Michigan Native Elected 8th President at Kirtland Community College

During an evening session held on December 7, the Board of Trustees of Kirtland Community College unanimously endorsed the selection of Dr. Gary Roberts as the institution’s 8th President. Dr. Roberts will be succeeding current sitting President Dr. Thomas Quinn.

This was a very enlightening process for all of us at Kirtland, we are all excited to begin a new chapter under the leadership of Dr. Gary Roberts,” said Chairwoman, Kirtland Board of Trustees MaryAnn Ferrigan. “I am confident that he will be able to carry on our continued legacy for many years.”

Commencing ahead of the Fall semester, Kirtland took proactive measures by announcing its intention to initiate the search for a new President. Recognizing the considerable challenge posed by identifying a qualified successor for their longstanding President of 16 years, Kirtland sought the expertise of Pauly Group, a nationally recognized academic search consultant agency. Under the guidance of Angela Provart, President, Pauly Group played a pivotal role in facilitating the establishment of a search committee and formulating comprehensive timelines, all geared towards achieving the set objectives by the December deadline.

The search committee, comprising Trustees, staff, faculty, students, and community leaders, collaborated with Pauly Group to identify and evaluate applicants, ultimately engaging with a total of 42 individuals who met the established criteria set by the Board of Trustees. This process spanned over nine months, during which the committee reviewed applications, conducted online interviews, , and convened meetings to decide on three candidates who most exemplified the requirements for role of President.

“After national recruiting was conducted, the committee had a total of 37 qualified applicants.  The committee selected and interviewed six candidates, from which they selected three outstanding finalists.  The finalists visited the college, including open forums and campus tours, in late November,” said Provart.

Upon selection of the final candidates, Kirtland initiated the final phase of the process. Each candidate was invited to visit the two school locations in Gaylord and Grayling, Michigan, participated in guided tours, engaged in face-to-face forums with staff, faculty, and community members, and undergone formal interviews with the Board of Trustees. Following the completion of these on-site interactions, surveys were disseminated to all participants, gathering valuable insights that were subsequently reviewed by the Board of Trustees to inform their ultimate decision-making process.

Dr. Gary Roberts, a native of Hartford, Michigan, brings an extensive background in higher education to his role as the newly appointed President of Kirtland. Graduating with a Ph.D. in Philosophy with a focus on Political Science from Western Michigan University in 2004, Dr. Roberts began his academic career as an adjunct professor in political science at Lake Michigan College (LMC) in 2002. Transitioning to a full-time instructor role in political science at LMC in 2004, he dedicated 19 years to the institution, ascending through various leadership positions. Robert’s journey included serving as the Director of The Honors Program, Academic Advisor to the Student Senate, Department Chair of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and finally the position of Dean of Arts and Sciences from 2014 to 2021.

In 2022, Dr. Roberts assumed the pivotal role of Vice President of Academic Affairs at Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC), where his impactful contributions have encompassed successful negotiations of four-year contract agreements and salary increases for faculty. His efforts also extended to the creation of the Department of Institutional Research and the collaborative establishment of a Dean of Institutional Effectiveness for accreditation purposes.

As he steps into the presidency at Kirtland Community College, Dr. Roberts expresses anticipation for the challenges and opportunities ahead, emphasizing his eagerness to commence collaborative efforts with the staff and faculty.

“I am very excited to come to Kirtland as the next president. I am truly humbled and honored to be selected,” said Kirtland Presidential Selectee Dr. Roberts. “I’m excited to get started and to get to know everyone on the campuses and communities.  It was exciting in the forums to see how devoted everyone is to Kirtland Community College.”