EGCC's new president makes plan to get familiar with community

YOUNGSTOWN

Eastern Gateway Community College’s next president plans to spend his first weeks in office learning the campuses, people and communities.

Jimmie Bruce, 50, vice president for academic success at Northwest Vista College in San Antonio, Texas, begins his duties at EGCC on July 13.

Laura Meeks, president for 15 years, is retiring that same month.

“I think my first thing will be to get to know the people at the college, make sure I get to know the communities and get in touch with where students are and how they’re doing,” he said.

A native of Kentucky, Bruce has worked at community colleges for 25 years.

“I’m very excited about coming to Eastern Gateway, and I think there’s so much potential for great things to happen,” he said. “I’m looking forward to working with everyone to strengthen what’s already going on at the college.”

Bruce was one of four finalists for the EGCC job.

“It was a very, very difficult decision,” said John Gilmore, chairman of EGCC trustees. “We had four excellent candidates we were debating over.”

Read more about the new leader in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.