Gogebic CC hires Patritto as new president

What's happening: Chris Patritto has been hired to be the new president of Gogebic Community College, effective Jan. 2. The Hurley, Wisconsin, native is making his first move to collegiate education after serving for 35 years as a teacher, principal and district administrator at various school districts in northern Wisconsin. He also works as a policy associate for Neola, which is used as the primary school policy creator for schools in Michigan, Wisconsin and across the Midwest. Patritto will be the 10th president in the school’s 92-year history.

Chris PattritoA unique learning opportunity: GCC is the western-most institute of higher learning in Michigan, located in Ironwood. Combining with Hurley and other smaller communities across the Wisconsin border, GCC serves a combined population of approximately 10,000 people. Student growth has steadily increased since the start of the millennium, with on-campus housing and new athletics programs being added alongside new majors and partnerships with larger universities in the region.
It is also the oldest of the three community colleges in the Upper Peninsula alongside Bay College in Escanaba and the Bay Mills Community College in Brimley.  

What they're saying: “Mr. Patritto brings extensive experience working in an educational setting and is well respected and engaged in our local community. He has a proven successful leadership style along with having teambuilding experience, and strong communication skills. He is a fiscally responsible budget manager after working with the Hurley Board of Education to eliminate all district debt. He’s also been successful in obtaining numerous grants to help fund various initiatives,” said Susan Beals, board chair.

What's next: Patritto will work through the winter semester to get better acclimated with the staff and student body to continue the success of the college.