President Jonathan Gibralter arrived at Wells College in July 2015. Before coming to Wells, he served as president of Frostburg State University in western Maryland. He began his career in higher education within the State University of New York system. Following appointments as a faculty member, academic program director, and associate dean for the school of liberal arts at Morrisville, he served as dean of academic affairs, campus dean, and interim president in the SUNY community college system, ultimately assuming the presidency of Farmingdale State College. He has also been active in his community by teaching leadership classes at Syracuse University and is a member of CenterState CEO, a business leadership and economic development organization servicing Central New York and beyond.
In the last nine years of his term, President Gibralter has helped fund tens of millions of dollars’ worth of projects to improve Wells and continue its educational mission and values. Facilities like the college’s athletics complex and dormitories were renovated and improved for students, new majors like digital marketing, hospitality management, and data analytics were added to the college’s list of academic programs, and the local water plant, which supplies both Wells and Village of Aurora, was modernized and refurbished to aid both the local and college community.
President Gibralter’s leadership is marked by a deep understanding of the current climate for higher education and the undergraduate experience, a demonstrated commitment to student well-being and environmental sustainability, the creativity and courage to pursue innovative solutions, and financial acumen.