From Community College to Capitol Hill: PTK Alum Featured on Roadtrip Nation

June 16, 2025
default
Nick Moore, Deputy  Assistant Secretary, Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education for the U.S. Department of Education

Before Nick Moore made it to Capitol Hill and the Alabama Governor’s Office, he was a Phi Theta Kappa member.

Nick began his higher education journey at Enterprise State Community College in Alabama, according to his Roadtrip Nation profile.

At Enterprise State, he joined the Tau Mu Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and later served as chapter vice president. This early leadership experience helped shape his path forward.

After completing community college, Nick transferred to continue his education.

“I began my college journey at a community college and then completed my bachelor’s degree in history and political science through Harvard University’s extension studies program,” Moore said to Roadtrip Nation.

With his degree in hand, Nick started his career as a substitute teacher. He soon joined Teach for America as a corps member.

He taught U.S. history, government, and economics at Central High School in Lowndes County, Alabama for three years. Then, he made the ambitious shift to Capitol Hill.

He worked as a legislative fellow then a legislative assistant. Most recently, he worked as the Director of the Governor’s Office of Education and Workforce Transformation for Alabama Governor Kay Ivey.

“I help the governor build a talent ecosystem predicated on skills-based hiring and competency-based learning,” Nick said.

Now, he is taking his skills back to Washington D.C.. He was recently appointed as the Deputy  Assistant Secretary, Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education for the U.S. Department of Education.

In this role, he will help guide national strategies to improve access to high-quality career and technical education programs for learners of all ages.

Nick Moore’s story is a testament to the power of community college and the opportunities that can emerge from involvement in Phi Theta Kappa. His journey—from a small town in Alabama to shaping national education policy—is a powerful reminder that no matter where you start, your dreams are within reach.

Learn more about Nick’s career roadmap on Roadtrip Nation’s website.

Related Articles

Phi Theta Kappa Honors Nation’s Top Community College Presidents with Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) has named the 2026 recipients of the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction, the Society’s highest honor for community college presidents. The award is presented annually to college presidents who have demonstrated outstanding support for student success initiatives leading to stronger pathways for completion, transfer, and career readiness. Uniquely,…

Beyond the Hype: What I Learned Building AI for the Public Sector

By Guest Contributor Marlon P. Crespo Marlon is a Phi Theta Kappa member at Hudson County Community College and the valedictorian of his graduating class. There’s a lot of noise right now about how AI will “fix everything”. This past fall, I worked as an AI Product Management Intern with the New Jersey Department of…

St. Lawrence Offers One of the Largest Transfer Scholarships for PTK Students

St. Lawrence University in New York is offering a $50,000 yearly scholarship to Phi Theta Kappa members admitted to the university. St. Lawrence University is a private liberal arts college in Canton, New York, United States. It has roughly 2,100 undergraduate and 100 graduate students. Learn more about this transfer option in the Q&A below….