WarriorMagazineJanuary2021

Dr. Gregory said he remembers a high school coach once saying “If you put in the work the results will come.” For Gregory and his family, that hard work took them around the state, but the aspiration was always to return home to East Central if the opportunity presented itself. That labor was re- warded when he was named the president of his alma mater. “I have always said that my goals were that when the op- portunity came that I would have amassed the experience and knowledge to fulfill the role of college president. The op- portunity to lead this institution was always the absolute pin- nacle in terms of goals. I knew 10 years ago that in order to prepare myself for this opportunity that I would have to do the most difficult thing and that was to leave. It was always with the thought of making myself better so that if this op- portunity became available I would be prepared to give ECCC the leadership it deserves. The experience that I garnered while working at community colleges in different areas of the state has given me a perspective that while we must strive to maintain the traditions that make us special we should also

than it is currently. At then end of the day that’s what we should all be striving for, to make ECCC the best it can be for everyone. “I would hope that individuals see me as someone who loves this institution and wakes up every day striving to make it better for all stakeholders. Consistency combined with those feelings are what will make the difference in the long run for ECCC. I hope that people see I wake up everyday trying to accomplish something that makes ECCC better. If I can do that over the next several years coupled with the work of our team, we will look back and have accomplished our goal of making East Central Community College a special place.” One of the first items of business for Dr. Gregory is establishing a new strategic plan for the college. The most recent plan will be completed at the end of this year and the new president said he looks forward to working with staff, students and community stakeholders to develop a new road map for the future that will continue to ensure the success of

East Central and its students. “As we develop our new stra- tegic plan for the college, it is critical that we involve all stake- holders within our district,” Dr. Gregory said. “Students, faculty, staff, and individuals from all as- pects of our community will have input into the path we will set forth upon. A continuing com- mitment to the great accomplish- ments we have made academi- cally will be a key component of our plan. We will also work with our local industry through Workforce Education to enhance the job market within our five- county district. It is important to me that we as a college work with local industry to ensure that our children and grandchildren have the opportunity to continue to live and worship in their local communities.” It is also important to Dr. Gregory for students who attend East Central Community Col- lege to not only accomplish their academic and career goals, but to leave with the same fondness that he did as a student and to always think of East Central as a place to call home.

“ ” Our parents always told us if we worked hard and treated people well, anything in this world is attainable. It sounds simple, but Brent’s work ethic was instilled at an early age. We were taught to work hard in every aspect of our lives, whether it be academics, athletics, or even a summer job. And that translated into his professional life. From coordinating campus programs to running a chainsaw to herding cows, he’s always been determined to do things the right way. But I’m most proud of the person he’s always been. No matter where he’s worked, people have always pulled me aside and raved about his caring personality. East Central has always been special to our family. For him to be able to come back means a lot. He’s driven to do the best for EC because we have so many great memories on the campus. I would be proud of him no matter what, but for him to have this opportunity at a place we care so much about, it couldn’t have been scripted better.

– Bart Gregory, Dr. Brent Gregory’s brother, a 1997 ECCC graduate

“A central tenet of what I am trying to accomplish every day is to give students the opportunity to feel the way I do for this college. You can’t artificially make students care for an institution, it has to be real. I know that while a student and later an employee there were people who helped me change everyday memories into moments. They did that by providing opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom to grow as an individual. That’s what makes ECCC special to so many is those memories and I hope I am assist- ing to continue and improve upon that environment.” Christi Gregory, a 1995 East Central graduate, is a coun- selor at Newton County Elementary School.

strive to get better every day as a college.” Dr. Gregory said the best thing about coming home has been the ability to rekindle the relationships that were built throughout his life, and conversing and working with others to determine how best to continue building and growing the college. “The individuals who are a part of this organization are not only great at their jobs, but truly seem to have the best interests of this organization at the forefront of their thoughts,” he noted. “The reception I have received has been incredible. The familiarity with individuals has led to open and candid discussions on how to make ECCC even better

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