LA CROSSE, Wis., November 20, 2024 – Western Technical College announced Wednesday the selection of Elizabeth Nesius as the college’s dean of the General Studies Division.

Nesius brings a wealth of higher education experience to Western. She currently serves as the Interim Dean of Humanities, Business, and Social Sciences at Rowan College at Burlington County in New Jersey and was the associate dean in the same division since November 2019. In total, Nesius has 17 years of experience, including leadership in college belonging and targeted work on improving pathways for students from pre-college through bachelor’s degrees at Hudson Community College in New Jersey.

“I am excited for Elizabeth to join the Western team, bringing with her years of leadership experience at two-year institutions, including curriculum and academic support innovation,” said Rebecca Hopkins, Vice President of Learning at Western. “Her work on creating positive supports for students of all backgrounds will be an asset here at Western.”

“I’m thrilled to join Western and bring my passion for social justice to this dynamic institution,” said Nesius. “I am eager to contribute to our shared vision, serve our students, and continue to foster an inclusive and equitable environment. Together, we can make meaningful change.”

Nesius holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Theology from the University of Notre Dame, a Master’s in English for the University of Rochester, New York, an MFA in Creative Writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Jersey, and is currently working toward a PhD in Education and Social Justice at Lancaster University, UK. Her first day at Western will be Dec. 9.