Mary Ellen Jukoski Selected as President of Three Rivers Community College

President Gregory Gray of the Board of Regents for Higher Education announced today that Mary Ellen Jukoski, Ed. D.  has been selected as the next President of Three Rivers Community College. The selection was made after consideration of over 90 applicants for the position. Dr. Jukoski will succeed Dr. Grace Sawyer Jones, who will retire when Dr. Jukoski’s appointment becomes effective.

Mary Ellen Jukoski

"I am very pleased that Dr. Jukoski has been selected as the successful candidate for President of Three Rivers Community College,” President Gray said following her selection. “The decision was in large part based on the vision Dr. Jukoski conveyed for the college and the community during her interview process. It’s clear Dr. Jukoski is strongly committed to creating a diverse learning community for the students, providing a rigorous liberal arts foundation with a global perspective, and assisting students in gaining life management skills to prepare them for professional success.”

Dr. Jukoski impressed the selection committee and the Board of Regents as an energetic, action-oriented administrator with substantial higher education administrative experience. This breadth made her a compelling choice, and brought extra value to her candidacy. 

“The value of a community college education has never been more important than it is today,” Dr. Jukoski said. “In fact, my passion in higher education has been providing access to education for first generation students and adult learners of all ages. I welcome the opportunity at Three Rivers to work collaboratively with faculty, staff and students to partner with the community to expand the mission of this vitally important community college in our region.”

“I am exceedingly pleased with the choice of Mary Ellen Jukoski as President of Three Rivers Community College,” said Nicholas Donofrio, Chairman of the Board of Regents. “Dr. Jukoski has demonstrated a remarkable record of success in both state funded public university systems and in independent higher education institutions, and we are confident she will have a strong and enduring impact on Three Rivers.”

A graduate of College of St. Rose, Albany, NY (B.A., cum laude; M.A.), Dr. Jukoski also earned an M.S. at State University of New York. She received her Doctorate in Education from The University of Memphis in Memphis, TN. 

Dr. Jukoski began her academic career as Assistant Dean at Empire State College, Saratoga Springs, NY.  Next, she became Assistant Executive Dean, World University-Miami in Florida.  Following her tenure there, she held three positions at the University of Memphis, ending as Associate Director of the National Institute of Mental Health Federal Grant Project. Her next position was with Loretto Heights College in Denver, CO as Director of the University Without Walls Program. Next, she held successive positions as Dean of Continuing Education and Assistant Vice President for Academic Institution at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.  She left Sacred Heart to become Academic Vice President and Dean of the College at Mitchell College, and became its Acting President and Academic Vice President. She capped her career at Mitchell by becoming its President. Along the way, she has also held numerous higher education teaching positions at those schools.

Throughout her career, Dr. Jukoski has received an impressive list of honors and awards, and has been appointed to numerous board positions. She has been published extensively, including “Understanding the Adult Learner: How Universities Get Rid of the Peter Pan Syndrome in the Classroom,” published in Proceedings of National Conference on the Adult Learner; and “Learning Styles: The Practical Implications of Current Theory,” published in Proceedings the University of Chicago and National University Continuing Education Association Conference, Developing and Teaching Programs for Adults in the Humanities, Arts and Sciences, an Exchange Between Theory and Practice; among many others.