Erie County Community College of Pennsylvania Names Chris Gary as Founding President

The Board of Trustees also named Chris Gray, who currently serves as vice president of Academic Affairs at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, Ill., as the permanent president of the Erie County Community College.

DiNicola said the board interviewed more than 30 candidates for the job and selected Gray after an extensive process.

“He’s a natural innovator and has a long history within the community college movement,” DiNicola said. “I think he brings a set of skills that are important to our community’s economic development.”

Gray holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Foundations and is a community college graduate. He has served community colleges as an instructor, chair, dean and vice president for 20 years, according to a board news release.

“Community college changed my life, expanded my world view and gave me the confidence to grow as a student and leader,” Gray said in the release. “I’ve committed my life to giving back and making sure that any student who wants to better their journey is able to do so. Community colleges break down barriers so all students, even those like me, get a chance.”

Gray is scheduled to begin on July 14.

The college will host an initial news conference Wednesday and announce a series of press conferences and events during July introduce Gray to the community, according to the release.

Gray will replace interim President Judith Gay, who DiNicola said will continue to work at the college in another capacity.

In addition to its partnerships, the Erie County Community College will have a virtual campus with online courses for students who prefer to access courses using technology. This also provides an opportunity for working adults to register and start their collegiate education, according to the release.