College of Menominee Nation President Christopher Caldwell has assumed the chairperson position of NEWERA, an organization made up of the senior leadership of the seven public colleges and universities located in northeastern Wisconsin.
The role rotates among the leaders on an annual basis. Caldwell undertakes the duties from Lakeshore Technical College President Paul Carlsen.
New North Inc., the regional economic development corporation for the 18 counties of Northeast Wisconsin, is a partner of NEWERA, offering support and collaboration. It provides strategic/meeting facilitation and development, along with working with member institutions to help implement their individual priorities.
Caldwell has been president of the College of Menominee Nation since June 2021. He had served as the college’s interim president for the prior 17 months, successfully guiding the college through pandemic-related challenges. Caldwell additionally has directed the Sustainable Development Institute at the College of Menominee Nation since October 2012.
Prior to entering higher education, Caldwell spent nearly two decades in forestry and natural resources positions with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Menominee Indian Tribe. He is an enrolled member of the Menominee Indian Tribe.
Caldwell holds an associate degree in sustainable development from the College of Menominee Nation, a bachelor’s degree in natural resources from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a master’s degree in environmental science and policy from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. He currently is a PhD candidate in environment and resources from the UW-Madison Nelson Institute.
“I am excited to helm NEWERA in the coming year,” says Caldwell. “We know that education is an economic driver, and working together we can make a measurable impact on the regional economy of the New North. Dr. Carlsen served NEWERA well as its chairperson, and I aspire to meet the leadership standard he set.”
“I am proud of the accomplishments of NEWERA over the past year, and I know that Chris will do great things as the next chairperson,” says Carlsen. “He brings a great perspective to the role.”
The Northeast Wisconsin Educational Resource Alliance is a collaboration among senior leadership of the seven public colleges and universities located in northeastern Wisconsin. Established in 2000, NEWERA is comprised of the College of Menominee Nation in Keshena; Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton; Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland, Wis.; Moraine Park Technical College in Fond du Lac; Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay; the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; and the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Collectively serving more than 50,000 undergraduate students annually, the organizations collaborate and connect with regional partners to maximize talent, community and economic development in the New North region.
“We believe that education underpins workforce development,” says Rebecca Deschane, vice president-talent development of New North Inc. “We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with NEWERA to help meet the short- and long-term talent needs of our region. The organization has played an important role in filling the talent pipeline of the New North region, and through our partnership we hope to elevate its impact.”
More information on NEWERA can be found at neweraonline.org.
