Presented by Mosaic of North Central Wisconsin, the Community Foundation of Northcentral Wisconsin and the Women’s Fund for Marathon County, the Women of Vision Awards celebrate women who help others and have a vision to make the community a better place. Honoree selection is based on candidates who have provided inspiring innovative, impactful leadership and have made significant contributions to their communities.

Dr. Worden’s contributions to north central Wisconsin are both expansive and practical, reflecting her belief that higher education should directly strengthen the communities it serves. Her career spans more than three decades in the Wisconsin Technical College System, including service as an adjunct faculty member, academic leader and now president. Throughout that journey, she has modeled lifelong learning, strategic thinking and people-centered leadership.

According to the award nomination, Dr. Worden has led bold, community-centered initiatives that address pressing regional needs such as:

• Wisconsin’s first Dental Therapy program to address rural oral healthcare shortages
• A co-location model with UW-Stevens Point at Wausau to remove barriers to bachelor’s and master’s attainment in north central Wisconsin
• The Central Wisconsin AI Center to prepare students and employers for the responsible integration of emerging technologies
• The Marathon County Regional Forensic Science Center to enhance public safety by reducing evidence processing times and strengthening collaboration among law enforcement agencies, while also creating hands-on learning opportunities for students entering high-demand forensic science careers
• The Sawmill at NTC’s Wood Technology Center of Excellence in Antigo to create the only commercial-scale training environment of its kind in the nation that supports Wisconsin’s forestry and wood products industries
• The Community Safety Simulation Center at NTC’s Public Safety Center of Excellence in Merrill to enhance preparedness and coordination across the region through immersive, scenario-based training

Honorees were celebrated at the Women of Vision Luncheon on Thursday, May 14.