SPC President Appointed to Federal Committee on Pell Grants

The U.S. Department of Education selected St. Petersburg College President Dr. Tonjua Williams to serve on the national Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand-Driven Workforce Pell (AHEAD) committee.

The AHEAD committee will shape how updated Pell Grant policies, including the new Workforce Pell option for short-term, career-focused programs, roll out across the country. Committee members will advise the Department of Education on several key areas, including:

• Determining program eligibility for Workforce Pell
• Strengthening institutional and program accountability
• Aligning regulations with gainful employment and financial-value transparency rules
• Ensuring that Pell dollars help students enter high-demand, good-wage jobs

“As a community college that leads the state in workforce outcomes, SPC brings real-world insight into what students and employers need,” said Melissa Gonzalez, Government Relations Director at SPC. “President Williams’ voice at the AHEAD table ensures those insights drive federal policy, especially for working adults, low-income learners and career changers.”

In her national role, Williams will:

• Represent community and state colleges in shaping Workforce Pell policies that support high-demand, short-term training programs without creating unnecessary administrative burdens.
• Advocate for program quality and student outcomes, ensuring Workforce Pell-funded programs meet completion, placement and earnings benchmarks that deliver returns on investment.
• Align Workforce Pell policy with employer needs, drawing on SPC’s strong partnerships in health care, manufacturing, technology and financial services.

“This is an important moment for America’s workforce system,” said Williams. “Expanding Pell to quality, short-term programs can transform the lives of working adults, parents and dislocated workers, but only if the rules remain clear, fair and focused on outcomes. I’m honored to bring SPC’s experience to this national conversation.”

The AHEAD committee will meet over several sessions to negotiate proposed regulatory language before the Department of Education finalizes new rules. Each member’s expertise will help ensure the resulting policies strengthen the nation’s workforce pipeline and advance equitable access to higher education.