Featured Veteran Staff
Featured Veteran Staff
René Bylander | IT - Web & Software Developer Instructor
Stephanie Smith | Veteran Student Advocate
Dr. Lorraine Sacino Murphy | Associate Dean of Nursing
John Wilcox | Communication Instructor
Featured Veteran Staff
René Bylander | IT - Web & Software Developer Instructor
Air Force veteran.
René is a veteran of the United States Air Force as an F-16 aircraft mechanic. The Air Force helped form René's teaching skills such as attention to detail, patience and mentorship.
Passionate about teaching.
René is passionate about teaching and loves working at Northwood Tech. She describes the culture at the College as friendly and student centric.
Proud to work at Northwood Tech.
As a third generation veteran, René is proud that Northwood Tech has earned the Military Friendly® School Designation for over five consecutive years.
Achieving excellence.
René believes that her military service taught her that with proper training, self discipline and desire, you can achieve excellence.
Stephanie Smith | Veteran Student Advocate
Currently serving in the Wisconsin Army National Guard.
In both the military and civilian careers, Stephanie Smith provides support to service members, veterans and their families.
Supportive work culture.
For Stephanie, working at Northwood Tech is both challenging and rewarding. Serving the student is always the priority, but being inclusive, working as a team and being supportive of one another makes working here enjoyable.
Supportive environment for lifelong learners.
The College really nurtures an environment that encourages employee growth. Stephanie is able to attend professional development opportunities and bring ideas to the College leadership that support her values and advance the College's mission.
Helping others and making a difference.
In her position as Veteran Student Advocate, Stephanie has the opportunity to help those who have served our country navigate the complex world of higher education.
Dr. Lorraine Sacino Murphy | Associate Dean of Nursing
U.S. Army Veteran.
Lorraine served active duty in the Army from 1989-1992. In that time, she was stationed in Fort Jackson, SC, Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX, the Letterman Army Medical Center at the Presidio of San Francisco, and went as far as Saudi Arabia. She contributed her time and talents as a Behavioral Science Specialist, providing outpatient psychological and neuropsychological testing, and other mental health services.
Service as a foundation.
Lorraine’s military service acted as a foundation for her academic and career success. “Specifically, the military taught me discipline, how to persevere through physical and mental challenges, and the importance of teamwork.” These fundamentals assisted her through nursing school, 26 years of nursing and nursing administration work, and continuing education, up to and including her Doctorate in Education – Health Professions Education.
Supporting students and faculty.
As the Associate Dean of Nursing, Dr. Sacino Murphy supports students and faculty in the Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) and Nursing Assistant programs, providing leadership and direction related to the curriculum following accreditation and regulatory guidelines.
Eliminating barriers to success.
When asked about what she likes most about working with the Northwood Technical School system, Dr. Sacino Murphy expressed pride in being part of a system in which the faculty, staff, and administration work so hard to eliminate barriers to education and success for students. “I am glad to be part of an organization that shares the same values that I appreciate.”
John Wilcox | Communication Instructor
U.S. Air Force Veteran.
John served the United States Airforce, supporting the mission by writing contracts for goods and services for the Air Force.
Connecting Service to Civilian.
John’s experience in the military allowed him to coordinate with and learn from people from all walks of life, which has been invaluable to his experience as an instructor and veteran resource coordinator at Northwood Tech. These experiences were an opportunity for John to develop some of the “soft skills” which have transferred to his civilian life – most notably, punctuality and attention to detail.
Celebrating Diversity.
John has expressed his enthusiastic joy at the opportunity to teach and interact with students from such a diverse background as Northwood Tech offers. He believes everybody gains when we all have an opportunity to learn from and with people with different experiences than our own.
Leading into the future.
John takes great pride in his work, is inspired by his students, and he looks forward to making a positive impact on as many students as he can throughout his career. He hopes to use his experiences to publish academic articles on the lessons he’s learned teaching students at community and technical colleges.
Air Force veteran.
René is a veteran of the United States Air Force as an F-16 aircraft mechanic. The Air Force helped form René's teaching skills such as attention to detail, patience and mentorship.
Passionate about teaching.
René is passionate about teaching and loves working at Northwood Tech. She describes the culture at the College as friendly and student centric.
