Kate Ferrel

President of Nicolet College

Kate Ferrel serves as President of Nicolet College in Rhinelander, WI, a role she’s held since July 2021. Leading up to her presidency, Kate served Nicolet College as Executive Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs from January 2018 to July 2021. In that role, she worked to strengthen cross-functional support and communication across academics and student services to instill a deeper meaning around student centeredness. Her 22-year career in the Wisconsin Technical College System includes roles in both student services (recruiting, career services, campus administration), academics (Associate Dean of Business), and in the coordination of business and industry training. Prior to her roles in higher education, she worked in marketing and communication in both the for- and non-profit spaces.

Ferrel earned her BA in Communications Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and her MS in Higher Education Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. She is a graduate of the Foundational and Advanced Wisconsin Leadership Development Institute and serves on the Higher Learning Commission’s Peer Review Corp.

Kate serves her community as a board member for Aspirus-North Region, and a member of the Oneida County Economic Development Corporation and the Vilas County Economic Development Corporation, and supports initiatives which address food insecurity.