Friends of NWTC Magazine Friends Fall 2019 | Page 17

‘I didn’t want to go back
to what I was before’
NWTC-Marinette Graduate
goes from behind bars to
commencement speaker
The road to college for Shannon Flores was rough,
full of obstacles and consisted of a few major detours.
The California native dropped out of high school in
ninth grade, and at the age of 19 gave birth to her
first son.
“I was working as a manager at a pizza company, all
while I was stealing cars,“ Flores said. “I didn’t care
about anything or didn’t care about anybody.”
After welcoming her second son, and enduring
another stint in jail, Flores decided it was time for a
positive change. She wanted to do better for herself
and her family.
“I was 35 when I got my GED,” Flores said. “When I
got that GED, I did it on my own. That gave me a new
self-respect, accomplishment and drive. I didn’t want
to go back to what I was before.“
Following her release from jail, Flores moved to
Menominee, Michigan where she entirely changed
the course of her life.
One of the first things she did was enroll at
NWTC-Marinette.
She started out in business management, but
ultimately realized manufacturing was the industry
for which she was best-suited. Flores then switched
to the College’s Computer Numerical Control
program, also known as CNC.
“It turns out, I really enjoyed it,” she said. “And things
went up from there.”
Just two short years later, Flores was chosen to
be the student speaker during NWTC’s May
graduation ceremony.
Flores said she is hoping others hear her story, learn
from it and use it as inspiration to never give up.
“Maybe it will let others know what I have been
through,” she said. “Anyone can walk the path to
success. Everyone is going to go through hard times,
you can’t let that discourage you.”
NWTC-Marinette, she said, was the best choice for
her. Not only did she get a job immediately following
graduation, but her eldest son began the CNC
program at NWTC-Marinette in the fall.
Flatt named new
NWTC-Marinette dean
Dr. Jennifer Flatt has been named dean of
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College-Marinette.
“I am honored to be joining the faculty and staff
of NWTC,” Flatt said. “I am excited about all the
new opportunities that await.”
Flatt is no stranger to higher education in the
Marinette, Menominee and Peshtigo areas.
She comes to NWTC from University of Wisconsin
Green Bay-Marinette, where she spent the last
19 years in various roles including associate
campus dean for academic affairs and first year
program coordinator.
Aside from her leadership roles, Flatt also enjoys
time in the classroom. She has won several awards
for teaching English, Writing, Spanish, Gender
Studies and First Year Seminar.
“Her leadership and commitment to student success
will be an asset to NWTC,” Kathryn Rogalski, vice
president of learning at NWTC, said. “We are truly
excited to have her join our team.”
Flatt received a Bachelor’s of Arts in English and
Spanish at UW-Eau Claire, Master’s Degree in English
from University of Minnesota- Duluth, and earned a
PhD in English from Loyola University
in Chicago.
She lives in Marinette with her husband and two
sons. In her spare time, Flatt enjoys renovating
her Victorian style home, watching baseball and
playing the piano and organ.
Flores could not be more happy her son is following
the path to higher education that led her to a
brighter future.
FALL 2019 / 17