MCC’s Pathmaker Program Prepares Students for Immediate Entry into Workforce

Run by Middlesex Community College’s Corporate Education and Training division, the Pathmaker program prepares students to work in the life sciences field. Through a combination of hands-on experiences in the college’s state-of-the-art robotics lab, industry-relevant curriculum, and partnerships with local organizations, students such as Paige Juhola and De’Andre Hardy are equipped for immediate entry into the workforce.

“I was laid off in July 2025, which pushed me to explore new opportunities,” said Paige Juhola, an MCC Pathmaker graduate, of Chelmsford. “I entered this program because I wanted to transition into a career where I could feel valued and make an impact. I knew I had the drive, but I needed the right environment to turn that drive into meaningful, professional skills. MCC provided hands-on education and real-world experience that truly prepared me for the next step in my career.”

Funded by the Mass Life Science Center (MLSC), Juhola and students in the program are able to participate at no cost to them. In the program, she found knowledgeable and supportive instructors who cared about her success. They also offered career guidance and networking opportunities to allow her to transfer the skills she learned to her new career. Graduating in April 2026, she will start her job at Insulet Corporation in May.

After graduating from MCC’s program in December 2025, Hardy, of Lynn, also started working at Insulet as a full-time associate. Joining the Pathmaker program to learn a new field, he enjoyed working with the equipment in the robotics lab and learning about new programming software. In addition to gaining skills, he enjoyed getting guidance from staff and instructors.

“I did not have a background in this industry prior to applying, so it was a new career path for me and an opportunity to learn a new field overall,” Hardy said. “My experience at MCC created a whole new path of life that I am very thankful for. The hands-on learning gave a deeper understanding of what your job would be like after the program.”

MCC’s Pathmaker program assists in filling gaps in the life sciences workforce by helping to build job training opportunities for in-demand careers in Massachusetts. Along with MLSC Pathmaker Initiative, the program is in partnership with Insulet Corporation and MassHire Lowell Career Center.

Receiving 120 hours of in-person learning and 30 hours of remote learning with Tooling U over eight weeks, students also gain professional development, career training, and access to support services such as tutoring and advising. Upon completion, students are eligible to interview for positions at Insulet, as well as get their Certified Manufacturing Associate credentials through Tooling U and OSHA-10 certification.

“We are so proud of each of our students – as this is an intense program – covering a lot of material in a short period,” said Katy Gentile, MCC’s Assistant Director of Corporate Education & Training. “Each cohort has risen to the occasion. Our core partners have been crucial to the success of the program and to our students.”

The next session will run from Monday, May 4 through Thursday, June 25 in MCC’s robotics lab in Bedford. Each session takes place from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

Visit https://www.middlesex.edu/corporate/pathmaker.html or email Katy Gentile at GentileK@middlesex.edu to learn more about MCC’s Pathmaker program.