Dr. Lori Gonko’s Biography
Lori M. Gonko, Ed.D., joined Henry Ford College in 2012. She advanced through several leadership roles, and was appointed Vice President of Strategy and Human Resources in 2019. In her VP role, she has been responsible for 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.
Her core focus at Henry Ford College is student success. This includes building public and private partnerships, expanding funding and resources for college access, mentoring students, and leading innovations in individualized services for every student on their path to professional and personal success.