Center for Workforce Development Team
Susan Dawson
President Emeritus
Susan Dawson is a community, business, and civic leader and a professional engineer. As a successful business entrepreneur turned social entrepreneur, she founded and led E3 Alliance for 18 years.
Dawson has spearheaded many successful tech ventures. Among the list is the former Athens Group president and manufacturing manager for Motorola’s Semiconductor product sector.
She also took on many volunteer leadership positions: Chair of the Austin Chamber of Commerce and board officer of Austin Area Research Organization (AAR0), Leadership Austin, Children’s Optimal Health, Workforce Solutions, American Youthworks, and Austin Partners in Education.
Her journey with Stage 4 breast cancer, first diagnosed in 2016, gave rise to Addressing Cancer Together. She set in motion and directed this effort to provide more effective systems of care for the uninsured in Central Texas.
Dawson’s accomplishments are evident in her many recognitions.
- Leadership Austin Award for Lifetime Achievement in Community Trusteeship
- Austin Under 40 Austinite of the Year
- State Board of Education’s Hero for Children award
- Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year
- Dell Medical School’s Health Hero award
- UT McCombs Trailblazer Award
- NAPE National Diversity in Leadership award
- Austin Chamber’s CEO of the Year
- Austin’s 30 Most Influential Leaders who shaped Austin’s economy and culture over the last 30 years
- 2019 StriveTogether National Cradle to Career Champion
- 2020 Austinite of the Year
- AARO’s Visionary of the Year for 2022
She earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering cum laude from Princeton University and a master’s in business administration with highest honors from The University of Texas McCombs School of Business.
Kyle Seipp
Senior Director of Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness
Kyle began his career as a high school mathematics teacher in Northwest ISD outside of Fort Worth. He later joined the Institute for Public School Initiatives in the College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin to be an Executive Master Teacher. There, he focused on scaling algebra readiness through middle schools. He also aided school districts to establish Early College High School Partnerships for traditionally underrepresented students in gaining college access.
Kyle has served students and families as the Director of College and Career Readiness in Northwest ISD. Most recently, he led partnership development for OnRamps at the University of Texas at Austin.
He holds a master’s degree from Lamar University and a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Texas State University in San Marcos.
Marco Pizana
Assistant Director of Postsecondary & Workforce Readiness
Marco began his career in criminal justice, spending more than a decade with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
A desire to teach pulled Marco to public-school education. He’s instructed criminal justice coursework, served as President of the Texas Public Service Teacher Association, coordinated Career and Technical Education, and most recently worked as Assistant Principal in Hays CISD.
Marco holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Concordia University Texas.
Sara Saleem
Director of Career Pathways and Workforce Attainment
Sara brings extensive experience in PK–12 and higher education, workforce development, and systems change to E3 Alliance. She is passionate about building equity-driven pathways, spending her career connecting academic institutions, industry partners, and community partners to ensure every student has a clear path to postsecondary and career success.
Sara had held roles in PK–12 districts, community colleges, and innovation zones, including the Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership Program (R-PEP), the second of its kind in Texas. There, she developed and led high-demand career pathway programs. Sara designed accessible opportunities for first-generation college students, working students, and those from low-income households, thereby increasing awareness and completion rates.
At E3, she leads cross-sector partnerships that align workforce training with regional labor needs. Sara applies data-informed strategies to expand career programming and equitable access for Central Texas students. She believes education and workforce systems must collaborate—not operate in silos—to better serve all students.
Sara holds a master’s degree in English. She enjoys fusing educational innovation, employer engagement, and student-centered design under one mission-driven vision.