Board of Trustees appoints Dr. Lori M. Gonko as Interim President of the College

The Henry Ford College (HFC) Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the unanimous appointment of Lori M. Gonko, Ed.D. as Interim President of the College, pending a contract negotiation with the Board. Gonko currently serves as HFC Vice President of Strategy and Human Resources, where she has led transformative initiatives to enhance student success and institutional effectiveness.

Gonko’s appointment follows the April 23 announcement that President Russ Kavalhuna will leave the College to become President of Western Michigan University on July 1.

“We were fortunate to have many individuals from the college community showing interest in the interim position, and we thank them for their efforts and dedication," said HFC Board Chair Adel Mozip. “The Board of Trustees looks forward to working with Dr. Gonko in advancing student success at Henry Ford College as we’re starting a search for our permanent President.”

Gonko first joined HFC in 2012. She advanced through several leadership roles, and was appointed to her current Vice President role in 2019. She oversees strategic planning, human resources, institutional research and business intelligence, academic advising, and accreditation efforts. She has led or co-led significant initiatives such as the College's strategic planning process, the College’s national accreditation process with the Higher Learning Commission, and major student success efforts.

Gonko holds an Ed.D. in Community College Leadership from Ferris State University, where she also serves as an adjunct professor in the Doctorate in Community College Leadership (DCCL) program. She earned her master's and bachelor's degrees from Oakland University and holds several professional certifications from the Balanced Scorecard Institute, a strategy management group in Washington, D.C.

In recognition of her executive leadership capabilities, Gonko was selected as one of 35 leaders nationally for the 2023-2024 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship, a program delivered in collaboration with the Stanford Educational Leadership Initiative to prepare the next generation of community college presidents.

“I am honored and humbled to have the Board’s unanimous support in appointing me as Interim President,” said Gonko. “Thanks to the outstanding leadership of President Kavalhuna and the Board, the College is in an exceptionally strong position as we begin our next chapter. We are fortunate to have incredible students, a dedicated faculty and staff, a solid leadership team, and many exciting initiatives just ahead. I am fully committed to sustaining our momentum so that we can keep giving our very best to our students and community. As the Board undertakes the important task of selecting the next permanent president, I will do all I can to ensure a smooth transition while keeping student success at the forefront of all we do.”

Outgoing president Russ Kavalhuna expressed his confidence in Gonko’s leadership.

“The Board of Trustees and I are thankful for Dr. Gonko’s willingness to serve in this interim leadership role, during a pivotal time for our College,” he said. “I have had the privilege of working with Lori since 2018. She has the leadership skills to lead our College until a permanent president is selected. I look forward to working with her to create a smooth transition over the next several weeks.”

More information about the Board of Trustees’ plan for a presidential search will be made public as soon as it is available.