GCCC Welcomes new Vice President of Academic Affairs & Learning Support

Gulf Coast Community College is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. George Bishop as the new Vice President of Academic Affairs & Learning Support. Bishop succeeds Dr. Linda Adair who is retiring after 33 years at GCCC.

Bishop hails from Niagara County, NY, where he is the current Executive Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs at Niagara County Community College. In that capacity, he serves as the chief academic officer and is responsible for operations related to programs, resources, and planning for academics. He chose GCCC because he felt the college was a good match with his experience in assessment and accreditation, curriculum development, and commitment to excellence in teaching. “I’m delighted to be joining Gulf Coast Community College, and look forward to working with campus and community leaders as we continue the college’s fine tradition of service to the citizens of Northwest Florida.”
 
 “We are excited about the selection of Dr. George Bishop as the new VP of Academics,” said Dr. Jim Kerley, President. “Dr. Bishop has excellent experience as an administrator and as a long time faculty member, and he is passionate about Gulf Coast Community College’s mission and the positive direction of our institution. We all look forward to working with someone who has such a strong academic background and team spirit, and he is an excellent addition to our team of talented administrators, faculty and staff.”
 
GCCC began the national search in the late fall determined to find the best candidates in an open and inclusive process. The search committee received 67 applications and after careful review, four finalists were selected for interviews. One of the qualities that placed Bishop at the top of the list was his enthusiasm for teaching. Most of his career has been spent teaching at the college-level as a Professor of English and abroad as a Fulbright Professor of American Literature in Czech Republic. He also demonstrated a wealth of experience in public and private schools as well as four-year and two-year schools. During his five years as an administrator at Niagara, he has overseen the development of eight new distance learning programs as well as twelve new degree and certificate programs.
 
Bishop’s educational credentials were also top-notch: B.A. in philosophy, State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, 1977; M.A. in English, SUNY at Buffalo, 1983; and Ph.D. in English, SUNY at Buffalo, 1985. His official start date is July 14.