Barbara Gellman Danley

Barbara Gellman-Danley

Chair

President
Higher Learning Commission

Barbara Gellman-Danley, Ph.D., assumed the presidency of the Higher Learning Commission in 2014. Previously, Gellman-Danley was the president of University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College, vice chancellor at the Ohio Board of Regents, president at Antioch University McGregor, vice president at Monroe Community College, and vice chancellor at the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Her past involvement with the Higher Learning Commission includes serving as a peer reviewer for 10 years. Gellman-Danley has served on several boards and commissions, including the Association of Governing Boards (AGB) Council of Presidents, the American Council on Education (ACE) Commission on Education and Attainment, the Council on Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) board, and the ETS National Community College Council. As president at two institutions, she served on the boards of local Chambers of Commerce and economic development groups. Gellman-Danley has consulted at over 30 institutions on strategic planning, the role of technology in higher education, distance learning and related topics. Gellman-Danley holds a Bachelor of Science from Syracuse University, a Master of Library Science from Simmons College, a Master of Business Administration from Oklahoma City University, and Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Oklahoma. She also did post-graduate work at New York University and earned continuing education from Cornell University, Harvard University, and the University of Chicago. Gellman-Danley earned her credential as a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (IPEC) in 2016, as well as certification as an Energy Leadership Index-Master Practitioner (assessment tool). Combined with her doctoral training in communication, her focus is executive coaching.

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