NEWARK — Gale Gibson took over the reins of Essex County College as its interim president earlier this month and, in contrast to her predecessor’s short-lived term, she’s aiming to stick around for the full-time gig. Gale Gibson. Courtesy of Essex County CollegeFormerly ECC’s senior vice president of academic affairs and chief academic officer, Gibson is working to avoid some of the missteps of former president Edythe Abdullah. Abdullah received a “vote of no confidence” from the faculty in her first year and unexpectedly announced her resignation on March 19, just days after ECC passed a major accreditation hurdle.
And part of navigating the college landscape is taking a lesson in politics.
