Gateway Community and Technical College is celebrating a milestone as Dr. Fernando Figueroa marks 10 years at the helm as Chancellor.
Since taking office in 2016, Dr. Figueroa has positioned Gateway as a central engine for Northern Kentucky’s economic progress and workforce strategy.
Guided by his motto, “Listen, Adapt, and Implement,” Gateway has built strong partnerships with regional employers and expanded high-demand technical programs in advanced manufacturing, IT, logistics, and healthcare.
By providing access to in-demand, high-wage careers, Gateway cuts the cost of higher education in half for transfer-bound students.
“Career readiness is our athletics. That’s our sport, and Gateway gets people hired,” Dr. Figueroa said, highlighting the college’s pragmatic mission.
“Serving our community over the past decade has been one of the greatest privileges of my career. The heart of Gateway has always been our commitment to our students and the economic vitality of our region. As we look to the next decade, we will continue to listen, adapt, and innovate, ensuring every student who walks through our doors is prepared to meet the evolving demands of tomorrow’s workforce.”
During Dr. Figueroa’s tenure, Gateway has achieved a significant transformation across its three Northern Kentucky campuses in Covington, Edgewood, and Florence:
• Record Enrollment and Growth: Driven by career-aligned pathways, Gateway recorded back-to-back years of historic enrollment growth.
• Workforce and Industry Pipelines: The college established deep ties with regional employers to has continued to strategically address critical labor shortages.
• K-12 and Community Alliances: Gateway broadened dual-credit offerings, River Cities initiatives, and Adopt-A-Class programs across local middle and high schools.
• Board of Directors Evaluation: Dr. Figueroa received an “Exceeds Expectations” rating from the Gateway Board of Directors for the 2025–26 academic year. The Board highlighted his strengths in student and employee success, inclusive leadership, strategic thinking, community visibility, advocacy, and workforce responsiveness. The evaluation reflected the Board’s confidence in Dr. Figueroa’s leadership and recognized his continued commitment to effectively advance Gateway’s mission, strategic priorities, and role in the community.
Known across the region as a visionary educator, avid guitarist, songwriter, and fan of comic books, Dr. Figueroa’s collaborative leadership style has earned widespread respect.
“Gateway Community & Technical College is essential to Northern Kentucky’s success, creating opportunity for our residents and the talent our employers need” said Karen Finan, President & CEO of OneNKY Alliance. “For the past decade, Dr. Fernando Figueroa’s leadership has strengthened Gateway’s impact across our region. We celebrate Fernando and thank him for his leadership and commitment to Northern Kentucky.”
“When Dr. Figueroa took the helm ten years ago, he brought a clear vision: make Gateway one of the cornerstones of Northern Kentucky’s economic and personal opportunity” said Kenneth L. Webb, Sr. Regional CRA Development Officer Republic Bank. “Over the last decade, he has turned that vision into reality, leading Gateway to record enrollments, expanding high demand programs in nursing, advanced manufacturing, and uniting partners across Boone, Kenton & Campbell County. What I treasure most is his quick wit, and relentless devotion to lifting people up. I’m proud to call him an extraordinary leader, a vital regional advocate and above all, a trusted friend”
Gateway Community and Technical College
See the feature on Dr. Figueroa as a NKyTribune NewsMaker of the Year 2025