September 12, 2022
Northland welcomes Jackson Harren as a new mechatronics program instructor at the Advanced Resource Center for Innovation and Education in Warroad, Minnesota.
September 12, 2022 – Northland Community & Technical College is excited to welcome Jackson Harren as a new mechatronics program instructor at the Advanced Resource Center for Innovation and Education (ARC) in Warroad, Minnesota.
Harren attended the University of Alabama in Huntsville and obtained his B.S.E. in Industrial and Systems Engineering and an M.S. in Management of Technology. Harren returned to Warroad from Huntsville to join the Manufacturing Engineering team at Marvin, where he served in a leadership role for several years.
After 13 years with Marvin, Harren left to attend to two family businesses. The Northern Toboggan company, founded in 1995 by his dad John, handcrafts wooden sledding equipment and snowshoes for customers throughout North America. Also in the spirit of outdoor adventure is Harren’s second family business, Wintergreen Northern Wear, based in Ely, Minnesota.
“The time I’ve taken to focus on the businesses and entrepreneurship, in general, has been rewarding,” shared Harren. “Not only were we able to build capable teams and improve processes and partnerships, but I also had a lot of fun doing it.” Looking toward the future, he is ready for his new adventure with the Mechatronics program in his local community.
“I understand firsthand the need for tech skills in our area,” shared Harren. “I looked at this as an opportunity to help facilitate the learning and advancement of these programs. It is exciting that this has come to Warroad, and I wanted to be involved.”
In August 2021, Northland and Marvin announced a new partnership to bring an accredited mechatronics program to Warroad. The program features innovative curriculum and delivery methods that will support the growing need for advanced manufacturing automation skill sets in the region.
Students of the program will be able to earn an A.A.S. degree or any number of certificates within a 60-credit program. Courses will also be available on a stand-alone basis to help students master a specific new skill or take their personal interests to the next level.
“It is a huge advantage for students and local industry to have this type of training available. These programs can be continually improved to best fit the needs of the area,” Harren explained. “It’s a dynamic opportunity to have the resources of Northland teamed up with local businesses and it makes for a bright future.”
The ARC is the home of Northland’s northwest Minnesota mechatronics program. The new space has been fitted with a mechatronics lab, a student study and meeting space, and a room for future programming collaboration.
A ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony for the ARC and mechatronics program will be held at 12 p.m. on October 7, 2022.
Enrollment for the mechatronics program in Warroad, or on Northland’s East Grand Forks campus, is now open on a rolling basis. Scholarships and financial aid may be used toward tuition costs. More information on the new mechatronics opportunity can be found at northlandcollege.edu.