Aug. 4, 2025 2:30p
(WGTD)---The board that oversees Gateway Technical College undoubtedly had criteria in mind when it whittled down the 158 applications for the school’s interim president position.
At least one of the applicants—freshly-retired Pima Community College, Arizona administrator Morgan Phillips-- had some requirements of his own. "My thought was when I was planning my retirement that I'm going to look and see if there are districts around the country--places where I might be able to go and I might be able to help them for probably a shorter term," Phillips said on WGTD's Morning Show. "I began to look for institutions that I could help in the shorter term and really make a difference," he said.
Phillips was eventually hired by the Gateway Board to lead the school for a year as the board launched the search for a permanent successor to Ritu Raju. Raju left the Gateway president’s office to take a similar job in Minnesota.
Phillips said his main job at Gateway is to lay the foundation for the next president. That involves in part leaving the college in a stronger position to tackle future funding issues. "There are a lot of funding questions right now--things that are going on nationally with shifts and the way institutions have to respond to the federal government. All of those kinds of issues that are important for us to deal with immediately," he said.
Phillips was born and raised in Florida. Both of his parents were educators. Phillips has held a variety of jobs in the field.
He says he believes his strengths include analyzing systems, offering solutions and helping teachers be as effective as possible.
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