Dr. Sunem Beaton-Garcia will begin as president of Chippewa Valley Technical College in July. (Submitted photos)

A public college administrator from Florida will become the next president of Chippewa Valley Technical College. Dr. Sunem Beaton-Garcia will replace Bruce Barker, who will retire July 1 after 13 years as CVTC president.

The CVTC District Board officially approved a contract with Beaton-Garcia on Thursday, May 6. Beaton-Garcia will become CVTC’s 11th president, as well as the first woman and first Latina to hold the position.

“We welcome Dr. Beaton-Garcia’s leadership as we enter the next chapter of CVTC’s growth and development,” said Paul Bauer, chair of the CVTC board. “She is a dynamic, engaging, and thoughtful leader with a proven track record that will greatly benefit the College through this leadership transition and into the future.”

Beaton-Garcia was one of four finalists for the position announced in April, and was the only finalists not from Wisconsin or Minnesota. Beaton-Garcia is currently a campus president and vice provost for academic services at Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She holds a Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology and Distance Education from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale.

According to a media release from CVTC, “Dr. Beaton-Garcia’s dedication to providing opportunities for all who seek to fulfill their economic mobility dream through a postsecondary degree or credential is rooted in her own experiences. As a refugee from Cuba, she understands the challenges firsthand of learning a new language, navigating a new culture and charting an uncertain educational journey.”

“I look forward to hearing the students’ stories,” Beaton-Garcia said. “I know you have the will of giants and the determination of champions to become productive, civically engaged, and able to share your gifts with the world. We will help get you there.”

Here’s the full media release:

Thursday, May 6, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chippewa Valley Technical College District Board Names Next President

Eau Claire, WI – At a special meeting of the Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) District Board Thursday, May 6, trustees acted to approve the contract for Dr. Sunem Beaton-Garcia, the College’s next president. A public college administrator from Florida, Dr. Beaton-Garcia will serve as the eleventh president of CVTC, becoming the first woman and first Latina to lead the College. She succeeds Bruce Barker, who has served as president since 2008 and will retire July 1, 2021.

“We welcome Dr. Beaton-Garcia’s leadership as we enter the next chapter of CVTC’s growth and development,” said CVTC board chair, Paul Bauer. “She is a dynamic, engaging, and thoughtful leader with a proven track record that will greatly benefit the College through this leadership transition and into the future.” Bauer noted his appreciation to the entire CVTC community for participation at the forums and survey feedback. “Everyone’s collaborative work enriched the search process and informed selection of the candidate best fit for the College.”

Dr. Beaton-Garcia has more than 12 years of instructional and administrative experience in higher education. Her career includes notable accomplishments for a culture of collaboration and teaching excellence, transformational academic programs and innovation in student support, community engagement, and resource generation and stewardship.

Dr. Beaton-Garcia says she looks forward to serving alongside the talented faculty and staff to continue to strengthen the increasingly diverse community through an inclusive, equitable and innovative educational environment. She plans to collaborate extensively with local and regional leaders and welcomes the opportunity to meet with county board chairs and other community stakeholders and partners.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to build upon CVTC’s great work in service to our students and the community as their next president,” said Beaton-Garcia. “It was clear to me during the search process that CVTC exemplifies the kind of commitment to student success and personal growth that inspired me to be an educator. I thank the District Board for its trust in me and will work tirelessly to fulfill our mission.”

Sunem Beaton-Garcia, Ed.D., currently serves as north campus president and vice provost for academic services and interim south campus president and vice provost for academic resources at Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She previously served as interim central campus president and vice provost for teaching excellence and learning at Broward College. Dr. Beaton-Garcia earned a Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology and Distance Education from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL; a Master of Arts in Library and Information Science from the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL; and a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Marketing from University of Phoenix in Tempe, AZ.

Dr. Beaton-Garcia’s dedication to providing opportunities for all who seek to fulfill their economic mobility dream through a postsecondary degree or credential is rooted in her own experiences. As a refugee from Cuba, she understands the challenges firsthand of learning a new language, navigating a new culture and charting an uncertain educational journey. “I look forward to hearing the students’ stories. I know you have the will of giants and the determination of champions to become productive, civically engaged, and able to share your gifts with the world. We will help get you there.”

Dr. Beaton-Garcia will begin her term as president on July 1. “My husband Carlos and I, along with our son Gabriel, are excited to join the community this summer," added Beaton-Garcia.

With over 115 programs offered both online and on-campus, Chippewa Valley Technical College delivers superior, progressive technical education which improves the lives of students, meets the workforce needs of the region, and strengthens the community. CVTC programs are designed with input of business and industry to prepare graduates for today’s jobs, with 95 percent employed within six months of graduation and associate degree graduates earning an average annual salary of $47,452.