WCTC names Jonathan Koch new School of Business dean

PEWAUKEE, Wis. (Wednesday, May 26, 2021) – Waukesha County Technical College has promoted Jonathan Koch, associate dean of Marketing and Management, to the position of dean, School of Business -- a role he moved into earlier this month.

“Jon has had a nice, progressive career in higher education. He brings experience from private colleges, the UW and the technical college,” said Brad Piazza, Ph.D., vice president of Learning. “Additionally, his background in Student Services is a tremendous asset on the learning side of academia.”

Piazza also recognized the many contributions of Kim Ehlert, outgoing dean of the School of Business, who is retiring. “Kim will be greatly missed as she comes to the end of a 22-year career at WCTC,” he said. “We have been through a lot together over the years, and I have greatly appreciated her support, guidance and friendship.”

Koch spent the early part of his career in retail sales and management, as a partner at Generations Interiors and as the sales and warehouse manager at Armin Koch Furniture. In 2008, he shifted his focus to higher education, working as an admissions advisor at the University of Phoenix, followed by the roles of financial aid counselor and graduate admissions counselor at Cardinal Stritch University, and later as an advisor at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Koch joined WCTC in 2013 as an academic advisor and adjunct instructor before moving into the role of associate dean of Marketing and Management in 2016.

The mix of experience in college and business settings has well prepared Koch for his new role as dean.

“When I meet with industry partners to discuss ways our College can assist them with their goals -- whether that be hiring challenges, skill shortages or preparing graduates for careers -- my industry experience provides me with a better understanding of the business dynamics and possible solutions,” Koch said. “In a similar way, my experience in higher education has provided me with a broad perspective, one that can see the student experience through multiple lenses.”

During his tenure as associate dean of Marketing and Management, Koch was key in the development of several new programs, among them the Supply Chain Management associate degree and Customer Service Specialist technical diploma. He has been active on several committees at the College, such as serving as co-lead for the New Student Orientation team; co-chair of the Student Success team; and member of the Faculty Journey, Quality Matters, Wellness committees and others. He has been involved in numerous professional development opportunities, and he is currently a participant of the Wisconsin Leadership Development Institute (WLDI), which is designed to prepare future leaders within the Wisconsin Technical College System.

Koch holds a Master of Science in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

As he expands his role, Koch is looking forward to leading and supporting a solid group of educators and sharing their impressive efforts and achievements.

“I am constantly inspired by the work of staff and faculty within the School of Business and the lengths to which they go to support student success,” Koch said. “Higher education is experiencing an incredible evolution, one that has been accelerated by the impact of COVID-19, and I am confident that this experience has made us stronger and more committed to student learning than we have ever been -- which is exciting.”

WCTC’s School of Business offers associate degree and technical diploma programs, along with short-term certificates, in a number of career areas. These include Business, Management and Finance; Information Technology; and Hospitality, Culinary and Pastry.