About me
Dr. Jackie Tiermini is a Professor and Chair of the Humanities Department at Finger Lakes Community College, where she has spent over a decade working at the intersection of education, career exploration, and student self-discovery. Drawing from her early career as a K–12 special education teacher, Jackie has built a professional life focused on bridging gaps between high school and college—and between the classroom and the working world.Most recently, she has taken on the role of founding Program Director of the Finger Lakes Mosaic Collective (Mosaic), the first CAPS Network affiliate in New York State and the first to be hosted by a community college. Mosaic adapts the CAPS model in a higher education setting, bringing together high school students and local businesses for authentic, project-based collaboration. Rather than sending students out individually to businesses, Mosaic creates a shared learning space where teams of students tackle real business challenges with professional mentors—helping students develop workforce-ready skills while discovering who they are and what kinds of work spark their interest and purpose.Her career has been shaped by a deep belief that education should never force students to choose between “college” or “career.” Instead, she sees all learning as part of a broader career pathway, with college as one valuable piece—not a dividing line. That vision has guided her through innovative professional development programs, grant-funded collaborations between K–12 and college faculty, and now, the launch of a bold new model for experiential learning in the region.
