Dr. Anthony Cruz Named Next President of MATC

The Milwaukee Area Technical College District Board of Directors has unanimously selected Dr. Anthony Cruz as the next president of MATC.

Dr. Cruz currently serves as president of the Kendall Campus of Miami Dade College. During his 28 years of higher education experience, Dr. Cruz has used his expertise to increase educational opportunities, enhance the student experience and bolster student success. He has held leadership roles such as campus president, vice chancellor, vice president, and dean at several community colleges and universities. These valuable experiences have given him a profound understanding of the complexity of the higher education landscape and the opportunity to celebrate the rich diversity of the unique backgrounds and perspectives of the students, faculty and staff that he has served. He works collaboratively with community partners to build pathways and initiatives to remove barriers to student success. Dr. Cruz is committed to creating innovative approaches to reduce the skills gap and increase the number of college graduates.

He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Florida International University, a Master in Public Administration from Florida State University and a doctorate in higher education from Florida International University.

The board made its selection during a special meeting Thursday afternoon following an expert-led national search. The process included a rigorous review of applications, two rounds of interviews, on-campus presentations and consideration of supporting materials.

More than 150 students, faculty, staff, administrators and community partners participated in person and virtually in sessions with each candidate. Board Chairperson Mark F. Foley thanked all those who contributed for their participation, which helped shape this process from the beginning.

“District board members were particularly impressed by Dr. Cruz’s students first educational philosophy, his in-depth knowledge of MATC, and the high regard in which he is held by the students, faculty, and administrators with whom he has worked in the past,” said MATC District Board Chairperson Mark F. Foley. “In the coming days, you will hear directly from Dr. Cruz. We look forward to working with him to bring MATC to new heights of student achievement and contributions to everyone in the Milwaukee area. For now, please simply join me in congratulating our next president as we mark this new chapter in the history of a college that is vital to the community we share.”

Current MATC President Dr. Vicki J. Martin announced her retirement in September 2023 after 35 years with the college, including a 10-year tenure as president. She will continue to remain fully engaged throughout the 2023-24 academic year. Her retirement will be effective June 30, 2024.

The college conducted a competitive process to identify a search firm and selected Greenwood Asher & Associates, which brought 300 years of collective experience in executive searches for higher education and nonprofit institutions. The search process included gathering input from 50 students, faculty, staff, administrators and community members who attended input sessions and 90 people who completed online surveys. More than 50 applications were received, reflecting a strong pool of highly qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds.

MATC’s president serves as the CEO of the college, reporting to the MATC District Board. The president is responsible for day-to-day administration, management and oversight of all college operations. The president leads strategically and works with a wide range of internal and external constituents to execute the college’s mission and vision. The president develops business and community partnerships to provide employment pathways for students and works to increase philanthropy through the MATC Foundation Inc., the college’s philanthropic partner. The president must advocate locally, regionally and nationally for the distinctive technical college mission and must manage the college to align the needs of students, employers and taxpayers with the economic realities of southeast Wisconsin.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.