Leadership and Administration
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Dr. H. Jeffrey Rafn, President
Dr. Jeff Rafn manages NWTC’s three campuses, five regional learning centers and other locations. The College serves over 30,000 students and more than 1,000 businesses annually.
Under his leadership, enrollment at the 100-year-old college has nearly doubled due to initiatives in student success, economic development, and community partnerships that create new educational pathways and make the most of the region’s resources. The College has also passed two referenda that made space for innovative program offerings and high-tech equipment that make NWTC education a premier educational choice for Wisconsin employers.
During his tenure, the College has been recognized as an Achieve the Dream Leader College and been admitted to the Frontier Set for student success initiatives. The College has also received regional and national recognition for enrollment growth (Community College Week), student success (Lumina Foundation, American Association of Community Colleges, Insight into Diversity), and effective resource management (Ethics in Business Award, Bellwether Award, Green Masters Award).
Dr. Rafn has been instrumental in the development of the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance and Northeast Wisconsin Educational Resource Alliance, and he is active in the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce, The New North, Achieve Brown County, Partners in Education, and Community Colleges International Development. He came to NWTC in 1997 from New Hampshire, where he had been state Commissioner of the New Hampshire Community Technical College System. He earned his a Ph.D. from Boston University and B.A. from Mount Union College. He was named Pacesetter of the Year by the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations.
Dr. Kathryn Rogalski, Vice President of Learning
Dr. Rogalski is responsible for NWTC’s approximately 200 degree, diploma, certificate and apprenticeship programs, plus corporate training and economic development. She came to NWTC with over 18 years of experience supporting student success at community colleges, most recently as the Dean of the Business and Social Sciences at Harper College in Palatine, Illinois. Her areas of achievement and expertise include leadership and management, curriculum development, and fostering collaboration with external partners, including K-12 systems, universities and business partners.
Dr. Rogalski has presented at local and national conferences on online student success, entrepreneurship and non-verbal communication. She earned her Ed.D. in Adult and Higher Education from Northern Illinois University, M.A. in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago, and B.A. in Psychology from Northeastern Illinois University.
Dr. Sara Lam, Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
In her executive leadership role, Dr. Lam leads efforts to strengthen NWTC as a culturally sustaining college where all students feel they belong, achieve success, and are empowered to take action for positive change, with specific attention to students from marginalized groups.
Prior to joining the College, Dr. Lam has been an instrumental part of the DEI efforts of University of Minnesota Morris and its community, where she held various roles within teaching, research, and service since 2015. She is a co-founder of the Rural China Education Foundation, a published author, and holds national accolades for her work around educational equality.
Dr. Lam earned a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Wisconsin-Madison, an Ed.M. in International Education Policy from Harvard University, and a B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Minnesota Morris.
Dr. Jennifer Flatt, Vice President of Student Services
In divisions that guide students from enrollment through credential completion, Dr. Flatt oversees enrollment, recruitment & admissions, student development, student support & success, special projects, and regional learning.
Joining the College in 2019, she previously served as NWTC’s Dean of Learning Effectiveness and Early College as well as Dean of the Marinette Campus. Today, she leads NWTC’s Dream Core team and is a member of the Executive Leadership Team.
Dr. Flatt is an educational leader with over 22 years of experience in teaching and higher education administration. She is a published author and has presented at various conferences nationwide.
Dr. Flatt earned her Ph.D. in English from Loyola University in Chicago, M.A. in English with a related field of Spanish from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and B.A. in English and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She has also pursued postdoctoral course work in Spanish literature and culture at the Universidad de San José in Costa Rica.
Meridith Jaeger, Vice President of College Advancement
Meridith Jaeger drives strategic initiatives that strengthen institutional advancement, development, and community relations. As part of that role, she will oversee marketing, communications, legislative relations, institutional research, grants, alumni relations, and NWTC’s Educational Foundation.
Jaeger has been with NWTC since 2018 as the Dean for Corporate Training and Economic Development. She brings over 25 years of distinguished industry experience, holding numerous leadership roles in higher education and external organizations.
She is an active leader within the community and as chair of the New North Talent Hub and member of the Bay Area Workforce Development Board of Directors, National Maritime Workforce Alliance, and the Water Cities Soccer Club Board of Directors.
Jaeger has an M.A. in Educational Leadership from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and B.A. in Corporate/Organizational Communication from Northern Illinois University.
Daniel Mincheff, Vice President of Business & Technology
Mincheff is responsible for the operations of the college which include the development and innovation of technology software and systems as well as strategic business initiatives. Areas that he oversees includes finance, information and instructional technology, facilities, safety and security, purchasing and the college’s bookstore.
Joining the College as chief information officer in 2017, Mincheff brings over 25 years of leadership experience where he worked with a number of colleges and universities as an employee of Ellucian. Mincheff has a M.A. in organizational development from Silver Lake College and B.A. in computer science from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Mincheff has served as a keynote speaker at industry conferences nationwide and is a strategic leader of innovation to support the next generation of learning.
Valarie Wunderlich, Vice President of Talent & Culture
In her executive leadership role, Valarie Wunderlich is responsible for the organizational development necessary to achieve the mission, vision, and values of the College.
Wunderlich has been with NWTC since 2011, when she joined the College as Director within Talent & Culture. During her tenure, she has been instrumental in the strategic direction and management of the benefit, wellness, and compensation programs.
Prior to joining the College, she brings over 20 years of leadership and employee relations experience where she worked with a number of large-scale companies such as EAA, Shopko Stores, Georgia-Pacific, and more.
Wunderlich is a Jackie Nitschke Center Board Member and District Mutual Insurance (DMI) Board of Directors. She is experienced as a chairperson of the Wisconsin Technical College System HR Committee and is an active member of the community.
She earned a B.A. in Computer Science with a minor in Business Administration from Lakeland University.