Essex County College Names New President

The Board of Trustees of Essex County College (ECC) formally appointed Dr. Gale E. Gibson its seventh president and the second woman to lead the College in its 45-year history.  She had been serving as the interim president since April, the college announced in a statement. .  

Since Gibson became interim president, the college has initiated major capital projects on all three campuses, launched 100 percent online courses for the first time, and continued to hold tuition at the 2010-2011 rates.

“In addition to the substantive outcomes that Dr. Gibson successfully and strategically accomplished during her term as Interim President such as the Middle States reaffirmation of accreditation, renewal of seven collective bargaining agreements, the introduction of online learning, maintaining tuition at the 2010-2011 levels, and improving the College’s graduation rate, we must also look at the intangibles,” said Board Chair Calvin Souder, Esq.  “This is a leader who connects here at Essex County College, who connects with the community and who connects with our statewide partners in higher education.”

Gibson previously served as Essex County College’s Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs & Chief Academic Officer.  As senior vice president, Gibson was charged with providing strategic vision and leadership for the development, implementation, staffing, assessment, and grant funding initiatives for academic programs of the college.  

Gibson earned her Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration with a concentration in Adult and Community College Education from North Carolina State University.  She received a Master of Arts in Social Sciences and Counseling, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Binghamton University – State University of New York.