Pewaukee,
16
July
2020
|
12:57 PM
America/Chicago

WCTC names Angela Frazier Arthur new vice president of Student Services

PEWAUKEE, Wis. (Thursday, July 16, 2020) – Waukesha County Technical College recently welcomed Angela Frazier Arthur to the role of vice president of Student Services, a position she began remotely in June. As vice president, she oversees the departments of Admissions and Testing; Career Connections; Compliance; Counseling, Advising and Student Accessibility; Financial Aid; Global Education; Library; Registration; and Student Development.

Frazier Arthur has more than 24 years of higher education experience in a variety of roles. She spent 15 years at Dominican University in River Forest, Ill., as vice president of Student Success and Engagement; assistant dean of Advising Services, Rosary College of Arts and Sciences (RCAS); co-director of the Ghana Study Abroad Program in West Africa; director of the Peer Advising/Mentoring program; and academic adviser in RCAS. Prior to her time at Dominican, she worked at DePaul University in Chicago, as assistant director for graduation completion in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Additionally, Frazier Arthur has in-person and online teaching experience in the areas of English composition, liberal arts and sciences, developmental writing and Christian education.

Currently, Frazier Arthur resides in Ghana. She initially traveled there in 2006, and made many return visits, meeting her husband along the way. In 2018, she left her job at Dominican, married her husband, Enoch, and made Ghana her home. (Because of travel restrictions relating to COVID-19, Ghana’s international borders are closed until further notice. Once lifted, Frazier Arthur will be moving to Wisconsin, followed by her husband and young daughter; her adult son, who currently lives in Amsterdam, will also be moving to the states.)

While Frazier Arthur has enjoyed living in Ghana the past few years, she greatly missed working in higher education. As she began researching colleges -- and exploring jobs -- finding one that had a strong mission of service to its students was critical, she said.

“I saw the job at WCTC and I said, ‘Oh, I don’t want to live in the cold, but let me check them out,’” joked Frazier Arthur, who grew up in Racine, Wis., and spent another 20 years enduring Midwest winters in Illinois. “The ‘Hands-on Higher Ed’ really drew me in. I looked at the strategic directives and they were very clear, and with the ERC, the enrollment, retention and completion (focus), WCTC was committed to that -- and with very clear plans,” she said. “For me, I was drawn to that whole mission. WCTC is trying to elevate people at every level, through the technical diploma and the associate degree.”

Although Frazier Arthur has had some challenges in working remotely, such as technology issues and a five-hour time difference, it has given her the chance to get to know her staff personally, even if it’s not yet face to face. “The people I’m working with, they really are amazing,” she said. And, thanks to her diverse work background, she recognizes the importance of the many different jobs held by those on her team.

“It’s because I’ve worked in various capacities I can relate to the work that they’re doing,” she said. “I was also a staff person. I started out as an academic adviser, and I just kind of grew my portfolio by learning more about financial aid, registrars, even the library. I know about their areas, and not just from a high level, but from the minutiae. That’s what’s preparing me to do this work.”

Frazier Arthur is eager to come to the WCTC campus, support her team in person, and be a positive influence in her division and throughout the College.

“I’m mostly excited about creating an atmosphere for not only my staff, but also students, where innovation is welcomed, where we are building processes that last beyond the person, and where I can grow and mentor my team,” she said.

She is also passionate about helping develop and strengthen WCTC’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

“This DEI work gets me excited because it can provide safe spaces for people to have honest conversations without judging the other based on how they were raised or their perceptions,” she said. “I’m looking forward to how DEI can make systemic and impactful changes on campus.”

Frazier Arthur is in the final stages of completing her doctoral degree in Higher Education and Organizational Leadership from Benedictine University, and she earned her master’s degree in Black Studies from The Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in English Writing and Literature from Talladega College. Additionally, she has an executive leadership certificate from the University of California-Berkeley.

About Waukesha County Technical College

Waukesha County Technical College, the leader in workforce development, prepares learners for success within the region and global economy. The college offers more than 170 areas of study including associate degree, technical diploma, apprenticeship and short-term certificate programs and customized training for employers. To learn more, visit www.wctc.edu.

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