Madison Reporter

Dr. Jimmy Cheffen serves as the Community Impact Manager at Madison College within the Division of Culture and Climate. During a conversation with him, Dr. Cheffen shared insights into his career journey, community work, and personal achievements.

Dr. Cheffen initially pursued writing, contributing to a daily paper in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he covered current events and music reviews. He later transitioned to teaching while in graduate school at the University of Arkansas, which led him to obtain a doctorate in Community College Administration from Texas Tech University.

Upon joining Madison College after ten years of teaching in Arkansas, Dr. Cheffen became involved with the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL). He noted the challenges of adapting to Wisconsin's harsh winters compared to milder conditions in Little Rock.

In his role at Madison College, Dr. Cheffen focuses on building community relationships through initiatives that align with college goals and community needs. "We discover the needs and wants of our community members and connect that information to Madison College as we think about student success," he explained.

Dr. Cheffen highlighted several successful initiatives including the Dream Doubles Pickleball fundraiser, signature plays like “The Meeting,” Black Student Union Conferences, and various graduation celebrations. His efforts aim to amplify voices of underrepresented students such as Hmong, Native American, African American, and Latinx communities.

Collaboration is central to Dr. Cheffen’s approach: "I’m a big-time collaborator and I get energy from being social and meeting new people." This philosophy guides his work on the community impact team.

Among his accomplishments at Madison College is contributing a chapter titled “Navigating Higher Ed” in the book Belonging in Higher Education: Perspectives and Lessons from Diverse Faculty. He also spearheaded “A Call to Retain,” a project involving faculty-staff outreach calls to support Latinx, multiracial students, and male students of color.

Dr. Cheffen’s contributions are part of ongoing efforts by Madison College Climate & Culture to promote equity across campus.

Profiles from the Pack feature individuals who contribute vibrantly to the Madison College community through entertaining and informative Q&A sessions published twice monthly.