MAYS LANDING – Atlantic Cape Community College’s Board of Trustees, at its June 23 meeting, unanimously conferred the honorary title of President Emerita upon Dr. Barbara Gaba, the first president in the College’s 62–year history to receive this prestigious honor. Gaba is retiring on June 30 after serving the College for the past nine years.
The Board recognized Gaba and presented her with a framed resolution commending her for “serving Atlantic Cape Community College with distinction as President, providing exemplary leadership marked by integrity, vision, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to student success, equity, innovation and academic excellence.”
Gaba, who announced on October 29, 2025 her intention to retire after a distinguished 40–year career in higher education, was honored to receive this designation by the Board.
“I am very honored for the recognition that you have given me. I really want to thank the Board for putting your support behind me and also for giving me the confidence to do this work. I have really enjoyed every minute of it, working with our students on our mission to transform their lives,” Gaba said. “I want to thank my staff who I have worked closely with. It has really been a team effort and I have learned a lot from them. We have done a lot to advance our mission in supporting the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties.”
Gaba was officially hired as Atlantic Cape’s ninth College president — as well as the first female and African American to hold that title — in January 2017. On October 27 of that year, Gaba was inaugurated during a ceremony where she stated that her mission was to “turn our challenges into opportunities, for our students and our community."
The honorary title of President Emerita will be effective July 1, 2026.
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About Atlantic Cape Community College
Established in 1964, Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States-accredited, Hispanic-serving institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers more than 50 undergraduate degree programs and 34 certificate and workforce development professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City, and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and to its highly acclaimed Nursing program for more than 60 years. Atlantic Cape also partners with more than 30 colleges and four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to seamlessly earn a bachelor’s degree upon graduation.
