Transforming Lives Through Technical Education with Dr. Kristen Raney

·32 min·3 clips

Dr. Kristen Raney explains why Wisconsin's technical college system is designed not to compete but to serve specific local employers.

The episode features an interview with Dr. Kristen Raney, president of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC), hosted by Debra Fitzgerald. Dr. Raney begins by explaining why NWTC is her favorite college to lead, highlighting the deep commitment of staff to student success. She describes the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) as unique because its 16 colleges each focus on serving employers and K-12 districts within their specific boundaries, avoiding competition. Dr. Raney shares that 93% of NWTC's 2023 graduates are working full-time within six months, with an average entry-level salary of nearly $53,000. Zooming in on Door County, she details NWTC's services at the Sturgeon Bay campus, including credit programs like practical nursing and non-credit offerings such as adult education and ELL services. Notably, NWTC provides GED instruction in the Door County jail and has a contracted alternative high school program with Sturgeon Bay High School. The college also conducts custom training for local employers like Bay Ship and GENTIERI through its Corporate Training and Economic Development (CTED) team. Dr. Raney discusses micro-credentials in welding, such as blueprint reading and TIG welding, which offer focused skill development. She explains how NWTC works with K-12 districts to expose students to career exploration and college credit opportunities, including a full technical degree program in Luxembourg-Casco High School. The conversation touches on the decision to move the diesel mechanics program from Sturgeon Bay to Green Bay due to declining enrollment, balancing financial viability with community need. Dr. Raney emphasizes NWTC's strategic focus on rural communities like Door and Kewaunee counties, serving adult learners with an average student age of 27. She also highlights NWTC's three licensed commercial kitchens in Sister Bay, Sturgeon Bay, and Florence, which support local food entrepreneurs. The episode concludes with Dr. Raney reflecting on NWTC's role in shaping communities across Northeast Wisconsin.

As heard by us

A grounded local interview shows how NWTC turns employer needs into job-focused training on campus and at work.

Technical education comes through as local economic infrastructure: a way for a college to connect what people learn with the work employers actually need. Debra Fitzgerald's interview with Dr.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Want to see how NWTC turns employer needs into training that can meet employees where they work?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Door County Pulse Podcast