APPLETON (NBC 26) — After 38 years, Fox Valley Technical College's president and CEO is retiring.
Dr. Susan May joined FVTC in 1983. The college said over the years she took on numerous responsibilities, becoming an academic officer in 1997, then taking on her current role in 2008. She will officially retire at the end of July.
“Together, we have navigated three of the greatest challenges in the College’s history,” Dr. May said in a press release from a message to faculty and staff. “First, the enormous impact of the Great Recession that began three months into my presidency in 2008, then the enactment of Act 10 State legislation in 2011, and capped off with the unprecedented pandemic of 2020. All of these were completely unexpected challenges, but together we tackled each one.”
FVTC Board of Trustees said they will begin the search and hiring process immediately. Adding, they hope to finalize and announce a new selection of president by August 2021.
Here's more on what the college had to say about Dr. May from a press release sent Wednesday:
“Dr. May is highly regarded for her leadership, collaboration and deep understanding of the educational systems in Wisconsin,” added Patty Van Ryzin, Chair of FVTC Board of Trustees. “She is extremely knowledgeable and intuitive about the needs of the many stakeholders the College serves. During her 38-year career with the college, she has exhibited steadfast passion, commitment and dedication to the organization and its mission. The accomplishments of Dr. May and her entire team have been remarkable.”
Dr. May has built a reputation for championing multiple large-scale initiatives aimed at better serving students, employers and local communities. Through her leadership, a $66.5 million capital referendum was passed in 2012. Among other projects, the referendum allowed for construction of a new campus for the Public Safety Training Center, which is the only fully integrated and multi-disciplinary training facility in the Midwest.
Dr. May also spearheaded efforts to expand FVTC’s partnership with Appleton International Airport by developing and delivering Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) training, which successfully launched in 2020. The program is one of only 20 in the entire country and the only one featuring a Boeing 777 aircraft fire training prop.
In a year of upheaval due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. May navigated the College as it created instructional models in alternative delivery formats for nearly 250 associate degree, technical diploma, certificate programs and seminars, as well as nationwide criminal justice-related programming. The College continues its process of resuming in-person operations and will expand offerings both in-person and online in fall.
“Navigating our large and diversified organization through this past year has been a huge undertaking, but we have an outstanding team that’s certainly risen to the challenge,” Dr. May said. “Thanks to the vaccines, by this summer and certainly fall, we should find ourselves well on our way back to what will be our new normal. FVTC has a strong, innovative and responsive culture, well positioned to serve future community needs.”
