ACC President Gatewood Announces Retirement After 10 Years of Accomplishments

(May 11, 2023) – Dr. Algie Gatewood, President of Alamance Community College, has announced his retirement effective July 1 after 10 years of service.

“This was not an easy decision, but it is time for me to move on and begin a new chapter in my life,” Dr. Gatewood wrote in an email to employees.

The Executive Committee of the ACC Board of Trustees scheduled a meeting on May 12 to consider the College’s path forward with regard to its leadership.

“During my tenure as President, I am proud of the many accomplishments we have achieved together to the benefit of our students and community,” wrote Dr. Gatewood. “I have had the privilege of leading a team that worked tirelessly to improve and enhance ACC in many ways. I am grateful for the support of the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, and the community that made these accomplishments possible.”

Among President Gatewood’s accomplishments at ACC since 2013 are:

• Passing a $39.6 million bond measure with overwhelming voter approval – the largest in ACC’s history
• Construction of three new academic and student support buildings: the Advanced Applied Technology Center ($20 million), Biotechnology Center of Excellence ($19.4 million), Student Services Center ($6.7 million), and preparing to break ground in fall 2023 on the new $21.3 million Regional Public Service Training Center
• Six major facility expansions and upgrades at a cost of $6.8 million: Student Commons cafe area, first-of-its-kind Emergency Medical Services simulation rooms, Animal Science and Horticulture Building, on-site Early College, state-of-the-art Print Shop, and Culinary Arts expansion
• Starting ACC’s first Early College in partnership with Alamance-Burlington School System, and enrolling 1,563 students to date
• Initiating ACC Promise to grant last-dollar scholarships to students who have unmet financial need
• Partnered with Alamance-Burlington Schools and Elon University to initiate the Alamance Scholars program, designed to support students pursuing a teaching career and returning to the local community upon college graduation
• Developing stronger community ties with businesses, nonprofits, local, state, and federal elected officials, and the general public
• Spearheading the development of the Medical Bridge Program, now funded by The Burroughs Welcome Fund
• Developing a 90-plus acre land agreement with Martin Marietta for a modest $17,000 per year for 50 years, to build the $21.3 million Regional Public Safety Training Center
• Receiving our first special appropriation in the amount of $3.8 million in 2022 from the NC General Assembly and poised to receive approximately $6 million in special appropriations in 2023 for the Public Safety Training Center and Multi-Campus Center
• Acquiring a 47-acre farm property, which is now part of ACC’s Horticulture Technology program
• Successfully leading the College through the Covid-19 pandemic without losing one day of operation
• Establishing 23 transfer articulation agreements that ensure a seamless transition from ACC to a four-year institution
• Adding 19 new curriculum programs since 2013
• Restructuring the College’s grants function, resulting in an increase of external grants from $150,000 to $25 million since 2020 – roughly an increase of 1,667 percent
• A successful capital campaign raising $7.8 million and exceeding the goal by 56 percent
• Acquiring and implementing a variety of special student support and enhancement programs to increase student progression, retention, and graduation rates, namely Persistence from Application to Completion in Education (PACE), TRiO Student Support Services (SSS) Program,  Alamance Juvenile Opportunity Bridge (AJOB), and Minority Males in Medicine
• Earning the trust and support of the trustees, faculty, staff, and students at ACC and the people of Alamance County

“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve as President, and I am confident that the college will continue to thrive under new leadership. I look forward to following the college’s continued success from afar,” wrote Dr. Gatewood.

Dr. Gatewood has spent nearly five decades in higher education, including President of the Cascade Campus of Portland Community College, Oregon from 2004-2013; UNC Chapel Hill from 1997-2004 as Director of Health, Education and Welfare and Assistant Director of the NC State Education Assistant Authority; and Dean of Student Services at Anson Community College from 1982-1997.