Maria College announces the retirement of President Gamble

ALBANY  – Maria College has announced that President Thomas J. Gamble will retire in 2022, after a successful six years at the helm of Maria.

“We’re thankful for the years President Gamble dedicated to the Maria community," said Dr. Mary Jo LaPosta, RN, chair of the board of trustees for Maria College. "Together we were able to advance the college toward our vision of excellence. We wish Tom the best in his retirement and plan to continue with this momentum moving forward."

Gamble had over 30 years of experience in higher education when he was named interim president in 2016, after retiring as president of Mercyhurst University in Pennsylvania. At the time, Maria College was preparing the decennial Middle States Commission on Higher Education self-study and re-accreditation process, which was successfully concluded with reaccreditation in 2019. During Gamble’s time, the Frank E. O’Brien Jr. Student Support Center was launched, providing state-of-the-art and holistic services to Maria students.

“After careful reflection and discussion with the board, I have decided that it is time for me to rejoin my retirement,” Gamble said. “Over the past five-plus years, working in partnership with the board of trustees, the senior leadership team, our faculty, and our staff, we’ve steadied Maria College and created a set of strategic initiatives that open into an exciting future for Maria. I have led Mercy-founded institutions for over 15 years now, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have served Maria College, as part of that Mercy legacy. I know Maria’s best days are still ahead.”

In addition, Maria College made a multi-million-dollar investment in advancing nursing and occupational therapy education through new facilities and equipment. In early 2020, the New York State Board of Regents approved a charter change allowing Maria to offer academic programs at the graduate level, and the first graduate program in Maria’s history, a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, was launched in Fall 2020. 

Further, a campus-wide renewal project was designed, approved by the board and initiated. With strong support from the board’s finance committee, Gamble led the initiative to better analyze and manage Maria’s financial condition. Since July 2016, Maria College’s net assets have increased by $5.8 million or 25 percent.

Prior to his service to Maria, Gamble served as president of Mercyhurst University from 2005-15. As president, Gamble orchestrated elevating the institution to “university status” in 2012. Gamble led the process to create the Sister Joan Chittister Archive at Mercyhurst as well as the Thomas J. Ridge School of Intelligence Studies. Gamble also led the development of Mercyhurst’s only international campus in Ireland.

Maria College will initiate a nationwide search for its next president immediately. For more information about Maria College and its academic programs, visit mariacollege.edu.