Northampton County Community College has named David Ruth as its fifth president. Ruth’s appointment follows a national search which attracted qualified candidates from as far away as Utah, Florida, California, Illinois and Oklahoma.

Outgoing NCC President Mark Erickson. Erickson plans to retire at the end of June.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with our selection,” said NCC Board of Trustees Chairman Robert Fehnel. “We felt Dave in many ways was uniquely qualified to be our next president. As a community college graduate, he identifies with our students and their needs; as someone who has worked at NCC in an executive role, he well understands the heart and soul of our college; and as someone who has been part of the leadership team at a major university (Drexel), he brings a fresh perspective that will forge our successful future.”

“This is such a special place with so many great past achievements and so many outstanding opportunities,” said Ruth. “It is a college of possibilities, of incredible promise, enormous potential and a depth of talented, truly committed people that are the life blood of NCC.

“I am honored and excited to lead NCC as its next president.”

Ruth said he owes a debt of gratitude to outgoing President Mark Erickson for his work in shaping NCC into what it is today. “He has left an enduring legacy that has made NCC one of the nation’s community college jewels,” he said.

That legacy includes one of the largest endowments of any community college in the nation, having more than doubled in the last decade to $86 million.

Ruth earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Frostburg State University, a master’s degree in secondary education and mathematics from Lehigh University, and a Ph.D. in educational leadership from Drexel University.

He flourished during a 23-year career at Drexel that included an 11-year stint as dean of students and chief student affairs officer. Ruth also served on the President’s Executive Council and Provost’s Council of Deans.

He joined Northampton Community College as vice president and chief of staff in 2016. In his role, he serves as chief adviser to the president while directing strategic planning, institutional research, planning, government and community relations, diversity, equity and inclusion efforts as well as global education and international student services.

Ruth will begin his role as NCC president July 1. He and his wife, Christine, have four children: Nick, 22; Nate, 18; Abby 16; and Andy, 13.