President
Wisconsin Technical College System | Madison
Layla Merrifield was appointed president of the Wisconsin Technical College System in September 2024. WTCS provides oversight for Wisconsin’s 16 public, two-year technical colleges. Merrifield was previously executive director of the Wisconsin Technical College District Boards Association, where she represented the trustees of the state’s tech colleges. Earlier, she worked as a policy advisor for the WTCS and as a fiscal analyst for the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau. Merrifield is pursuing a master of education degree, with plans to continue towards a doctor of education.
Education: Bachelor’s, Hendrix College
What would you do if you could choose another career: “I love working with my hands, but I’m not super skilled. If I had to switch careers, I’d look at a technical college credential in carpentry or maybe furniture refinishing.”
Your secret talent: “I’m very accurate with a frisbee. I played a ton of ultimate, back when I was younger and had better knees.”
Favorite Wisconsin destination: “Our entire state parks system is a treasure, but Copper Falls might be my favorite. The entire lakeshore around the Apostle Islands is extraordinary.”
Favorite movie: “I have many, but ‘Dr. Strangelove’ endures. Growing up as a Cold War kid, that movie resonated and gave me permission to laugh at the absurdity of our collective predicament.”
