Barbara Gaba, PhD

In Pursuit of Education

For Barbara Gaba, education isn’t just the field she works in – it’s who she is.

“I’ve always wanted to help change lives, to help others and spark change in communities,” says Gaba, president of Atlantic Cape Community College. “Education is the best way to lift people up.”

Barbara Gaba, PhD, President, Atlantic Cape Community College

Gaba’s 4 decades in education has led her to every corner of the profession, from a decade spent teaching in West Africa to working on policy at the New Jersey Department of Higher Education to serving as the dean of academic and student services at Camden County College. Gaba was working as the provost of Union County College when Atlantic Cape reached out to say they had an opening for the college president, and they wanted her to apply.

“I wasn’t looking to leave my job, so I told them no,” says Gaba. “But they called me back the day before their search closed to ask one more time, and I decided to give it a shot. When I went in for the interview, it ended up just being a conversation. It was a natural fit.” The fact that she didn’t set out to become a college president – or ever considered it – is what makes this position so meaningful, she says.

“I work every day to improve the lives of our students and members of our community through education. Serving a diverse student population, I am committed to promoting a culture that embraces diversity, equity and inclusion. Being in this position provides me the opportunity to model the values our college community holds.”

“It was a confirmation to me that this was where I was meant to end up,” says Gaba. As the first female and the first Black president of the college, Gaba came into the position in 2017 and became a role model for her students right before the nation began taking a critical look at race, she says.

“Many of the students at Atlantic Cape are minorities, and many of them are first-generation college students,” says Gaba. “I work every day to improve the lives of our students and members of our community through education. Serving a diverse student population, I am committed to promoting a culture that embraces diversity, equity and inclusion. Being in this position provides me the opportunity to model the values our college community holds”

That type of leadership has never been more important, she says.

“I feel like I was meant to lead this college at this time, and that’s helped me step up,” says Gaba, “especially when things got hard.”

The past year hasn’t been an easy time to be a college president, she says. When the pandemic hit and schools went remote, the impact to students at Atlantic Cape was significant. Many students were learning skills in industries that were disrupted, like culinary and nursing. Gaba stayed hands-on, making sure to communicate with the entire college community at least once a week and being as transparent as possible.

“This is a big time in their lives,” she says. “I didn’t want anyone to feel like a pandemic was holding them back from achieving everything they could.”

And by all accounts, it didn’t, she says. Atlantic Cape recently held a virtual and drive-by graduation ceremony for their 2021 graduates – which included several high school students who graduated with their high school diplomas as well as an associate’s degree.

“There are a lot of moments I’m proud of in my career, but the most impactful for me is graduation,” says Gaba. “I cry every time just thinking about how hard they worked to be where they are and how much they accomplished on the way. Even after more than 40 years in education, that has never changed.”

What to consider when you’re choosing your higher-education path

Embarking on your higher education journey is an exciting time in your life – and a scary one. Figuring out what to do out of high school is a big decision, but Barbara Gaba has some advice.

Think about what you’re trying to get out of the experience

“Consider if you’re looking for a wider scope of education or if you want something career-specific,” says Gaba. “Community college is great because you can access career development to head straight into your profession, or you can work toward your associate’s degree as a stepping stone to entering a 4-year program.”

Keep cost in mind

College isn’t cheap, but pursuing higher education doesn’t mean you have to bury yourself in student loans.

“Community colleges offer quality education and job training at a much lower cost than other institutions,” she says. “This gives more opportunity to lower-income and first-generation college students who otherwise would not be able to afford tuition.”

Find what sets your heart on fire

“Find a career you love – something that makes you want to come into work every day, something you’d do even if you weren’t being paid for it,” says Gaba. “That’s the type of work that’s going to pull the best out of you.”

atlantic.edu