DCC Vice President Selected for National Fellowship
April 20, 2017 – Dr. Ellen Gambino, vice president of Academic Affairs and Student Services at Dutchess Community College, has been awarded the Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence. One of just 40 higher education leaders nationwide to be selected for the intensive program, Gambino was chosen through a rigorous process that considered candidates’ abilities to take strategic risks, lead strong teams, cultivate partnerships and focus on result-oriented improvements in student access and success.
The year-long fellowship aims to develop outstanding community college leaders through focuses on learning, degree completion, post-graduation employment and earnings, and equitable access and success for underrepresented student populations.
Dr. Pamela Edington, president of Dutchess Community College, was among those who advocated for Gambino’s selection for the program. “Ellen is a tireless proponent of our collective vision and an innovator in her own right who consistently demonstrates the ability to propel our institution – and greater community – forward. She and the college will greatly benefit from her participation in the Aspen program, and actively contribute to the national conversation about the future of community college leadership,” said Edington.
Gambino has served in leadership roles at DCC for 11 years. She holds a doctorate in Education from Saint John Fisher College, a master’s degree from Pace University and undergraduate degrees from SUNY New Paltz and DCC. She was a 2013 recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service.
“My selection as an Aspen Presidential Fellow is of course personally rewarding, but also a testament to the incredible work being done at Dutchess Community College, especially in the area of student success,” said Gambino. “I’m looking forward to further developing as a leader, and to enhance my abilities to effect positive change.”
The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, D.C. The 2017-2018 presidential fellows come from 24 states and 38 community colleges.
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Founded in 1957, Dutchess Community College has earned a reputation for providing an outstanding education at the lowest tuition in New York state. Its main campus is in Poughkeepsie, with a satellite campus in Wappingers Falls. For more information visit www.sunydutchess.edu.
