Erie County Community College of Pennsylvania Announces Dr. Chris Gray as President
Erie County Community College of Pennsylvania (ECCCPA) today announced Dr. Chris Gray has been appointed as its first college president. The College, which is preparing to open this fall, will be the 15th community college in the Commonwealth’s system. Ronald DiNicola, Chairman of the Board of Trustees said. “The Board of Trustees, after an extensive national search, is proud to appoint Christopher Gray as the founding president of ECCCPA. We will work in partnership with him to serve the educational needs of all of Erie County. We will be hosting an initial press conference on July 7th and the College will announce a series of press conferences and events during the months of July to introduce Dr. Gray to the community. Details will be forthcoming soon.”
Dr. Gray has been the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Workforce Development at McHenry County College (MCC) in Crystal Lake, IL for the past four years. He holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Foundations and is a community college graduate himself. Gray has been serving community colleges as an instructor, chair, dean, and vice president for twenty years.
Gray believes in the ability of the community college to change career trajectories and empower regional growth through economic development. “Community college changed my life, expanded my world view, and gave me the confidence to grow as a student and leader,” Gray said. “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.”
In recent years, Gray has been working to better serve students and build a skilled and trained workforce for the region including: collaborating with local high schools to establish Dual Degree programs that allow students to earn associate degrees while simultaneously completing their high school diploma, creating industry councils to bring individual businesses together to collaborate, share resources, and guide the College on industry trends, removing barriers to enrollment, resulting in long-term enrollment growth at a time where overall college enrollment has plummeted, and collaborating with city and economic development leaders to attract new manufacturing to the region by developing a highly-trained welding workforce.
“I am excited to be joining a committed group of caring people who are passionate about making the greater Erie area a better place to live and work,” Gray said. “The hope in Erie County is palpable. This community is home to so many hard-working people, a well-established infrastructure, and beautiful natural resources—and I can’t wait to help us achieve great things together.”
ECCCPA will be the newest community college in the entire nation. The College will offer a combination of two-year programs, post-secondary career certificates and technical courses, and is committed to providing a diverse, affordable, and open education environment.
Gray has also been an active member of his community, serving on boards of local Chambers of Commerce and arts organizations and volunteering in numerous service opportunities. He is the proud father of two sons: Andrew, a community college graduate and law student, and Jacob, a high school student (and future community college graduate).
For more information and updates about ECCCPA, visit www.ecccpa.org.
Erie County Community College Announces Multiple Locations for Fall Opening with five prominent community partners
Erie County Community College (ECCC) is poised to open in September of 2021 thanks to a series of strategic partnerships with long standing community organizations. Chairman Ronald DiNicola indicated, “We are proud to announce our partnership with the Benedictine Sisters of Erie. It is a distinct honor to take this step with the Benedictine Sisters of Erie who have a long history of service to the community and specifically serving those with the greatest needs.” St. Benedict Education Center (SBEC), 330 East 10th Street, Erie, PA. was founded in 1988 by the Benedictine Sisters of Erie. “This opportunity to support ECCC is in alignment with our commitment to inner-city Erie,” said Sister Stephanie Schmidt, Prioress. “Our foremothers arrived in Erie in 1856 with the intention of educating the children of immigrants and this effort is simply a continuation of our commitment to educating those who might otherwise not have such an opportunity.”
SBEC offers academic remediation, job readiness preparation, job development and placement assistance. Dr. Gay, Interim President noted, “The SBEC’s mission has perfect alignment with the mission of ECCC. We are inspired by the potential of the community college being the next step in the educational attainment for participants of SBEC. We thank the Benedictine Sister for sharing their facilities and providing an initial home for ECCC. This is a partnership that will benefit all of Erie County.”
ECCC announced four additional partnerships that will solidify the footprint of the College throughout Erie County.
- Corry Higher Education Council, 221 North Center Street, Corry, PA started in 1991, “promotes lifelong learning to empower individuals, produce a competitive workforce, and enhance the community’s quality of life.” The Council was the second Community Education Council established in PA to serve largely rural and under-served communities.
- The College is also in discussions with the Erie Technical School, 8500 Oliver Road, Erie, PA to start an accelerated 7week semester in October in the Skill Center.
- The College plans to offer science courses at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle as part of the Regional Science Consortium. This is a perfect location for experiential learning and providing state-of-the-art laboratories for the students.
- ECCC also recently entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Erie County Public Library, allowing ECCC students the use the library system, as well as some aspects of the libraries at Penn State-Behrend and Edinboro University. The partnership saves the College and community millions in taxpayer dollars.
In addition to these four important partnerships, the 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.
The College administrative offices are located at 1128 State Street, Suite 300 at the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership. This is a direct link to the business community and workforce training collaborations.
ECCC received degree granting authority from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to offer associate degrees, certificates, and workforce training educational programs. Recruitment of the inaugural class will start on July 12, 2021.
