Dr. Pablo Cardona, Vice President of West Campus, comes to work each day with the goal of enriching students’ lives.
Cardona describes himself as being from “Puerto Rico via the Bronx”, and says his experiences living in the two places gave him the drive to obtain a higher education. As a first generation college graduate in his family, he believes in education and reminds students how valuable it is, because of all the things a person can obtain and lose in life. “Someone can’t take away your education,” He says.
The father of three and husband of thirty-two years came to Wisconsin for college. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and biology, a Master’s degree in educational psychology with a specialization in school psychology, and a Ph.D in psychology. He was a licensed psychologist up until 5 years ago.
Cardona was looking for a change 25 years ago while working as a school psychologist for Milwaukee Public Schools, and decided to come to MATC to work with students in career planning. He has since worked at all four campuses and held 9 different positions, including counselor and Director of Admissions. He says he enjoys working at West Campus and finds it to be a good urban campus with an ideal amount of students and co-workers whom he likes.
Some of his current duties as Campus Vice President include helping with educational plans such as goals and expansions, working with the deans to implement possible changes, making sure that the school itself is taken care of and in good working order, as well as providing proper services to students, and doing public relations with the community and their organizations. Cardona is currently Chairman of the Legislative Committee in West Allis.
For leisure time these days, the self-described soccer dad and current “empty nester” travels around the country visiting his children in Boulder, CO, Chicago, IL, and Washington D.C. He is proud of his children’s educational accomplishments; two hold Masters degrees and the other holds a law degree.
He would like to see the graduation rate go up at MATC, and hopes to procure additional funding and resources to provide to students in the future.
Cardona reminds students that the key to success in school is keeping confidence, and knowing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.