FVTC Alumni

Jessica Thiel, Editor at Insight Publications, has been named recipient of the Fox Valley Technical College 2022 Outstanding Alumni Award.  
Thiel is a 2016 graduate of the Professional Communications program. She earned the award for demonstrating the value of technical education through career advancement, community service, continued personal and educational growth, and support of the Wisconsin Technical College System.

While completing her degree, Jessica served as an intern in the college's Marketing department. Upon graduation, she joined Insight Publications as a reporter. In 2018 she was promoted to Editor of Insight on Manufacturing and Assistant Editor for Insight Publications. In October 2021, she was named Editor of Insight Publications. Jessica also serves on the FVTC Advisory Committee for the Professional Communications program. She mentors current students and employs student interns.

Jessica serves on the communications task force for the NEW Manufacturing Alliance, works closely with New North, Inc. and leads the editorial process for the United Way Fox Cities annual campaign publication. She is also involved in the community as she serves on the board of the Fox Cities Book Festival, volunteers for her sons’ school district, and prepares meals for the COTS men’s shelter.  Her family also hosted an FVTC study abroad student from Japan in 2016; and they remain in touch and are considered family to this day.     

She had previously earned a bachelor’s degree and worked professionally for five years and then took more than a decade off to raise three sons.  By the time she was ready to return to the workforce, FVTC provided the perfect avenue to do so: a high-quality, affordable education that offered the flexibility she needed.  

“When I walked across the stage at commencement nearly two years after I had started, I was also walking into a dream career opportunity writing for a regional business publication,“ Jessica says. “I felt such pride and a great sense of accomplishment that day, especially as my sons got to witness their mom work hard for something and achieve her goals.”