Essex County College Continues Prez Search Following Gibson’s Firing

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County College is still searching for a permanent president more than six months after its trustee board terminated former leader Gale Gibson.

The college's next president will oversee the main Newark campus, West Essex campus in West Caldwell, the Public Safety Academy in Cedar Grove and multiple additional community centers, university administrators stated on Thursday.

The college announced that it has hired executive search firm RPA Inc. to help find the school's next president. Essex County College's Board of Trustees have set a target date of next spring to replace Gibson, who was terminated in April.

• See related article: Essex County College President Suspended
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RPA will begin work immediately to identify candidates for the college presidency and will be assisted by a committee of faculty, staff and alumni, university officials stated.

"We're confident that we will have a new president in place by the next academic year," Trustee Chair Bibi Taylor said.

"This search is extremely important for our college," Taylor added. "While Acting President A. Zachary Yamba has done an outstanding job since April, we need a permanent leader to guide us well into the future."

File Photo: Gale Gibson, NJ.gov

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