Kox becomes first female dean of
Trades and Engineering Technologies
National magazine
names NWTC an
“Excellence in
Diversity” college
Northeast Wisconsin Technical
College has been added to a
prestigious list of schools that
promote diversity among both
students and employees.
NWTC received the 2019 Higher
Education Excellence in Diversity
(HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into
Diversity magazine, the oldest
and largest diversity-focused
publication in higher education.
The annual HEED Award is a
national honor recognizing
colleges and universities in the
United States that demonstrate
an outstanding commitment to
diversity and inclusion.
As a HEED award recipient, NWTC
was featured—along with 92 other
recipients—in the November 2019
issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity.
This is the first time NWTC has
made the list, and NWTC is one of
only eight two-year institutions
nationwide that received the award.
“The HEED Award process consists
of a comprehensive and rigorous
application that includes questions
relating to the recruitment
and retention of students and
employees—and best practices
for both,” said Lenore Pearlstein,
publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity
magazine. “Our standards are high,
and we look for institutions where
diversity and inclusion are woven
into the work being done every day
across their campus.”
12 \ FRIENDS OF NWTC
Dr. Amy L. Kox has been named dean of Trades
and Engineering Technologies.
Kox is a passionate and energetic advocate for
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College who will
work with employers and community members
to develop and implement programs and
initiatives that lead to community, college and
student success.
“Our department includes experts in
transportation, energy, construction, agriculture,
design, manufacturing, and engineering
technologies,” she said. “If you can design it, make it or fix it, we probably
have someone that knows how to do it. We believe in providing hands on
education to prepare our students for family sustaining careers in high
demand industries and do so with the belief that every student is important
and their success is our success.”
Kox holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Edgewood College
in Madison and both a master’s and bachelor’s in architecture from the
University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
She previously served as associate dean for agriculture and energy programs
at NWTC for seven years.
Vander Heiden will lead
College of Business
Mike Vander Heiden has been named NWTC’s
dean of the College of Business.
Vander Heiden brings 23 years of experience in
teaching, supporting and leadership in education
to the role. He said he looks forward to working
within the department and the College as a
whole to innovate growth and advancement
opportunities with a focus on student success.
“I am honored to lead and grow with the College of Business as we inspire our
graduates to become the business, digital art and information technology
leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
Vander Heiden has a master’s in adult education/distance learning and a
bachelor’s in business education. He served as associate dean in the College
of Business for the past eight years.