Layla Merrifield has been named the next president of the Wisconsin Technical College System. She succeeds Morna Foy who announced her retirement this spring after leading WTCS for 12 years.
Merrifield was selected after a national search by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board and will begin her new position Sept. 9.
Merrifield has been the executive director of the Wisconsin Technical College District Boards Association, an organization representing the trustees of the 16 Wisconsin technical colleges’ district boards, since 2015. Prior to that she served as a fiscal analyst for the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau, a nonpartisan service agency of the Wisconsin Legislature, then as a Wisconsin Technical College System policy advisor.
She has a bachelor’s degree in politics from Hendrix College and is pursuing a master of education degree, an articulated pathway to doctor of education. She is currently the chair of the Community College Association Executives.
“Layla has been a fierce advocate for Wisconsin’s technical colleges for many years, and her knowledge of WTCS, our colleges and Wisconsin’s legislature makes her the perfect candidate to fill this role,” said Mark Tyler, WTCS board chair.
Merrifield said, “I look forward to working with WTCS to meet its vision of empowering technical colleges to recognize the unique needs of individuals and employers in driving economic prosperity for all. WTCS will continue to work collaboratively to promote lifelong learning as a model for the advancement of all communities throughout Wisconsin.”
