Student Life

About us

Student Life has offices at both the Truax Campus, Room 140, and the Downtown Campus, Room D237. Truax office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays. Downtown office hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. During the summer, the Truax office closes at 4 p.m. and the Downtown office is only open on Wednesdays.

Address
Madison Area Technical College
Attn: Student Life
3550 Anderson St. Room 140
Madison, WI 53704

Phone
(608) 246-6224 (Truax)
(608) 259-2965 (Downtown)

E-mail
studentlife@matcmadison.edu

Staff Information

Shawna Carter, Student Life Coordinator
E-mail: smcarter@matcmadison.edu
Phone: (608) 243-4228

I have worked with the Student Life Office for 2 years now as the Clubs Coordinator, Volunteer Center Advisor, and the Service Learning Coordinator.

I work with new clubs as well as club advisors and officers throughout the year. I serve as the advisor to the Club Council, a governing student group for the clubs. I am also the advisor to the Volunteer Center Programming Board, which develops programs and markets resources to increase civic engagement at MATC. Finally, I work with the service- learning workgroup to increase experiential education opportunities in the classroom with the use of service learning as a teaching pedagogy.

It's never a dull day in Student Life! I enjoy seeing students grow personally and professionally through their involvement with clubs, student organizations and civic engagement.

Jackie Dahlke, Student Life Coordinator
E-mail: jdahlke@matcmadison.edu
Phone: (608) 246-6343

I joined the Student Life Team at MATC in 1997, after moving back to my home state of Wisconsin to take care of family business.  I have previously worked at Washington State University, Western Illinois University and the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.  I have a Bachelors Degree in Health & Physical Education, a Masters Degree in College Student Personnel and have made significant progress toward a Doctorate. 

I chose to work in the field of Student Affairs because my own college experiences were a time of profound learning and change as a student leader.  Simply speaking, I work to create similar opportunities for today’s college students.  I value common sense, honesty and accomplishment.

I am the Coordinator for the Leadership Program and the Advisor to the Student Senate.  As such, I am proud to say that I have worked with some of the finest student leaders of my career, right here at MATC.  I look to the future with confidence as I watch intelligent, compassionate and industrious students move in-and-out of MATC as student leaders, volunteers, parents, community members, business owners, soldiers, activists and entrepreneurs.    

I am a firm believer in “how” a student engages him or herself while in college, is a strong indicator of “what type” of employee, neighbor and family member he or she will be throughout life.  College provides countless learning opportunities for involvement and leadership.  I invite students of all interests, backgrounds and ages to have a conversation with me about enhancing their potential through involvement opportunities at MATC.

Lori Erickson , Student Life Coordinator
E-mail: lrerickson@matcmadison.edu
Phone: (608) 246-6797

I started MATC 17 years ago, and now serve as the Programming and Activities Council Coordinator. This council coordinates the activities at the Truax and Downtown campuses. Some of our programming includes bands, hypnotist, comedians, children events and recreation activities. PAC develops leadership skills and have fun while enriching the lives of MATC’s students. Before taking on this role I managed the WolfPack Den. So for many years I have been working directly with students.

I love working with students and watching them develop personally and professionally. This keeps me young at heart and excited for each coming fall to see how the next group of students will grow and what lasting friendships they will encounter. I encourage all students to get involved in Student Life or any other MATC organization to receive the whole college experience.

Doug Kirchberg, Student Publications Coordinator
E-mail: dkirchberg@matcmadison.edu
Phone: (608) 246-6576

As the Student Publications Coordinator, I serve as the advisor to The Clarion, our student newspaper, and the Yahara Journal, a fine arts and literary journal. I also produce the college's student planner, compile the weekly student bulletin,and maintain the Student Life Office's web site. Before coming to MATC in August of 2000, I worked for 13 years as a reporter and editor at a daily newspaper in south-central Indiana. In 1988, I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a bachelor's in mass communication and psychology. I am working on my master's degree in journalism out of the University of Memphis.

Mary Robbins, Student Life Administrative Assistant
E-mail: mrobbins@matcmadison.edu
Phone: (608) 246-6228

I started working here 24 years ago, it seems like yesterday.  My job in Student Life is to provide administrative support to the Student Life Adminstrator and to co-manage the office. A very big part of my job is to assist in the coordination and production of the college commencement ceremonies.
 
The parts of my job that I enjoy the most are working everday with students; they invigorate me, they keep me on my toes and they keep me current  – which makes it hard for my kids to pull any fast ones. Many of the students who have worked in the office over the years have become close personal friends; we stay in touch long after they've graduated and gone on to careers and families. I love the commencement ceremony because it is the celebration of everything that we do here; it is the culmination of hard work, committment and motivation.