The search is underway for the next president of Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, the winner of the 2025 Aspen Institute Prize for Community College Excellence!

  • Presidential Leadership Profile

  • The Presidential Leadership Profile defines the qualities, experiences, and priorities that Southwest Tech seeks in its next president. Developed through input from employees, students, and community members, the profile reflects the shared values and aspirations that will guide the college’s future.

    This document will serve as the foundation for recruitment and evaluation throughout the search process, helping ensure that candidates reflect the needs and hopes of our college community.

    The Leadership Profile will be available here on October 25, 2025

  • Anticipated search timeline

  • Proposed Search Timeline as of September 25, 2025

    September 10, 2025
    Pre-Search Organizational Meeting

    September 22, 2025
    Meeting with Marketing and Communications

    September 25, 2025
    Meeting with College Search Leadership Team

    October 10, 2025
    Search Committee Meeting #1 Virtual (2 hours)

    October 13, 14, 15, and 17, 2025
    Listening Sessions (Virtual) and Pre-Search Survey

    October 21, 2025
    Submission of AGB Sections of the Profile to Marketing/Communications

    October 24, 2025
    Approval of Leadership Profile and Draft Ad

    October 27, 2025
    LAUNCH - PRESIDENT SEARCH

    November 21, 2025
    Search Committee Meeting #2 Virtual (3 hours)

    December 12, 2025
    FULL CONSIDERATION DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

    December 16, 2025
    Individual Committee Members’ Submission of Top 8 to AGB Search

    December 18 or 19, 2025
    Search Committee Meeting #3 Virtual (3 hours)

    Week of January 12, 2026
    Semi-final Interviews (2 Full Days)

    January 19 – January 30, 2026
    College Planning for Campus Visits

    Week of February 2, 2026
    Finalists’ Interviews and Visits to Campus

    Week of February 16, 2026
    AGB Search Report to the Hiring Authority

    Week of March 9, 2026
    Announcement of New President

  • Listening Sessions – Shaping Our Future Together

  • As part of the presidential search process, Southwest Tech invited employees, students, and community members to share their perspectives during a series of listening sessions held in October 2025. These conversations guided the development of the Presidential Leadership Profile—a document capturing the qualities, experiences, and priorities our next president must embody.

    The listening sessions, along with an anonymous survey, ensured that a variety of voices and viewpoints helped shape the direction of the search. Feedback from faculty, leadership, professional and support staff, students, board members, and community representatives informed both the Leadership Profile and the recruitment process.

  • Presidential Search Committee

  • Search and Screen Committee

    • Chuck Bolstad – District Board Member & Search Chair
    • David Blume – District Board Member
    • Kent Enright – District Board Member
    • Jane Wonderling – District Board Member
    • Kris Schoville – Staff Member (Faculty) & Foundation Board Member
    • John Troxel – Staff Member (Support Staff)
    • CoraBeth Schmitz – Staff Member (Administration)
    • Kajal Patel – Southwest Tech Student
    • Theresa Sander – Business/Community Member, Human Resources Administrator, Safety – Biddick, Inc.

    Search Support Team

    • Chris Prange – District Board Chairperson
    • Connie Haberkorn – Search Liaison
    • Katie Glass – Chief Communications Officer
    • Lori Needham – Executive Assistant to the Board
  • News and Updates

  • Regular updates will be shared here throughout the presidential search process. As key milestones are reached—such as the release of the Leadership Profile, the opening of applications, and the announcement of finalists—news stories and press releases will be added to keep our college community and the public informed.

    Please check back soon for the latest information as Southwest Tech continues its search for the next president.

  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • A list of frequently asked questions will be added here as the presidential search progresses. This section will provide quick answers about the search timeline, process, and opportunities for involvement.

    As questions arise from employees, students, and community members, we’ll post responses here to keep everyone informed and engaged.