Kristen Raney, the eighth president of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay, joined co-hosts Ann Franz of the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance and Kate Bruns of Insight on Manufacturing magazine on this week’s episode of the NEW Manufacturing Insights podcast.
Raney became NWTC’s president on July 1, 2023. As she concludes her first year at the helm of the college, Raney talks about her passion for the Wisconsin Technical College System in general, and specifically the distinct role played by NWTC.
Raney says partnership will be a key element of the college’s strategy going forward, citing as key partnerships NWTC’s synergies with the Northeast Wisconsin business community, dual credit partnerships with Wisconsin’s high schools and robust transfer pathways to four-year institutions.
Raney told Franz and Bruns those partnerships and commitments help send a strong message about the importance of higher education.
“This idea today that you don’t need to go to college, that’s kind of a narrative people are hearing, but there’s no data that backs that,” Raney said. “We want to make sure we are helping people see the value of NWTC and the opportunities that will come to them by coming to the college.”
Raney also says she is excited about helping position NWTC as a leader in the research, development and teaching of A.I. technologies.
“That will be a key focus for us in our strategic plan, and it’s kind of twofold,” Raney said. “One is the changes AI will have in fields like nursing and health care and manufacturing, but it’s also about how AI and technology will change how we teach and learn.”
On the NEW Manufacturing Alliance’s 18th birthday, the 32nd episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights is sponsored by Wisconsin Paper Group and produced by Woodward Community Media.
Listen to NEWMI everywhere you get your podcasts and subscribe to support the show.
