Gateway Community College President to Retire

Mark E. Ojakian, president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU), announced that Dr. Dorsey L. Kendrick will retire as president of Gateway Community College (GCC) in New Haven effective June 1, 2017. She began her tenure as president in 1999.

“President Kendrick is one of the most talented and fervent leaders in our system. She is constantly going above and beyond for her students, and Gateway’s progress and extraordinary growth is a result of her dedication,” said President Ojakian. “On behalf of the CSCU system, we commend President Kendrick on her commitment and transformational leadership of Gateway Community College, and wish her all the success she deserves in her future.”

“President Kendrick has been one of our strongest student advocates and one of the hardest working presidents in our CSCU system,” said Matt Fleury, chairman of the Board of Regents for Higher Education. “Her passion and diligence will be missed, and her contributions to the education and success of thousands of students over her career will be her extraordinary legacy.”

During President Kendrick’s tenure, she grew enrollment and oversaw the completion of GCC’s downtown New Haven campus which opened in 2012. At GCC, She established a nursing program and instituted many new academic programs including transportation technology and automotive, allied health, engineering, business and early childhood education. 

No decision has yet been made on a succession plan.