Atlantic Cape Trustees Name Gaba Next President

MAYS LANDING – The Atlantic Cape Community College Board of Trustees named Dr. Barbara Gaba the next president of Atlantic Cape at their Dec. 20 meeting. 
Gaba will begin her role as college president effective Jan. 30, following the retirement of Dr. Peter L. Mora, according to a release.
Gaba, of Princeton Junction, will serve as Atlantic Cape’s ninth president. The board approved a resolution appointing her to a three-year term running through June 30, 2020, at an annual salary of $180,000.
Gaba is currently provost and associate vice president for Academic Affairs at Union County College in Cranford, a position she has held since 2002.
She is responsible for the overall operation of the college’s urban Elizabeth Campus, serving as the chief academic officer and administrator of the campus providing leadership, vision and strategic direction to the campus, its faculty, students, and programs.
Before her appointment at Union County College, Gaba served as dean of Academic and Student Support Services at Camden County College and associate director of the Office of Board Affairs and Government Relations at the N.J. Department of Higher Education.
“We were deeply impressed by the vast experience in the community college system Dr. Gaba has accumulated during her career, and her familiarity with operating a multi-campus college,” stated Brian Lefke, chair of the Board of Trustees Presidential Search Committee.
“This expertise will enable Dr. Gaba to build positive relationships with students, faculty, staff and the community while positioning Atlantic Cape as a top choice for higher education in Atlantic and Cape May counties.”
During her career, Gaba has garnered extensive experience in higher education administration, teaching, and research with proficiency in the areas of academic master planning; policy development; student services; strategic planning; workforce development; budget development and monitoring; grant writing; institutional accreditation and academic governance.
Gaba serves on several higher education boards of directors and advisory bodies including the Chair Academy for Leadership and Development International Practitioners Board; National Council for Black American Affairs, an affiliate council of the American Association of Community Colleges; Advisory Board for “Dean & Provost,” a national higher education newsletter; and the New Jersey Women in Higher Education Network.
Also, Gaba currently serves as a commissioner for the American Association of Community Colleges Commission on Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity, and is a member of the Academic Advisory Council of the LINCS Supply Chain Management Consortium. She has also served as a Middle States Team Evaluator.
She is active in community and civic affairs including having served on the boards of the Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Elizabeth.
Currently she sits on the boards of the United Way of Greater Union County, YWCA of Eastern Union County; and Family & Children’s Services.
Gaba is the recipient of several awards, including the “Woman of Excellence in Higher Education” awarded by the Union County Commission on the Status of Women; “Exemplary Leader Award” from the Chair Academy for Leadership and Development; and the Rotary Foundation “District Service Award.”
A native of New York City, Gaba received her doctorate from Bayero University, master’s degree from Rutgers University and a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Gaba was one of three finalists who visited Atlantic Cape’s three campuses in November and held open forums to meet students, faculty, staff and the community.
The national search headed by ACCT Executive Search Services began in June.
Gaba will be responsible for carrying out the college’s vision of becoming the region’s preferred choice for higher education and professional training and a leading catalyst for economic and workforce development.
She will work with the college to anticipate and fulfill the region’s educational needs, strengthen the community’s economy and partner with K-12 and higher education institutions to create seamless educational pathways.