Proud to work at Northwood Tech.
As a third generation veteran, René is proud that Northwood Tech has earned the Military Friendly® School Designation for over five consecutive years.
Achieving excellence.
René believes that her military service taught her that with proper training, self discipline and desire, you can achieve excellence.
Currently serving in the Wisconsin Army National Guard.
In both the military and civilian careers, Stephanie Smith provides support to service members, veterans and their families.
Supportive work culture.
For Stephanie, working at Northwood Tech is both challenging and rewarding. Serving the student is always the priority, but being inclusive, working as a team and being supportive of one another makes working here enjoyable.
Supportive environment for lifelong learners.
The College really nurtures an environment that encourages employee growth. Stephanie is able to attend professional development opportunities and bring ideas to the College leadership that support her values and advance the College's mission.
Helping others and making a difference.
In her position as Veteran Student Advocate, Stephanie has the opportunity to help those who have served our country navigate the complex world of higher education.
U.S. Army Veteran.
Lorraine served active duty in the Army from 1989-1992. In that time, she was stationed in Fort Jackson, SC, Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX, the Letterman Army Medical Center at the Presidio of San Francisco, and went as far as Saudi Arabia. She contributed her time and talents as a Behavioral Science Specialist, providing outpatient psychological and neuropsychological testing, and other mental health services.
Service as a foundation.
Lorraine’s military service acted as a foundation for her academic and career success. “Specifically, the military taught me discipline, how to persevere through physical and mental challenges, and the importance of teamwork.” These fundamentals assisted her through nursing school, 26 years of nursing and nursing administration work, and continuing education, up to and including her Doctorate in Education – Health Professions Education.
Supporting students and faculty.
As the Associate Dean of Nursing, Dr. Sacino Murphy supports students and faculty in the Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) and Nursing Assistant programs, providing leadership and direction related to the curriculum following accreditation and regulatory guidelines.
Eliminating barriers to success.
When asked about what she likes most about working with the Northwood Technical School system, Dr. Sacino Murphy expressed pride in being part of a system in which the faculty, staff, and administration work so hard to eliminate barriers to education and success for students. “I am glad to be part of an organization that shares the same values that I appreciate.”
U.S. Air Force Veteran.
John served the United States Airforce, supporting the mission by writing contracts for goods and services for the Air Force.
Connecting Service to Civilian.
John’s experience in the military allowed him to coordinate with and learn from people from all walks of life, which has been invaluable to his experience as an instructor and veteran resource coordinator at Northwood Tech. These experiences were an opportunity for John to develop some of the “soft skills” which have transferred to his civilian life – most notably, punctuality and attention to detail.
Celebrating Diversity.
John has expressed his enthusiastic joy at the opportunity to teach and interact with students from such a diverse background as Northwood Tech offers. He believes everybody gains when we all have an opportunity to learn from and with people with different experiences than our own.
Leading into the future.
John takes great pride in his work, is inspired by his students, and he looks forward to making a positive impact on as many students as he can throughout his career. He hopes to use his experiences to publish academic articles on the lessons he’s learned teaching students at community and technical colleges.
Military-Connected Staff & Students Enrich the Northwood Tech Community
Northwood Tech sincerely thanks its veterans, who can be found among our students, faculty and staff, for their service.
Qualities honed during military service, such as integrity, collaboration and excellence, align with Northwood Tech's values, and the College encourages veterans to apply for positions at Northwood Tech.
Why Work at Northwood Tech?
- Northwood Tech is a designated Military Friendly® School
- Support a diverse population of learners to achieve their goals
- A positive and encouraging culture
- Opportunities for professional growth
The Vets Ready Employer Initiative serves to encourage employers to build a support system within their workplace, hire and retain more veterans, and connect to veterans in the community and their families. Each year, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development recognizes businesses who have gone above and beyond for the veteran workforce. For the second year in a row, Northwood Tech is proud to have been recognized as a Vets Ready Employer in the small employer category, receiving a Gold Designation in 2024.
The College complies with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) with regard to employees who undertake military service. USERRA addresses reemployment, discrimination, and health insurance continuation. Information regarding USERRA can be found on the US Department of Labor’s website at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/userra.
