Interim president of Essex County College assumes new role, navigates county politics

By Eunice Lee/The Star-Ledger

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.

Formerly 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.

More>>