By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
October 12, 2026
Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Monday, Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) learned from a credible source that multiple Deans and Provost from the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) had been unexpectedly terminated on Monday by MATC President Anthony Cruz and were walked out of the college by security escort. Two former MATC Deans and a Provost who were upruptly terminated were identified as Dr. Phillip King, Ed.D., the Executive Vice-President and Provost (reported directly to MATC President Cruz); Dr. Josephine Gomez, Ph.D., the Dean of Community Education (had managed the Walker's Square MATC Education Center facility) and Dr. Michael J. Sitte, Ph.D., the Dean of the Creative Arts.
Dr. Gomez was the last highest Latina ranking administrator at MATC.
MATC has not officially released a press release confirming the recent terminations involving two Deans and a Provost.
Additional terminations of targeted personnel are expected to be forced out in what many have claimed to be a major employee related alleged turmoil that has erupted under President Cruz.
Also, HNNUSA has learned recently that Carlos Aranda, a Professional License Counselor at MATC has been targeted as well by Dr. Cruz's administration for his social media postings relating to what has been transpiring at the technical college under the failing Dr. Cruz administration. Aranda was given a final written warning on September 13, 2026 related to his social media postings and return from medical leave conditions, also his employee advocacy role at the technical college was stripped, but Aranda has appealed their final written warning decision.
Dr. Cruz came under fire in August 2025 after deciding to eliminate the Multicultural Student Services after more than 50 years of providing services to Latino, Asian, Native American and African-American students. Four of its student service specialists were also terminated, but they were able to file a discrimination complaint against MATC with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Equal Rights Division. (HNNUSA article:
https://hispanicnewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2026/05/insight-matc-lack-of-leadership-and.html?m=1)
In response to Dr. Cruz's recent elimination of top administrators and employees, Aranda wrote a letter to the MATC District Board of Trustees.
Dear District Board Members,
I call on the Board to pause position eliminations that may affect employees who have raised concerns or filed complaints about workplace practices until those decisions receive a fair and independent review. No employee should have reason to fear that speaking up could cost them their job.
I am particularly concerned about the circumstances surrounding the Dean of Creative Arts. Dr. Cruz publicly thanked the dean for his service, yet I understand that the dean’s position was eliminated and that he was escorted from the College by security after submitting documents related to his concerns. The sequence and manner of these events warrant a thorough, impartial investigation. The Board should determine whether the decision and its implementation followed College policies and respected the employee’s rights.
The Board must also examine how employees are treated when their positions are eliminated. What compassion and fairness are reflected in the process? What transition assistance or continuation of benefits is offered to affected employees? I am concerned by reports that employees may receive no benefits package to support them through this transition. The Board should establish the facts and assess whether the support provided is fair and adequate, considering each employee’s service, the circumstances of the separation, and the impact on their family. Position elimination is an organizational decision with serious consequences for people’s lives; the College must treat those affected with dignity.
I urge the Board to reconsider the Department of Community Engagement and its leadership structure, including the manager and vice president positions. Restructuring should prioritize restoring the Multicultural Student Services Office and reinstating the four specialists and one librarian whose terminations I believe were unjust. The loss of these positions marked the beginning of serious disruption and a decline in trust at the College.
Restructuring must confront past decisions and prevent further harm. The Board should also consider the risk of litigation, additional costs, and reputational damage when evaluating these actions. I ask the Board to review the roles of the vice presidents and assistant vice president and ensure that College leadership has the integrity and judgment to help President Cruz correct past mistakes and rebuild trust.
MATC is an educational institution, and its actions should reflect kindness, justice, integrity, and respect for human dignity. Employee well-being must be treated as a core institutional responsibility. The Board should require transparent, fair processes and ensure that employees who raise concerns are protected from retaliation.
I ask the Board to investigate these matters, report its findings, and take meaningful steps to restore trust and ensure that employees facing position eliminations are treated fairly and with compassion.
Thank you for your attention.
Respectfully,
Dr. Carlos A. Aranda
Editor's note: According to the Faculty and Staff list at MATC, Dr. King, Dr. Gomez and Dr. Sitte are no longer listed as employees.
A shockwave among employees at MATC has spread throughout the echelons of the faculty and staff lineage and many have becomed worried and scared that they will be next in line to be terminated.
Apparently, many prior employees, faculty, including the 4 Multicultural student service specialists, mostly people of color have been terminated including mostly women who weren't given an opportunity to transfer to other positions due to the lack of transparency and leadership under Dr. Cruz.
Dr. Cruz on Tuesday notify MATC faculty and staff including employees of what just occurred at the technical college.
