The Future Starts With Students
Anthony Cruz has spent more than 20 years in student affairs and services, and it shows in how he leads. As president of Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), his first question about any decision is simple: how does this affect students? In this episode, he discusses how technical colleges can prepare students for careers shaped by AI and automation — and why putting students first isn't just a philosophy, it's the whole job.
Putting Students First
Cruz's leadership style is built on a student-first framework developed through decades of direct work in student services. He pushes back on the tendency for budgets and internal priorities to crowd out the student perspective. Every policy, every program, every allocation of resources should start with the same question: what does this mean for the students we serve?
The Power of Peer Mentoring
About 40% of MATC students are first-generation college students — meaning they're navigating higher education without a family roadmap. MATC's peer mentoring program pairs them with students who've been through it, providing a familiar contact who can answer practical questions and build confidence. Cruz is also exploring industry mentoring to help students see how their coursework connects to real careers before graduation.
Micro Internships: A Career Test Drive
Micro internships are short, project-based experiences with employers — typically lasting under four weeks. They give students a chance to explore a career path before committing significant time and money to it, and give employers a low-stakes way to find talent. Cruz sees them not as extracurriculars, but as a core part of what technical education should be: connected to the workplace, not just the classroom.
Preparing Students for AI
Rather than treating AI as a threat or creating a separate program for it, Cruz sees it as an opportunity for technical colleges to do what they do best: stay close to industry. The goal isn't an AI curriculum for everyone — it's integrating AI into existing programs so students learn to work with it in their specific fields. Industries still need people who can build, maintain, and troubleshoot technology. That's where technical colleges can lead.
Build Your Network and Ask for Help
Cruz encourages students to seek relationships with mentors, peers, professors, and industry professionals — and to start early. He draws a useful distinction between a mentor, who offers guidance and feedback, and a sponsor, who advocates for you when opportunities arise. The advice is practical: ask good questions, stay in touch, and follow through. Relationships built in school often carry further than students expect.
Key Takeaways
- Every institutional decision should start with: how does this affect students?
- Peer mentoring is especially powerful for first-generation students
- Micro internships let students explore careers before making large commitments
- Integrate AI into existing programs rather than treating it as a separate track
- Mentors give guidance; sponsors advocate — students need both
Written by Brady Jager for NEWaukee, September 2026.