SACJTC Board Members
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Dr. Patricia Skinner became president of Gaston College in August of 1994. A product of the community college, Dr. Skinner began her education at Lake Michigan College and went on to earn several advanced degrees from Western Michigan University. She became a lifelong Buckeye fan when she received her Ph.D. in higher education administration from The Ohio State University. Dr. Skinner's career began in the classroom as an instructor, where she gained teaching experience in colleges and universities in Michigan, Massachusetts, and Ohio. Her administrative career began with her experiences in cooperative education while a faculty member, with one of the highlights of her career the seven years she spent serving in numerous roles at the Ohio Board of Regents assuring quality in higher education in Ohio. Since coming to Gaston College, Dr. Skinner has focused on improving the quality of the learning environment by raising funds for new and renovated facilities, enhancing faculty and staff salaries, and obtaining grants for special initiatives. Her focus on economic and workforce development led to the development of the Bionetwork Bio-Ed Center at Gaston College. Her ultimate goal has always been providing the highest quality learning experiences and opportunities for students. During her tenure at Gaston College, several new buildings have been completed, two new campuses have been added, and enrollment has increased significantly. Dr. Skinner's strong commitment towards the community in which she serves was recognized in August 2005, when she was named Gaston County's Woman of the Year, and in January 2006, when she received the 2005 Athena Award from the Gaston Chamber of Commerce. |