Brandon Hensley serves as the Dean of Career and Technical Education at McDowell Technical Community College (MTCC). With a keen focus on continuous personal and professional development, he is pursuing a Ph.D. in Workforce and Organizational Development at Old Dominion University.Hensley's commitment to excellence in his field is exemplified by his role as a 2024 ACTE Next Level Leadership Fellow, a testament to his dedication to advancing the realms of Career and Technical Education. His outstanding achievements include being selected as a 2022-2023 NCSU Belk Center Fellow.Education forms the bedrock of his expertise, with Hensley earning a Master of Science in Technology Systems with a manufacturing concentration from East Carolina University. His educational journey includes a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Technology Education from North Carolina State University.Hensley's career trajectory has been marked by a wealth of experience, having served as an Associate Dean and Senior Project Manager at Catawba Valley Community College. He further honed his expertise as the Department Head of Engineering and Computer-Integrated Machining Technology Instructor at Western Piedmont Community College, following a successful stint in the private sector as a design engineer. Prior to his career change into education, Hensley worked as a design engineer in the manufacturing industry for ten years.Beyond his professional endeavors, Brandon is a devoted family man. He resides in Morganton, North Carolina, with his wife and three children, embodying the importance of work-life balance. His dedication extends to the academic sphere, where his research interests prominently revolve around the crucial domains of recruitment and retention of Career and Technical Education faculty and fostering student success in the skilled trades.