Copyright Austin Daily Herald
Dr. Kathleen “Kat” Linaker is passionate about transforming lives through education. With a career spanning healthcare and higher education, she has found her purpose in the community and technical college sector, where access, affordability and opportunity come together. When offered the presidency of Riverland Community College, Kat accepted immediately, inspired by the region’s strong sense of community, economic vitality, and shared commitment to care for others. She calls her move to Austin “the best decision of her life.” Kat grew up in a small town in Alberta, Canada, the youngest in a blended family of five. Her upbringing was rooted in service and community, with her home often serving as a safe haven for other kids in the community. Though local higher education options were limited, Kat excelled academically, earning a B.S. in Biology from the University of Alberta, followed by a Doctor of Chiropractic in Minneapolis and a radiology residency in Chicago, where she discovered her love for teaching. After years in the private healthcare university sector, she earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education. During her comprehensive examination for her Ph.D. in Higher Education, Kat gained a profound understanding of the unique and powerful role community and technical colleges play in transforming lives and communities. Programs such as truck driving, welding, and nursing not only provide practical, in-demand skills but also open doors to immediate employment and long-term financial stability. For many students, these colleges offer the only affordable and local option to pursue higher education, whether through short-term credentials or as a springboard to a four-year degree. Devoted to meeting students where they are, Kat supports accommodations where appropriate for those who come to college with other languages. For example since the state cosmetology board offers their certification in other languages, Riverland offers instruction in those needed languages, currently Spanish. In this same spirit of meeting students where they are, Kat has helped to create a new position called Basic Needs Coordinator. That person will be taking over the work of the food shelf, help with applying for SNAP benefits, providing emergency funds for gas or car repairs, and setting up programming for students who are parents. Knowing physical and mental health needs are also barriers to students achieving their academic goals, Riverland has partnered with the Althing Clinic which rents space on the campus. Part of the agreement with Althing is that they will provide five free mental health visits per student per semester. This vibrant, creative leader is involving every employee at Riverland in working toward four goals for improvement. The current focus is on the goal of student retention. Each employee sets a goal of spending one hour of their time each week that works toward this end. Then there are opportunities to report their progress. Kat’s leadership style involves delegation to avoid being overwhelmed. She says her daughter ( a junior at Bemidji State) and her husband of 26 years, (an enthusiastic middle school science teacher in Onalaska) help to keep her balanced. And she walks outside when possible and gets joy from volunteering at community events like the Artworks Festival. She advises living your life with humor and joy and trying to make the world around you a better place for others. We are lucky to have Kat Linaker leading our community college!
