Chippewa Valley Times

Colleagues at Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) are always thrilled to see students graduate and embark on careers across west-central Wisconsin. The excitement is even greater when graduates return to CVTC for their careers.

Emily Keeler, a 28-year-old alumna of the marketing program, has returned to CVTC as the Development and Grants Officer. Based in River Falls, she also travels weekly to Eau Claire. Her path to this role was not straightforward.

After graduating from Ashland High School in 2014, Keeler enrolled at UW-Eau Claire as a psychology major but soon found it overwhelming. She switched to an undeclared major and felt lost. "By second semester sophomore year I kind of started a downward spiral," she said. Her grades and mental health were declining, but she resisted going home because it felt like giving up.

With her parents' support, Keeler explored other options, including CVTC. Interested in communications, she found that CVTC's marketing program suited her needs and decided to enroll.

Keeler knew she made the right choice when Ric Messner, a now-retired marketing instructor at CVTC, remembered her name and hometown on the first day of class after meeting her during a college tour two months earlier. "I thought, ‘Oh, I belong here,’" she recalled.

She completed three semesters in the marketing program before deciding to finish general education courses at CVTC in her fourth semester and then transfer to UW-River Falls for a bachelor's degree in marketing and communications. She accelerated her studies by taking summer and winter courses, completing her bachelor's degree in just over one year.

Reflecting on her journey, Keeler said: “While I loved my freshman year, I was like, dang, why didn’t I do this to begin with? This was not the journey I planned, but I was so glad to complete what I started.”

There was always a part of Keeler that knew she would return to CVTC. Initially considering returning as an instructor after gaining industry experience, she instead joined the Foundation team at CVTC as an Alumni Board member. When the Development Grants Officer position opened up, she pursued it eagerly.

“I’m quite literally giving back to exactly what helped transform my journey,” Keeler said about her new role. “I came in day one and I was like, ‘Honey, I’m home!’”

In reflecting on her work raising funds for scholarships for students close to her age group or younger: “I think there was part of me that...was a little daunting at first," Keeler admitted. However: "It ended up being a strength... I'm fresh out of that experience."

Keeler fondly recalls Facebook memories from past semesters: “It wasn't that long ago,” adding humorously about those times: “‘Oh honey...you’ll be back.’”