Provided/Atlantic Cape President Dr. Barbara Gaba and Dr. Pamela Cooper, Learning Disabilities teacher-consultant, Winslow Township Middle School.
MAYS LANDING – Atlantic Cape Community College President Dr. Barbara Gaba was recognized March 27 as the Winslow Township Middle School’s Women’s History Month “Woman of Distinction” during a ceremony at its Atco campus.
“I am truly honored to be named the Woman of Distinction by Dr. Cooper’s class at Winslow Township Middle School,” Gaba said. “I loved sharing my education and career path story towards becoming president of Atlantic Cape with this truly amazing group of students.”
The award presentation was part of a month-long celebration during March recognizing women’s contributions to history, culture and society.
Gaba became the ninth president of Atlantic Cape in January 2017 and the first female and African American president in the college’s 50-year history. Gaba has extensive experience in higher education and she is deeply committed to the mission of the community college to provide affordable educational pathways to ensure student success.
Prior to joining Atlantic Cape, Gaba served as Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at Union County College. She also served as Dean of Academic and Student Support Services at Camden County College and Associate Director of the Office of Board Affairs and Government Relations at the New Jersey Department of Higher Education.
Each year the National Women’s History Alliance designates a theme for Women’s History Month. The 2024 theme celebrates “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion” and recognizes women who understand the need to eliminate bias and discrimination from individuals’ lives and institutions.
Gaba answered questions posed to her by some of the students in attendance before being presented with a plaque and a digital portrait, which was created by Winslow Township Middle School seventh grade student Shyla Fleetwood.
“Dr. Barbara Gaba is an excellent example of a Woman of Distinction. Our self-contained learning language disabilities classes have a combined 32 students who benefited greatly from having her grace our school with her presence,” said Atlantic Cape alumna Pamela Cooper, a learning disabilities teacher-consultant at the Winslow Township Middle School. “We appreciate Dr. Gaba coming here with her soaring personality to fill our students’ minds with challenges and knowledge.”
Women’s History Month has been officially celebrating the contributions women have made throughout the United States and recognizing the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history each March since being passed by the United States Congress in 1987.
