May 27, 2025 2:30p
(WGTD)---The search for an interim president at Gateway Technical College is entering a new phase.
The board has scheduled closed Zoom meetings for Thursday and Friday to interview five candidates. Their names weren’t released.
In a statement, Gateway Board of Trustees Chairperson Jason Tadlock said 158 applications were received by the May 14th deadline.
The board decided to hire an interim president after current Gateway President Ritu Raju was appointed to lead a community college in Minnesota. Raju was Gateway's president for two-and-a-half years.
The posted job description for interim president cast a wide net. While the listed qualifications required a master’s degree and executive-level leadership experience, the post did not require any previous experience in the education field. But the job description goes on to say that the ideal candidate is a “forward-thinking leader who understands the value of technical education.”
In his statement, Tadlock said the post drew a pool of “strong and qualified” applicants. He said the goal is to have an interim president in place before the end of June when Raju’s contract expires.
Invited to join the interview process, according to Tadlock, are members of the school’s executive leadership council and Gateway Technical Education Association President Dan Lyons.
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