House Plans: Gateway Community College

Gateway Community College

G. Edward Hughes became the founding president and chief executive officer of Gateway Community and Technical College on December 1, 2001.

Prior to coming to Gateway, Dr. Hughes became one of the youngest college presidents when he assumed the presidency of Hazard Community College in 1985. His 16-year leadership at Hazard Community College (HCC) is viewed as transformational and included regional, state and national recognition for programs and services. He is currently the senior public college or university president in Kentucky. A life-long educator, Dr. Hughes has served as a teacher, program coordinator, academic and student affairs administrator in community and technical colleges in Arkansas, Illinois and Tennessee. Prior to coming to Kentucky, he served as dean of academic and student affairs at North Country Community College in Saranac Lake, N.Y.

Under Dr. Hughes’ leadership, Gateway Community and Technical College is transforming into a comprehensive two-year college with emphasis on workforce development and training, transfer education and adult education and services. The college has seen dramatic growth and was the 7th fastest growing two-year college in its category in the US in 2005-06. Gateway opened its Boone County campus in 2005. Major building expansion was completed in 2008 at its Edgewood Campus, and expansion is under way at the Boone Campus, with completion scheduled for early 2010. The college has developed over 100 new programs, degrees, diplomas and certificates during Dr. Hughes’ tenure. The college is seen as a major factor in meeting the regional Vision 2015 proposal to create 50,000 new jobs in the next decade. A major gifts campaign is underway at Gateway, the first in its history.

Dr. Hughes is married to Sarah E. (Miles) Hughes, who is Coordinator of Special Events and Public Relations for the Northern Kentucky Area Health Education Center. The Hughes have three daughters; Dr. Laurie Craycroft, an emergency medicine physician in Bardstown, Ky.; Jennifer L. Hughston, an attorney with Thompson Hine in Cincinnati; and Lauren E. Hughes, a second grade teacher in Kentucky’s Boone County School System.

He received his bachelor of arts in psychology from Catawba College, Salisbury, N.C. in 1972; his master of arts in psychology from Middle Tennessee State University in 1973; and his Ph.D. in higher education from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1977. He also received an Honorary Doctorate of Human Letters from Catawba College, 2001 in recognition of his contributions to education and was named a Distinguished Alumni of the college in 2006.