Dr. Anthony Munroe Set to Take Presidency at NYC Community College
The Board of Trustees of Essex County College has announced the impending departure of its current President, Dr. Anthony E. Munroe, who will assume the Borough of Manhattan Community College Presidency, effective October 1, 2020. Dr. Munroe, ECC’s eighth President, has provided exceptional leadership of the College since May 2017.
“On behalf of our entire College family, I want to thank Dr. Munroe for his leadership and commitment to our students, and wish him well in his new endeavor,” said Ms. Marion Bolden, Chair of the Essex County College Board of Trustees.
She credits Dr. Munroe for spearheading the College’s efforts to resolve the Middle States Commission on Higher Education accreditation compliance, resulting in the College being removed from probation and the restoration of its accreditation.
“In the next few weeks, we will have a Search Committee in place. The Committee will conduct a thorough national search for the next President of Essex County College,” said Ms. Bolden. “As we have for more than 50 years, Essex County College remains committed to Students First,” she added.
Dr. Munroe said he is especially proud of a number of student-centered programs he launched during his time at Essex County College. He led the development of the College’s next 5-year strategic plan entitled Students First. He initiated and chaired the College’s Rapid Response Retention Task Force focused on improving enrollment, retention, persistence, and completion. Dr. Munroe also focused on wrap-around student services addressing several critical needs. These include launching a student focused Food Pantry Program to address food insecurity, and a comprehensive Student Wellness Center. Munroe also expertly led the College during the COVID-19 pandemic and launched the Tuition Free Program for Essential Workers.
“This fine institution, born out of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s to provide access to all, continues to live out its mission,” said Dr. Munroe. “Serving as President for the past three years has been an honor. We have achieved a great deal, together, on behalf of our students and our community. I have enjoyed working with entire College family. I want to give special thanks to ECC’s President Emeritus, Dr. A. Zachary Yamba, who was pivotal in supporting me during my time at Essex County College.”
Essex County College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Over 40 percent of the College’s students major in one of the high in-demand STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) programs. ECC has one of the top Nursing and Health Sciences programs in the state. This is a critical time nationally for the college academic community as they pivot in how education is delivered to students during this pandemic period. Essex County College stands ready to meet the changing needs of students and others looking to grow in their academic or professional life.
Essex County College has and will continue to play a critical role in workforce development in Newark, Essex County and throughout New Jersey. As a premier county college in the state, ECC believes as careers change and people look to certifications to fortify current or future employment, more people will look to the College for its unique certification programs.
The entire College family wishes Dr. Munroe the very best as he moves on to his new position at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, the largest college within the City University of New York urban university system.
