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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Maria College announces the retirement of Dr. Thomas Gamble as President
College to commence national search for new president
ALBANY, N.Y. (Oct. 20, 2021) – Maria College (“Maria”) has announced that President Thomas J. Gamble will retire in 2022, after a successful six years at the helm of Maria.
“We’re thankful for the years President Gamble dedicated to the Maria community. Together we were able to advance the college towards our vision of excellence. We wish Tom the best in his retirement and plan to continue with this momentum moving forward,” said Dr. Mary Jo LaPosta, RN, chair of the board of trustees for Maria College.
“After careful reflection and discussion with the board, I have decided that it is time for me to rejoin my retirement. Over the past five-plus years, working in partnership with the board of trustees, the senior leadership team, our faculty, and our staff, we’ve steadied Maria College and created a set of strategic initiatives that open into an exciting future for Maria. I have led Mercy-founded institutions for over 15 years now, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have served Maria College, as part of that Mercy legacy. I know Maria’s best days are still ahead,” said President Gamble.
President Gamble had over 30 years of experience in higher education when he first assumed the role as interim president in 2016, after retiring as president of Mercyhurst University in Pennsylvania. At the time, Maria College was preparing the decennial Middle States Commission on Higher Education self-study and re-accreditation process, which was successfully concluded with reaccreditation in 2019. During Gamble’s time, the Frank E. O’Brien Jr. Student Support Center was launched, providing state-of the-art and holistic services to Maria students.
In addition, Maria made a multi-million-dollar investment in advancing nursing and occupational therapy education through new facilities and equipment. In early 2020, the New York State Board of Regents approved a charter change allowing Maria to offer academic programs at the graduate level, and the first graduate program in Maria’s history, a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, was launched in Fall 2020. Further, a campus-wide renewal project was designed, approved by the board, and initiated. With strong support from the board’s finance committee, Gamble led the initiative to better analyze and manage Maria’s financial condition, which has always remained strong. These efforts have resulted in identifying cost efficiencies, increased investments, and ultimately, a stronger Maria College. Since July 1, 2016, Maria College’s net assets have increased by $5.8 million or 25 percent. 90 percent of that increase is in unrestricted net assets.
Prior to his service to Maria, Gamble served as president of Mercyhurst University from 2005 to 2015. As president, Gamble orchestrated the elevating of the institution to “university status” in 2012, introduced a new core curriculum. Gamble led the process to create the Sr. Joan Chittister Archive at Mercyhurst as well as the Thomas J. Ridge School of Intelligence Studies. Gamble also led the development of Mercyhurst’s only international campus in the Republic of Ireland.
As President Gamble completes his time at Maria, the college will continue to move forward with its campus master plan and strategic compass which the board approved during his time at Maria.
Maria College will initiate a nationwide search for its next president immediately.
For more information about Maria College and its academic programs, visit mariacollege.edu.
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About Maria College. Founded in 1958, Maria College is one of 17 colleges and universities in the United States sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. The private, co-educational, Catholic college in Albany serves approximately 800 students in a variety of bachelor degree, associate degree, a master’s degree, and certificate programs including liberal arts, healthcare management, nursing, psychology, occupational therapy, and health and occupational sciences. mariacollege.edu