration with a particular interest in expanding access to STEM education and community impact programs. Passionate about innovation in education, Ms. Koss is continuously exploring new pathways to support learners and institutions alike.
Mason Lefler
Associate Vice President for Educational Innovation
Bridgerland Technical College, UT
As Associate Vice President for Educational Innovation at Bridgerland Technical College, Dr. Mason Lefler leads both the Instructional Systems & Design and Development departments. In his role with the Development department, Dr. Lefler has served as Principal Investigator on several NSF Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grants and oversees a variety of other Career and Technical Education (CTE) grant projects. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Brigham Young University, a master’s degree in Secondary Education from Arizona State University, a master’s degree in Instructional Leadership, and a doctorate in Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences from Utah State University. He began his career in education as a middle school teacher, where he was an early pioneer of flipped-classroom models using technology. As a researcher, Dr. Lefler has published academic work in the areas of problem-based learning, computer-based scaffolding, and learning analytics. His leadership and educational work consistently intersect curriculum design, instructional technology, CTE, data-driven decision making, and work-based learning.
Kenie Moses
Department Head of Engineering & Technology
Southern University at Shreveport, LA
Dr. Kenie Moses serves as Professor and Department Head of Engineering and Technology at Southern University at Shreveport. He received his BSEE in 2008 from Southern University A&M and MSECE from Purdue University 2011, and his PhD in May 2019 in Engineering Education from Northern Illinois University. Dr. Moses has been involved in STEM education his entire academic career, from his associate degrees to his bachelor and master’s degrees in Electrical & Computer Engineering to his PhD. In addition, he holds a graduate credential in Advanced Quantitative Analysis, which has allowed for the effective monitoring of students’ knowledge and improvement of outcomes through high-level analytics. During his graduate academic career, Dr. Moses was fortunate to hold the positions of Academic & Research Chair, Vice President, and President of the graduate student association on campus. He is a strong research professional and grant writer securing millions of dollars in funding over the course of the last five years.
Tony Wohlers
Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs
SUNY Corning Community College, NY
Dr. Tony E. Wohlers currently serves as Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs at SUNY Corning Community College, where he provides strategic leadership across all academic and workforce education programs. With more than two decades of experience in higher education, he has held senior administrative roles at Harford Community College and Cameron University, leading institutional transformation through data-informed strategies, shared governance, and student-centered innovation. Dr. Wohlers has championed honors education, expanded undergraduate research, and advanced workforce-aligned curricula, earning national recognition for program growth and student success. A seasoned accreditation leader and grant principal investigator, he has secured significant federal and state funding, including from the NSF, while guiding institutional effectiveness and assessment. He has also published extensively in areas such as biopolitics, public policy, and e-government. Committed to civic engagement and community impact, Dr. Wohlers has served on numerous local and state boards. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Northern Illinois University and is fluent in English and German.