Presidential Search
Katherine Bracey Lorenzo, chair of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee and the Macomb Community College Board of Trustees, has announced that the committee has referred three candidates to be interviewed by the college’s board.
The 14-member Presidential Search Advisory Committee was comprised of representatives from the college’s board, employee groups, students and community members representing partner organizations in key industry sectors.
Community Forums / Interviews with Board of Trustees
- Tuesday, March 3: Elizabeth Argiri
- Wednesday, March 4: Lori M. Gonko
- Thursday, March 5: Charles K. Lepper
9:30 - 10 a.m. Community Forum
John Lews Student Community Center (K Building) Room 324,
South Campus, Warren
7 p.m. Macomb Community College Board of Trustees Interview with Candidate
7 p.m. Macomb Community College Board of Trustees Interview with Candidate
University Center, Lecture Hall B, UC1
Center Campus, Clinton Township
Elizabeth (Libby) Argiri, MBA, CPA
Elizabeth (Libby) Argiri Biography
Elizabeth (Libby) Argiri serves as the executive vice president, Administration, at Macomb Community College and as treasurer of the Macomb Community College Foundation. A mission-driven community college leader with more than 20 years of progressive executive leadership experience, Argiri has built her career around advancing access, strengthening operations and supporting student success. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in integrative management from Michigan State University, and she is a certified public accountant (CPA).
Throughout her tenure as a vice president, Argiri has provided leadership across a broad portfolio of administrative and operational areas, including finance, budget, grants, facilities and construction, financial aid, information technology, purchasing, health and workplace safety, human resources conference and event services, and risk management. She brings extensive experience in strategic and financial planning and has played a significant role in institutional accreditation efforts, including national accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission. In addition, she has contributed to the academic mission of the college by teaching accounting.
Argiri is also deeply engaged in community and professional service. She currently serves as chairperson of the Michigan Community College Risk Management Authority, treasurer and audit committee chair for Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union, director of Leadership Macomb, director of Connect Macomb, and a task force member for Macomb County’s Blue Economy Initiative. A graduate of Fraser High School, she previously served as a trustee on the Fraser Public Schools Board of Education.
Elizabeth (Libby) Argiri serves as the executive vice president, Administration, at Macomb Community College and as treasurer of the Macomb Community College Foundation. A mission-driven community college leader with more than 20 years of progressive executive leadership experience, Argiri has built her career around advancing access, strengthening operations and supporting student success. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in integrative management from Michigan State University, and she is a certified public accountant (CPA).
Throughout her tenure as a vice president, Argiri has provided leadership across a broad portfolio of administrative and operational areas, including finance, budget, grants, facilities and construction, financial aid, information technology, purchasing, health and workplace safety, human resources conference and event services, and risk management. She brings extensive experience in strategic and financial planning and has played a significant role in institutional accreditation efforts, including national accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission. In addition, she has contributed to the academic mission of the college by teaching accounting.
Argiri is also deeply engaged in community and professional service. She currently serves as chairperson of the Michigan Community College Risk Management Authority, treasurer and audit committee chair for Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union, director of Leadership Macomb, director of Connect Macomb, and a task force member for Macomb County’s Blue Economy Initiative. A graduate of Fraser High School, she previously served as a trustee on the Fraser Public Schools Board of Education.
Lori M. Gonko, Ed.D.
Lori M. Gonko Biography
Dr. Lori M. Gonko is a lifelong community college leader and advocate whose career began at Macomb Community College, first as a staff member dedicated to supporting students, faculty and technical education programs, and later as a student herself. Her early experiences in career and technical education continue to shape her conviction that community colleges are powerful engines of economic mobility and regional prosperity.
Today, she serves as interim president of Henry Ford College, an institution serving more than 12,000 students across two campuses. Throughout her career, Gonko has remained focused on one central priority: expanding access and improving student success through thoughtful leadership, strong partnerships and a culture of care.
At Henry Ford College, she has helped lead major student success initiatives that contributed to significant gains in graduation rates, strengthened a culture of data-informed decision-making, and co-authored strategic plans centered on closing equity gaps and advancing student achievement. She has successfully guided multiple accreditation reaffirmations and played a key leadership role in securing voter approval of millage renewals, sustaining critical community investment in public higher education.
Gonko holds a Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership from Ferris State University, where she also serves as an adjunct professor in the Doctorate in Community College Leadership program. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Oakland University and is a graduate of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program’s Rising Presidents Fellowship.
Gonko believes community colleges thrive when they listen to all constituents, including students, employees, business and civic partners, and the communities they serve. Her leadership is collaborative and transparent, grounded in the belief that strong colleges are built on trust, shared purpose and an unwavering commitment to student success.
