July 1, 2025
Two Ferris State Doctorate in Community College Leadership alums earn president positions at Henry Ford College and Bristol Community College
Ferris State University’s Doctorate in Community College Leadership has added two more names to its nationwide roll call of higher education leaders.
The DCCL’s tradition of further developing aspiring leaders to take on presidencies continues in 2025 with alumni appointments of Lori M. Gonko, as the interim president of Henry Ford College, and Sedgwick L. Harris, as president of Bristol Community College.
Gonko was appointed unanimously by the Henry Ford College Board of Trustees to lead the Dearborn-based college on an interim basis, effective July 1, while Harris was the unanimous choice of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education – beginning his role in March 2025.
The appointments of Gonko and Harris are DCCL points of pride.
“The fact that these two individuals have advanced to presidencies, the pinnacle of their profession, demonstrates not only that they have been able to put into practice what they learned in the DCCL program, but it also demonstrates that their institutions have the confidence in their knowledge, skills, and abilities to lead,” said Wendy Patriquin, director of Ferris State’s Doctorate in Community College Leadership.
Harris, the fifth president in the 60-year history of Bristol Community College, graduated as part of the DCCL’s Class of 2018, cohort six. He is eager to serve in this leadership role having earned the full confidence of the trustees.
“I am deeply honored to be named the next President of Bristol Community College and I am grateful to Secretary Tutwiler, Commissioner Ortega, Joan Medeiros, chair of Bristol’s board of trustees, board members, faculty, staff, students and the entire Bristol community for allowing me to build on the culture of excellence both at the college and within each community we serve,” Harris said in a release issued by the college.
Gonko, who has been serving as HFC’s vice president of strategy and human resources, was a cohort two DCCL graduate, Class of 2014. She also serves as an adjunct professor In Ferris State’s DCCL program. Gonko expressed pride in the opportunity to lead Henry Ford during this transitional period after the departure of former president Russ Kavalhuna, who left to become Western Michigan University’s president.
“I am honored and humbled to have the board’s unanimous support in appointing me as Interim President,” Gonko said in a release from the college. “As the board undertakes the important task of selecting the next permanent president, I will do all I can to ensure a smooth transition while keeping student success at the forefront of all we do.”
Ferris State’s Doctorate in Community College Leadership, a blended three-year program that requires minimal on-site time, is designed to empower its graduates to advance the missions of community colleges in the pursuit of excellence and toward community responsiveness through strong leadership in the 21st century.
“The DCCL faculty and staff take great pride in providing this valuable training to current and future leaders of the nation’s community colleges,” Patriquin said.