'A special place in my heart': GateWay Community College selects new president

Sasha Hupka, Arizona Republic
·2 min read

After more than two years as the interim president of GateWay Community College, Amy Diaz will take on the role permanently, officials said Wednesday.

Diaz was selected after a nationwide search and won out against three other finalists for the position.

Diaz will serve as the school's first permanent appointee to the role in years. She replaced former interim President Maria Wise, who retired in January 2021.

Diaz is assuming the permanent role as the college strives to expand workforce programs, according to Maricopa County Community College District Chancellor Steven Gonzales. The district, which operates 10 colleges including GateWay, has seen drops in enrollment in recent years.

Gonzales, who was the last permanent president of GateWay before he was appointed interim chancellor in 2020, said he is confident Diaz will rise to the occasion.

“Dr. Diaz’s impressive dedication and ethical stewardship are inspiring," Gonzales said. "For over two years, she has led GateWay Community College with integrity, focus, and compassion, driving success and reinforcing our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion."

Diaz said she is excited to get started.

“GateWay Community College holds a special place in my heart," Diaz said. "It is where I serve students, faculty, and staff to ensure we meet our mission of educating the community and changing lives."

Revisit the finalists: Finalists for GateWay Community College president to take questions from public

Who is Diaz?

Before stepping in as Gateway's interim president, Diaz was the college's vice president of academic affairs.

She has almost 30 years of experience in community college leadership, including serving as the vice president of student development at Rock Valley College in Illinois, where she worked for 22 years before moving to Arizona in 2016.

She holds a doctorate in educational psychology and a master's degree in counseling for higher education from Northern Illinois University, as well as a bachelor's degree in secondary math education from the University of Iowa.

Sasha Hupka covers higher education for The Arizona Republic. Do you have a tip on Arizona's universities, community colleges or trade schools? Reach her at sasha.hupka@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter: @SashaHupka.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: GateWay Community College selects one of its own as president