Dr. Lori M. Gonko is a lifelong community college leader and advocate whose career began at Macomb Community College, first as a staff member dedicated to supporting students, faculty and technical education programs, and later as a student herself. Her early experiences in career and technical education continue to shape her conviction that community colleges are powerful engines of economic mobility and regional prosperity.
Today, she serves as interim president of Henry Ford College, an institution serving more than 12,000 students across two campuses. Throughout her career, Gonko has remained focused on one central priority: expanding access and improving student success through thoughtful leadership, strong partnerships and a culture of care.
At Henry Ford College, she has helped lead major student success initiatives that contributed to significant gains in graduation rates, strengthened a culture of data-informed decision-making, and co-authored strategic plans centered on closing equity gaps and advancing student achievement. She has successfully guided multiple accreditation reaffirmations and played a key leadership role in securing voter approval of millage renewals, sustaining critical community investment in public higher education.
Gonko holds a Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership from Ferris State University, where she also serves as an adjunct professor in the Doctorate in Community College Leadership program. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Oakland University and is a graduate of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program’s Rising Presidents Fellowship.
Gonko believes community colleges thrive when they listen to all constituents, including students, employees, business and civic partners, and the communities they serve. Her leadership is collaborative and transparent, grounded in the belief that strong colleges are built on trust, shared purpose and an unwavering commitment to student success.
Charles W. Lepper, Ph.D.
Charles W. Lepper Biography
Charles W. Lepper, Ph.D., is a higher education leader with more than 27 years of experience advancing student success, institutional effectiveness and community impact within large, complex community colleges and university systems. Most recently, he served as president and chief executive officer of Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), a multicampus institution serving approximately 20,000 credit and noncredit students annually. In this role, Lepper partnered closely with an elected board of trustees, oversaw a $130+ million operating budget, and provided strategic leadership across academic programs, workforce development, enrollment growth and student support services.
A first-generation college graduate, Lepper brings a deeply personal commitment to access, equity and opportunity. His leadership philosophy emphasizes collaboration, transparency, accountability and shared governance, grounded in data-informed decision-making. Throughout his career, he has led initiatives that resulted in measurable improvements in enrollment, retention and employee engagement, while strengthening institutional culture. He has been a consistent advocate for reducing barriers to student success through expanded basic needs support, transportation and health services and inclusive campus environments, and for embedding inclusion and belonging into college operations through sustainable policies and leadership structures.
Lepper is recognized for his community involvement and advocacy for community colleges. In Michigan, he cultivated strong relationships with local, state and federal leaders, helping secure significant legislative and capital investments, including $16.8 million in state funding for GRCC’s campus infrastructure. Previously, he held senior leadership roles at Salt Lake, Tidewater and Ivy Tech community colleges, and has served as an adjunct instructor at multiple institutions. Lepper views the presidency as a service-oriented role and is deeply committed to ensuring that community colleges—such as Macomb Community College—remain powerful engines of opportunity, economic vitality and social mobility. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University, a master’s degree from Grand Valley State University, a Ph.D. from Indiana State University, and additional credentials from Harvard University and Florida State University.
Charles W. Lepper, Ph.D., is a higher education leader with more than 27 years of experience advancing student success, institutional effectiveness and community impact within large, complex community colleges and university systems. Most recently, he served as president and chief executive officer of Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), a multicampus institution serving approximately 20,000 credit and noncredit students annually. In this role, Lepper partnered closely with an elected board of trustees, oversaw a $130+ million operating budget, and provided strategic leadership across academic programs, workforce development, enrollment growth and student support services.
A first-generation college graduate, Lepper brings a deeply personal commitment to access, equity and opportunity. His leadership philosophy emphasizes collaboration, transparency, accountability and shared governance, grounded in data-informed decision-making. Throughout his career, he has led initiatives that resulted in measurable improvements in enrollment, retention and employee engagement, while strengthening institutional culture. He has been a consistent advocate for reducing barriers to student success through expanded basic needs support, transportation and health services and inclusive campus environments, and for embedding inclusion and belonging into college operations through sustainable policies and leadership structures.
Lepper is recognized for his community involvement and advocacy for community colleges. In Michigan, he cultivated strong relationships with local, state and federal leaders, helping secure significant legislative and capital investments, including $16.8 million in state funding for GRCC’s campus infrastructure. Previously, he held senior leadership roles at Salt Lake, Tidewater and Ivy Tech community colleges, and has served as an adjunct instructor at multiple institutions. Lepper views the presidency as a service-oriented role and is deeply committed to ensuring that community colleges—such as Macomb Community College—remain powerful engines of opportunity, economic vitality and social mobility. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University, a master’s degree from Grand Valley State University, a Ph.D. from Indiana State University, and additional credentials from Harvard University and Florida State University.