President's Message: November 17, 2009

Dear Faculty and Staff,

I’m very pleased to report that Valentina “Tina” Ahedo has been selected as this year’s “Athena Young Professional.” Tina is the program coordinator of our Diversity and Community Relations Office. She was one of seven finalists for the award and was announced as the winner at a dinner on Wednesday evening hosted by The Business Forum, a Madison-based women’s professional organization.

We are extremely proud of Tina. The Athena Young Professional Award recognizes emerging leaders ages 25 to 40 who work to improve the lives of women in our community. 

Women’s Volleyball Team
Congratulations to the women’s volleyball team on a terrific season! In case you didn’t hear, the team came close to winning its first national championship on Saturday. Kudos to Athletics Director Steve Hauser, coaches Toby Parker and Leslie Newell, and the entire women’s volleyball team. You had a wonderful year and made us all very proud!

College Marvels
Here are the names of favorite instructors mentioned to me most recently by students:
James Wildeman, photography
David Sarocka, mathematics
Mae Laatsch, marketing
Gail Walker, respiratory therapy

More College Marvels
Thank you to Geoff Bradshaw for coordinating the two-week China delegation visit and to John Alt for executing our partnership with the Sauk County Continuum of Care Facility.

Cathy Krahn Horton, practical nursing instructor at Madison College's Fort Atkinson campus, has been selected as the Fort Atkinson Rotary Club Teacher of the Month. Cathy was instrumental in designing and equipping the state-of-the-art nursing facilities that opened at the Fort Atkinson campus in the fall of 2008-09. 

Highlights of My Week:
• joined the delegates from the Community Colleges of China for a meeting with Governor Doyle;
• met with UW Chancellor Biddy Martin to talk about downtown plans;
• visited with the Rio School District Board along with Madison Area Technical College District Board trustee Jim Cavanaugh to talk about enhancing our services and partnerships with the district (this is one of a series of board-to-board outreach visits we are making to every one of our 40 school districts). Also, thanks to Harlan Vangen, machine tool instructor and Rio School Board member, for helping us with this presentation;
• viewed a Project Management Webinar with my executive team;
• attended the forums and interviewed the final two candidates for human resources director;
• attended a WisPolitics event featuring Milwaukee County Executive and gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker and spoke with Mr. Walker about our college;
• attended a Forward Society function thanking those who have included the college in their estate plans or provided an endowment to the college. Please see Bob Dinndorf if you are interested in establishing your legacy for Madison College students;
• attended the American Association of Community Colleges Global Education Commission meeting in Washington DC;
• visited with the education staff members of both Senator Feingold and Senator Kohl;
• hosted the monthly WTCS presidents meeting at our West Campus;
• met with the Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, UW Chancellor Biddy Martin, MMSD Superintendent Dan Nerad, United Way of Dane County Director Leslie Ann Howard, and Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce President Jennifer Alexander to talk about community education initiatives;
• signed a Memoranda of Understanding  with the China delegation to establish a foundation for future possible exchanges or collaboration, and attended their farewell activities; and
• traveled to Rochester, Minnesota to cheer on our Lady WolfPack Volleyball team to a national victory!

In closing, here is a quote by Wayne Gretzky that mirrors what we are doing as we move our facilities from good to great:

“A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.”

Bettsey