Rich Wagner Looks Back on a Successful Career at Dunwoody College of Technology

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

A Discussion with Rich Wagner, President of Dunwoody College of Technology

Rich WagnerRich Wagner will retire this summer after 13 years at the helm of Dunwoody College of Technology. He led the college through the development and execution of strategic plans, raised $125 Million to fund scholarships and campus renovations and expansion, among many other accomplishments. Wagner started out as an electrical instructor in 1996 and rose to the position of President. We talked to him about the history of Dunwoody (a pioneering institution for technical education, founded in 1913!), innovative programs during his tenure and what’s next for him. 

Q:  During Your tenure as President of Dunwoody College of Technology there were some major unanticipated challenges – the Great Recession of 2007-2009 and the COVID-19 shutdown. How did you keep the College on track? 

A:  One of Dunwoody’s strengths is the people who work here and who believe so strongly in our mission and what we do. Staying focused on that mission during challenging times has been a crucial part of Dunwoody’s continued success – guiding our decisions during times of disruption.

I also believe in being transparent with employees, so they not only understood the challenges we were facing, but how we were addressing those challenges.

Finally, having discipline around our financials has been key to ensuring we lived within our means. As a private, non-profit institution of higher education, that has meant understanding enrollment trends and industry needs. For more than a century, Dunwoody has built a reputation as a leader in hands-on, technical education, educating students for great-paying, in-demand careers. Our graduates continue to be essential to keeping our community and economy thriving, especially during challenging times.

Dunwoody College of Technology is located at 818 Dunwoody Boulevard

Q:  You have always supported technical education for underserved, underrepresented and under-resourced student populations. Why is this important to you? 

A:  For many of our students, Dunwoody provides a pathway to a great-paying career and a secure future. If we are going to address the issues of equity in our communities, access to these pathways is an essential part of the solution. We are faced with a critical skills gap, one that if left unchecked, will prevent industries and the economy from growing. That means that we need to ensure that more people, from all backgrounds, have the option to pursue a technical degree, so we can continue to build the talent pipeline needed to keep industries and the Minnesota economy healthy. 

Q:  You started at Dunwoody as an Electrical Instructor in 1996, rising to the President of the College – congratulations! Did you always have an interest in the administrative aspects of higher education? 

A:  No, but I was always passionate about Career and Technical Education because of how it changed my life. What I saw as I took on the role of program director is I could have a bigger impact on Career and Tech Ed from an administrative side. I could work to create awareness around the pathways that a Dunwoody education provides – and to do that best I felt I would need to be outside the classroom. I love teaching, but I wanted to make this type of education available to as many people as possible.

Q:  You are instrumental in forming partnerships in the Twin Cities that further opportunities for Dunwoody students. Could you tell us more about your thinking around partnerships and how they’ve benefited students, the College, and the Twin Cities? 

A:  There is no organization that can go it alone. There is so much to be gained by reaching out and understanding all of the different partnerships available. From non-profits, to businesses, K-12 and higher education, we can do more together. Those organizations are eager to partner with us. If we capitalize on that, everyone benefits – students, agencies, and business. The industries in Minnesota and the Twin Cities have been wonderful to work with. They help inform our curriculum, they provide state-of-the-industry equipment and software for our labs, shops, and studios, and they employ our students when they graduate.

Q:  Dunwoody makes great use of social media – I love the Tik Tok channel. Are you involved in the social media messaging?

A:  Our social media presence has always been a reflection of the great things that are happening at Dunwoody. We are fortunate to have an internal team committed to sharing the Dunwoody story. 

Q:  What is Pathways to Careers?   

A:  The Pathways to Careers (P2C) Program is focused on preparing underserved and under-represented people for success at Dunwoody, immediate jobs, and great careers. The program works with community organizations and industry partners to support students through scholarships, mentoring, and academic support.

P2C works directly with community partners to create greater awareness and access to a Dunwoody education to meet the growing workforce needs of business and industry. This program is a critical part of our strategic plan as we work to interrupt disparity gaps in college retention, graduation, and job placement rates.

Q:  You’ve been instrumental in promoting Dunwoody as an educational option to women. Please tell us about Women in Technical Careers. 

A:  The Women in Technical Careers program is another essential part of our strategic plan. WITC works to raise awareness and break down barriers for more women to pursue careers typically considered non-traditional.

Similar to P2C, students enrolling in WITC receive tuition assistance, childcare support, intensive academic advising, access to internships and part-time employment; and, upon graduation, support in securing full-time work with family-supporting wages. They also benefit from a mentor program, monthly cohort meetings, field trips, and other professional development activities to promote their success in male-dominated education and work environments.

Both P2C and WITC are programs Dunwoody has implemented to address disparity gaps in our community, and we know more work needs to be done. This spring the College held a Community Summit with close to 100 representatives from industry, education, and non-profit organizations to discuss ways we as a community can tackle these issues.

Q:  Will you mentor your replacement?    

A:  Yes, and while that is up to the Board of Trustees, I plan on being available to help provide continuity in our relationships and our strategic initiatives, and to ensure the institutional memory is captured.

Q:  Congratulations on a meaningful and impactful career! What’s next for you in 2024?    

A: My wife and I are still trying to figure that out. There will certainly be some transitional work when the new President is hired, along with travel, golf, and time with grandkids - and then we’ll figure out what’s next.