Celebrating Technical Colleges and Connecting with the Community

Some of you may be wondering how my first few weeks at Moraine Park have been. I will tell you that they have been busy and I have learned a lot. What I have been most impressed with is the warm welcome I have received from not only the employees at Moraine Park’s three campuses but also the college communities. I spent my first three days on the job touring the Fond du Lac, West Bend and Beaver Dam campuses and meeting individuals within the communities.   Employees within the college were eager to learn about me and I was eager to learn about them and the important jobs they have.  Remembering their names will come in time, but for now I’m doing well to remember where and how I can locate them!



Photo by Gateway Technical College via Flickr

 I was also privileged to be able to attend and participate in the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Centennial Celebration at Gateway Technical College (GTC) in Racine.  It was a wonderful celebration with GTC laying the foundation for career training in Wisconsin.  Serving over 400,000 students annually, the WTCS provides the education and services to meet today’s student and employee needs.  I am proud to be a part of this wonderful system and look forward to kicking off Moraine Park’s centennial celebration starting in the fall. We are planning many events and activities throughout the 2011-12 academic year, and encourage you to check back this fall for more information on these activities. 

Finally, I want to share with you the wonderful lunch I had with Moraine Park’s Student Ambassador, Kristina White. Kristina was a joy to talk with and I look forward to seeing her involvement with not only Moraine Park’s campuses but also the WTCS system.  I encourage you to attend any events that Kristina plans as our Student Ambassador.

The start of the fall term is just around the corner. I look forward to meeting you as you return to MPTC this fall.

Coming Home

As a Wisconsin native, it is with great pleasure that I am coming home as the new president of Moraine Park Technical college; a role supported with deeply planted roots in both the technical educational system and the Midwest geography.  I earned my first college degree through the Wisconsin Technical College System, so it seems fitting to find myself coming full circle.

The beginning of my story is not unlike that of many other students.  I was introduced to the technical college system my senior year of high school by my guidance counselor.  Even then as I pondered my future, I understood that some formal training and education beyond high school was important. I, along with a few of my high school classmates, inquired about what MATC-Madison might have to offer someone like me.  Encouraged by what I learned, I completed the admission application and soon found myself on my way to the start of educational and career endeavors I never dreamed possible as a 17-year-old small town, high school senior.

I flourished at MATC.  I was inspired.  Sometime during my second year, Dr. Nancy Tans, a fashion/marketing instructor, encouraged me to consider going on to a four- year university.  It wasn’t something I had really considered, but with her encouragement, and that of other department faculty, I applied at UW-Stout in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree.

The rest, as they say, is history…

After earning my bachelor’s degree, I went on to UW-Madison and received both my Doctor of Philosophy degree in Continuing and Vocational Education with a minor in Educational Administration, and a Master of Science degree in Continuing and Vocational Education.  That small town girl made good on some big time dreams.

My journey from a student to a faculty member to a dean and on to a vice president has been immensely fulfilling and diverse both in scope and in geographical location.  Now, the newest role of “president” has also brought me “home.” While I’ve enjoyed the many friends, students and colleagues I’ve met along the way, “home” seemed to be a missing part of the equation. 

It feels good to be back.

What does “home” mean to you?  Send me your thoughts.