Sascha Harrell is the Director of Education and Workforce at Purdue University’s Indiana Manufacturing Competitiveness Center, where she leads statewide strategies that strengthen Indiana’s talent pipeline and expand access to advanced manufacturing career pathways. Her work focuses on building strong education and industry partnerships, designing scalable K16 and incumbent workforce training programs, and securing strategic funding to support long-term workforce development and economic growth. She is particularly committed to advancing early career awareness, hands-on learning, and STEM opportunities that prepare learners for the rapidly evolving landscape of Industry 4.0.
Sascha brings more than two decades of leadership experience in manufacturing, workforce development, and regional economic growth. Prior to joining Purdue, she served in key human resources and workforce development roles at Subaru of Indiana Automotive and Caterpillar and worked in economic development at Greater Lafayette Commerce. These experiences informed her belief that communities thrive when education and industry work together to ensure equitable access to high-value and high-wage career pathways.
Her academic work centers on understanding and improving the manufacturing workforce pipeline. Sascha earned a PhD in STEM Education Technology and Leadership Innovation from Purdue University, where her research examined students' and educators' perceptions of manufacturing and the factors that shape career identity, awareness, and workforce readiness. She also holds a Master of Science in Education with a concentration in manufacturing and workforce development from Purdue and a Bachelor of Arts from Morehead State University.
Sascha’s work is driven by a commitment to advancing systemic change and positioning advanced manufacturing as a cornerstone of Indiana’s future. She is dedicated to ensuring that learners across the state have meaningful opportunities to grow, lead, and contribute to a strong and innovative workforce.
