Dr. John Hauser named new president of Gaston College
The Gaston College Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. John Hauser (pronounced Who-zer) as the College’s seventh President. He will assume the position on Monday, June 1.
“The Board of Trustees is confident that Dr. Hauser is the right person to lead our college,” said Brad Overcash, Chairman of the Gaston College Board. “He is a dynamic leader with the experience and the drive to help our College succeed. We are certain he will partner with our faculty, staff, and students to continue to develop the excellent educational opportunities available at Gaston College. Dr. Hauser will help lead our College as we support the citizens of Gaston County, Lincoln County, and the Great State of North Carolina.”
A 15-member committee initially conducted the presidential search. The committee was comprised of members from the Board of Trustees, the College’s faculty and staff, Foundation, Student Government Association, and community members from Gaston and Lincoln counties. Following a rigorous evaluation and selection process that included a series of interviews between December and March, the full Board of Trustees completed the search process. Dr. Hauser emerged as the Trustees’ top choice to serve as the new president.
Dr. Hauser currently serves as President of Carteret Community College, and will bring to Gaston College over thirty years of leadership and administrative experience in the North Carolina Community College System. Prior to his appointment at Carteret, Dr. Hauser spent over 20 years at Wilkes Community College in a variety of leadership roles. He has served as Director of Industry Services; Executive Director, Northwest North Carolina, Advanced Materials Cluster; Dean of Industrial, Engineering and Customized Industry Training; Dean of Advanced Industrial & Health Technologies Division; and lastly Vice President of Applied Career Technologies and Alleghany Center.
In addition to serving in these roles, he also has many years of classroom experience as an adjunct professor and instructor at Appalachian State University and Surry Community College.
Dr. Hauser began his higher education journey by first earning an A.A.S., Drafting and Design Technology, from Surry Community College. He later earned a B.S.E.T., Mechanical Engineering Technology, from University of North Carolina Charlotte; an M.Ed., Training and Development, from North Carolina State University; and an Ed.D., Educational Leadership, from Appalachian State University. He is a Phi Theta Kappa Paragon President and holds numerous leadership certifications from North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina, and the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Institute.
