We want to provide every student an education that connects them to their dreams.
Channetta Winfield was born deaf.
That hasn’t stopped her from attending Milwaukee Area Technical College, and it won’t stop her from opening her own business once she gets her Culinary Arts degree.
“That’s something that is possible, so that’s something I want to do,” she said through a sign language interpreter.
Helping students like Winfield realize their dreams is exactly what the college’s faculty and staff should be doing for each and every student, said MATC President Anthony Cruz.
“Our community is counting on us to drive greater student success,” Dr. Cruz told about 1,500 college employees on Thursday, August 14, at MATC’s Academic Year Kickoff, a two-day event to celebrate the start of the Fall 2025 semester. “We want to provide every student an education that connects them to their dreams.”
Dr. Cruz delivered his opening remarks in Cooley Auditorium at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus, and they were broadcast to the college’s Mequon, Oak Creek and West Allis campuses.
He and other college leaders celebrated successes and accomplishments, shared updates on several initiatives, and discussed the college’s new five-year strategic plan, Ascend Together.
Also at Thursday’s event, WE CARE winners were recognized and a group of students talked about the support they have received and what the college can do to improve the student experience.
Dr. Cruz started his remarks by telling the story of Martin Kennedy, a graduate from MATC's Automotive Maintenance Technology program. Dr. Cruz emphasized the importance of staff engagement and how it transformed Kennedy’s life. “His story represents what MATC is all about,” Dr. Cruz said.
Read Martin's story
Dr. Cruz said he has strived to put students, like Kennedy, first since coming to MATC in July 2024. “That is my core philosophy,” he said. “I have been here a year and a month, and I am excited and ready for more. We are on fire in a good way.”
In those past 13 months, the college has developed a new strategic plan; seen enrollment increase for the third straight year; sought direct input from students, faculty and staff at Voice of the College Live sessions; and drawn closer to achieving federal Hispanic-Serving Institution status.
In the coming academic year, enrollment should surpass 9,500 full-time equivalent students (the highest since before the COVID-19 pandemic), a new employee recognition portal will be introduced, and the percentage of full-time Hispanic/Latino/a students should reach 25%, Dr. Cruz said.
“We will remain focused and vigilant on delivering on our commitment to serve a diverse student population,” Dr. Cruz said. “Great things are happening at MATC and they will continue to happen.”
Great things are already happening at the college, thanks to the three WE CARE Award winners honored at the session: Rochea Anderson, an advisor in the Community and Human Services Pathway; Dr. Reggie Parks, a retention coach for the transportation services programs; and Hughes “Crash” Crawford, a part-time instructor in the Audio Production program.
MATC is also doing a great job providing support that drives success, according to four students who participated in a panel discussion. They talked about their experiences on campus.
“The college has so many resources,” said William Musoke, a Uganda native studying information technology. “I have got a lot of support from tutors. Our students need to know about what is available. Our instructors can be the mouthpieces of the college.”
“I like the personal connections I can make with my instructors,” said Alexis Johnson Jackson, a Business Management student, who also works full time. “I like knowing the schedule and knowing the syllabus. That helps me stay on track.”
“I want my instructors to provide inspiration for us,” said Wilmer Andres Valderrama Salamanca, a Civil Engineering Technology student.
“I can’t wait for the new semester to start,” said Winfield, who was on the panel. “I make sure I go to class every single day. I love attending class.”
Still, not everything is perfect. The Academic Kickoff included a session on Student Success Indicators. Students not receiving timely feedback on academic progress from their instructors was one of the top challenges for the college, along with campus safety and registering without issues, according to an online survey taken by students in the spring of 2024.
More feedback was collected at student focus groups, said Erich Zeimantz, the college’s director of institutional research and data analytics. The next step is to have faculty and staff review the results and develop an action plan.
“Students want to feel heard,” said Gregory “Sir G” Ware, MATC’s manager of quality improvement projects and planning. “Our students need to see us walking the walk and talking the talk. We can’t ask them for feedback and not do anything with the data.”
About MATC: 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.