I have recommended MATC to others as a place to work and will continue to recommend it. This is a great place to be. The college appreciates you, values you and celebrates you.
Maiyer Thao sees herself in many of the students she serves.
Thao has worked at MATC for one year, first as a student employment assistant at the college’s CareerHub and currently as a student services specialist.
The youngest of seven children of Hmong parents who immigrated from Asia in 1976, Thao was taught to work hard and to value education, but often she had to seek out the right resources to succeed.
“Many of the students I work with are non-traditional, first-generation college students, often from marginalized groups,” Thao said. “As a young girl, I loved education, and I’ve always dreamed of making an impact on my community by ensuring students succeed in their academic journey. At MATC, I get to do that every day.”
In 2017, Thao graduated from Hamilton High School in Sussex. She earned a bachelor’s degree in December 2020 and a master’s degree in May 2022 from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is the first in her family to get a master’s degree.
Thao is active in Milwaukee’s Hmong community. She is involved with the college’s Asian Student Association, is part of the Southeast Asian Youth Education Committee, and participates in Our Scholarship Inc., a nonprofit group based in Milwaukee that raises scholarship funds for Southeast Asian high school and college students.
The Hmong are members of an ethnic group that have not had a country of their own. For many years, the Hmong lived in southwestern China. In the mid-1600s, the Hmong migrated to Laos, Thailand and other neighboring countries. Today, many reside in states such as California, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
“I believe it is valuable to celebrate everyone and to take the time to learn about other cultures,” she said.
Before coming to MATC, she worked at Alverno College as an undergraduate admissions counselor and housing operations assistant. She also served as a career specialist at Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin.
Thao was attracted to MATC by its commitment to helping every student succeed, and she has flourished in the college’s supportive environment.
“We are persistent and focused on our mission,” she said. “My supervisors have been very supportive of me advancing, prospering and seeking out opportunities that utilize my skills to the fullest. There is a lot of space to grow here.”
MATC has a diverse team of employees — 42% are people of color — who serve the students who make the college one of the most diverse two-year institutions of higher education in the Midwest.
“A healthy culture is vital to the success of any organization, especially one as diverse as ours, where inclusion, equity and social mobility are at the forefront of our work,” said MATC President Anthony Cruz, Ed.D. “Embracing inclusivity and shared goals promotes unity, stronger relationships, and a more effective approach to problem-solving and community building.”
“I have recommended MATC to others as a place to work and will continue to recommend it,” Thao said. “This is a great place to be. The college appreciates you, values you and celebrates you.”
Find out about working at MATC
About MATC: As Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. More than 30,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 180 academic programs — many that prepare students for jobs immediately upon completion and others that provide transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 40 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.