NWTC announces new position to lead diversity, equity and inclusion recruitment efforts

Providing education, training, and life-long learning opportunities for all individuals  is central to the mission at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. 

As part of a mission-driven effort  to recruit and retain students of color, the College is pleased to announce Jessica Franco-Morales has been named the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Career Coach.
 
In the role, Franco-Morales will work to amplify efforts for increased diversity, equity and inclusion within the College’s recruitment efforts.
 
“I am excited about the opportunity to engage other colleagues on the conversation,” Franco-Morales said. “The College wanted someone in recruitment who had an intentional purpose of analyzing our policies and practices through an equity lens.”
 
Franco-Morales has served as the embedded career coach within the Green Bay Area Public Schools for the past three years. She will continue her work at East High School, the N.E.W. School of Innovation, John Dewey Academy of Learning and Minoka-Hill School.
 
“Jessica recognizes the need and value of diversity, equity and inclusion as a means to creating a strong community within our College and also the Northeast Wisconsin community,”  NWTC Vice President of College Advancement, Aliesha Crowe said.
 
As the community continues to grow, a snapshot of the racial and ethnic makeup of Brown County is: Hispanic 8%, White 82%, Black/African American 2%, American Indian 3%, Asian 3%, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander .04%, and Two or more races 2%. The Green Bay Area Public School District, the largest district in northeast Wisconsin, is a culturally diverse district comprised of 21,000 students, a majority of whom are students of color.
 
“It’s important for our student population to reflect the population of our greater community,” Franco-Morales said.
 
She hopes to serve future students and their families by creating a space and environment for them to be successful in earning a college credential at NWTC. “There are a lot of barriers when it comes to applying and attending college, part of my role is to help break down those barriers,” she said.
 
A major barrier is communication. Franco-Morales' first priority is reviewing NWTC resources and marketing materials and making them accessible in different languages. Additionally, she plans to work with local community members to find ways to communicate with prospective students outside the school classroom.
 
Franco-Morales also hopes to leverage opportunities to engage with parents and families in the virtual school environment.
 
“The purpose of this role is about something greater,” she said. "It’s not just about making our college a better place, but it is about making our communities a better place. That is what is going to make the difference.”
 
Franco-Morales is a graduate of Green Bay Preble High School. Franco-Morales holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin Madison and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis also from the University of Wisconsin Madison.