MILWAUKEE (July 9, 2026) – WCTC President and CEO Dr. Richard Barnhouse has been named the next chair of the Higher Education Regional Alliance of Wisconsin (HERA), the organization announced today. He succeeds Carroll University President Dr. Cindy Gnadinger, who recently concluded her two-year term as chair.
HERA is a collaboration among 16 Southeastern Wisconsin public and private, two- and four-year colleges and universities and a network of partner organizations. Launched in 2019, HERA is a collaborative effort to prepare students to join an innovative and nimble workforce that meets the needs of our region’s employers.
“As our higher education institutions serve students, families and employers across Southeastern Wisconsin, we know we can accomplish more together than any one of our institutions could do on its own,” Barnhouse said. “Working together through HERA allows us to do more — and do it more quickly — at a time when students and the rapidly evolving needs of employers demand it. I am proud to serve as the next Chair of HERA at such a critical time for higher education and our region. I thank Dr. Gnadinger for her great work as chair, and I look forward to building upon it.”
Barnhouse became involved in HERA shortly after he was named president of WCTC in November 2021. He holds a Ph.D. from Cardinal Stritch University, a master’s degree Central Michigan University and a bachelor’s degree from Brock University in Ontario, Canada.
In its most recent collaboration designed to serve students and employers, HERA and its member institutions have launched 24 new microcredential courses designed to provide new knowledge and skills to employees in high-demand careers throughout Southeastern Wisconsin. HERA secured $1.5 million in federal funding in 2024 to accelerate the development and implementation of these microcredential programs. HERA microcredential courses, which are delivered online with flexible scheduling, cover topics that include business management, Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, supply chain and more.
As chair, Barnhouse will work with other HERA institution leaders and partners to determine the organization’s priorities for the future.
“Every day, advancements in technology are changing the knowledge, skills and abilities our students need to thrive as part of Southeastern Wisconsin’s future workforce,” Barnhouse said. “We will continue to keep the needs of those students and employers at the center of everything we do, and collaborate to determine what steps our institutions can take together to serve them even more effectively. Through this work, we will continue to highlight the value that higher education institutions provide to our students and our region’s economy.”
HERA’s higher education institutions include: Alverno College, Bryant & Stratton College, Carroll University, Carthage College, Concordia University, Gateway Technical College, Herzing University, Marquette University, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Mount Mary University, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Waukesha County Technical College and Wisconsin Lutheran College.
The alliance’s partner organizations include ElevAsian, Employ Milwaukee, the Greater Milwaukee Committee, Higher Expectations for Racine County, Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee, HumanSkills.AI, the Milwaukee 7 Regional Economic Development Partnership, the Milwaukee Hispanic Collaborative Network, the Milwaukee Urban League, MKE Tech and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
For more information about HERA and its collaborative, please visit herawisconsin.org.
About the Higher Education Regional Alliance
The Higher Education Regional Alliance (HERA) is a talent producing collaboration among 16 Southeastern Wisconsin public and private, two- and four-year colleges and universities and a network of partner organizations. We are dedicated to closing achievement gaps and educating students today to become an innovative and nimble workforce that meets the needs of the region’s industries tomorrow. This challenge is too large for any one university or college to solve alone, so we are working together. We know that education impacts more than individual lives; it can change the trajectory of our entire region. For more information, please visit herawisconsin.org.
