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Jonathan Gibralter

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Jonathan Gibralter
19th President of Wells College
In office
July 1, 2015 – June 20, 2024
Preceded byThomas E. J. de Witt (interim)
Succeeded bySusan Henking
14th President of Frostburg State University
In office
August 2006 – June 30, 2015
Preceded byCatherine R. Gira
Succeeded byRonald Nowaczyk
3rd President of the State University of New York at Farmingdale
In office
June 2001 – August 2006
Preceded byFrank A. Cipriani
Succeeded byW. Hubert Keen
Personal details
SpouseLaurie
EducationQueensborough Community College
Binghamton University (BA)
New York University (MA)
Syracuse University (PhD)
University of Maryland Global Campus (MBA)

Jonathan C. Gibralter (born 1956)[1] is an American academic executive. He served as president of Farmingdale State College in East Farmingdale, New York from 2001 to 2006, president of Frostburg State University in Maryland from 2006 to 2015 and president of Wells College in Aurora, Cayuga County, New York from 2015 to June 2024.[2][3][4]

Early life and education

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Gibralter grew up in Bayside, Queens, New York and attended Queensborough Community College, earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Binghamton University in 1978, a master of arts degree in counseling psychology from New York University in 1982, a Ph.D. in human development from Syracuse University in 1996,[1][5][6] and an MBA from University of Maryland Global Campus in 2013.

Career

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In 1986, he began teaching at the State University of New York at Morrisville, later becoming Director of Individual Studies (1988-1990) and Associate Dean for the School of Liberal Arts (1990-1993). From 1993 to 1998, Gibralter was the dean of the Rome, New York, campus of Mohawk Valley Community College. Gibralter was the Dean of Academic Affairs, and then Interim President, at Corning Community College, from 1998 to 2001.[1][7]

President of Farmingdale State College (2001-2006)

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He was president of Farmingdale State College in East Farmingdale, New York, from 2001 to 2006.

President of Frostburg State University (2006-2015)

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In 2006, he became president of Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Maryland, and remained in that position until 2015.[8][9] In September 2008, Gibralter was honored with the Presidential Leadership Award for his efforts in promoting a campus climate that de-emphasized alcohol and combatted binge drinking at Frostburg State University.[10][11][12]

President of Wells College (2015-2024)

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In 2015, he became president of Wells College.[13] Gibralter inherited a school that was struggling. Before Gibralter took office, in order to boost revenue and continue operations, the college allowed men to enroll for the first time in 2005, and obtained court approval to borrow restricted funds from its endowment in 2010. In 2019, under Gibralters presidency, the college was placed on probation by its accreditor, the middle states commission on higher education for non compliance with the agency’s planning, resources and institutional improvement standard. 1

In 2020 the college was at risk of closing due to the lack of enrollment caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Gibralter stated that if in person education did not resume, the school would have to close. Wells was able to continue operating due to funding from the federal government to help institutions survive the pandemic. 1 During this time significant faculty turnover occurred, with many retiring or moving to other institutions. 2020 also saw the implementation of a partnership with Syracuse University to boost enrollment. 3 In 2021 the middle states commission of higher education announced Wells College was in compliance and no longer on probation.

On April 29, 2024, Board Chair, Marie Chapman-Carroll and Gibralter announced that Wells was closing due to financial issues. The boards vote approving the closure of the school was not unanimous. There was considerable controversy over the abrupt notice of the closure during the last week of the Spring 2024 semester, and criticism of Gibralter for receiving bonus money. Gibralter received at least 310 thousand dollars in bonus money between 2016 and 2021. 2 Gibralter notified the Hiawatha Institute of the schools closure shortly before the public announcement. 3

Reporting since the closure announcement documented evidence that administrators at the college had been privately planning for a potential closure for months, while publicly reassuring the community, students and faculty that the school would continue operations. Gibralter attempted to create new partnerships with other institutions in the final months of the academic year in an effort to save the school, however those partnerships did not materialize. 4 The closure decision displaced 352 students and 140 employees. 5 On June 20, 2024, it was announced that the Wells College Board of Trustees and President Gibralter had "parted ways". 6

Personal life

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Gibralter is the father of two adult sons and is married to Laurie Gibralter.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Erin Gingerich (February 17, 2012). "Sitting Down with Jonathan Gibralter". The Bottom Line, Frostburg State University News. Archived from the original on January 27, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  2. ^ "President of Maryland college named to lead Wells College". The Post-Standard. Associated Press. February 11, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  3. ^ "Frostburg State Administrator Named Interim President". Baltimore CBS Local. April 11, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015. Bowling will temporarily succeed Jonathan Gibralter, who is leaving June 30 to become president of Wells College in Aurora, New York.
  4. ^ "News from the Board of Trustees – Wells College". Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  5. ^ Anika Clark (April 1, 2012). "UMD Chancellor finalist: Dr. Jonathan C. Gibralter". The Standard-Times (New Bedford). Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  6. ^ Carrie Chantler (30 August 2015). "Q & A: Wells College's new president espouses life-long learning and value of a liberal arts education". Auburn Citizen. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Jonathan C. Gibralter, President, Frostburg State University". maryland.gov.
  8. ^ "Bright side". Cumberland Times-News. October 9, 2008. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  9. ^ "Frostburg State Administrator Named Interim President". April 11, 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  10. ^ "Impact-as-a-Service". www.outsidetheclassroom.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2010.
  11. ^ Elizabeth Redden (September 4, 2008). "On Alcohol, Leaders Wanted". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved June 8, 2015. Gibralter told the tale Wednesday in accepting an inaugural, first-annual Presidential Leadership Award, which honors presidents for "success in promoting a vibrant intellectual and social climate that deemphasizes the role of alcohol."
  12. ^ Rick Hampson (May 3, 2015). "Campus drinking: How a party school sobered up". USA Today. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  13. ^ Brad Kroner. "President Gibralter: Wells College Is The Right Opportunity". Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  14. ^ Claude Solnik (September 26, 2003). "Gibralter rocks". Long Island Business News. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
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