McHenry
County College welcomes Clinton Gabbard, Ph.D. as the College’s 8th
president. He started his new role on January 11, filling the vacancy
left by Vicky Smith, Ed.D., who retired on Dec. 31 after serving as
president since 2010.
Gabbard
comes to MCC from Lake Michigan College, where he served as vice
president of Student Services since 2011. His previous academic roles
include vice president of Student Services for Walla Walla Community
College, director of Counseling and Psych Services at Purdue
University and psychologist and adjunct assistant professor at the
University of Notre Dame.
“I
am thrilled to be at McHenry County College,” Gabbard said. “I
look forward to working side-by-side with every person in the college
and in the community who have dedicated themselves to teaching, to
learning, and to student success.”
Gabbard
co-founded TrestleTree Inc., a private sector behavioral health
service for employers and served as director of the Family Life
Center. He earned his doctorate in counseling psychology and a Master
of Arts degree in counseling psychology from the University of Notre
Dame and a Bachelor of Science degree from Evangel College.
He
has served his community in several capacities; as an executive
officer of the local United Way, as the director of Walla Walla Blue
Mountain Action Council Board (the leading non-profit organization
that addresses hunger and homelessness), and as an education leader
in the Michigan’s Great Southwest community strategic planning
initiative.
“I
am committed to continuing the successful community partnerships that
MCC has created and I look forward to furthering the mission of this
fine institution,” Gabbard said.
He
and his wife, Ronda, are in the process of relocating from their home
in Michigan to McHenry County.
