Gateway Community and Technical College has appointed Dr. Chris Rickels as its new Dean of Business, IT and Professional Studies.
Rickels is a graduate of Thomas More College, holds a master’s degree from the University of Toledo, and earned a Ph.D. from the University of Louisville.
Most recently, Rickels served as Associate Dean and Assistant Professor of Philosophy in the Gateway College of Arts and Sciences. He first joined Gateway in 2015 as Program Coordinator for Communications, Humanities and Foreign Languages.
Dr Chris Rickels (photo via GCTC)
As Associate Dean, Rickels has been influential in the development of numerous academic pathways that provide degree-seeking students with credentials that transfer seamlessly to the institution of their choice.
During his tenure, Gateway’s Arts and Sciences department developed more than 80 academic pathways leading to four-year degrees at Northern Kentucky University, Thomas More University, University of Cincinnati, Mount Saint Joseph University and Cincinnati College of Mortuary Sciences.
During his tenure at Gateway, Rickels was also instrumental in the College’s student success and retention rates. Calculations show Gateway’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has a 57 percent retention rate for the fall 2022 semester (4 percent higher than the national average for community colleges, according to the National Student Clearinghouse).
Rickels’ experience as an educator includes many years as an adjunct professor at Thomas More College and Northern Kentucky University.
Rickels is a published author with numerous recognitions and appearances on academic lectures and educational panels. He is an experienced educator with a strong background in leadership, student success, and people development.
Gateway Community and Technical College