Oct 7, 2025

The search is underway for the successor to Delta College President Michael Gavin, who will be leaving the position at the end of 2025.

At a special meeting Tuesday afternoon, the Delta Board of Trustees formally accepted Gavin’s resignation, chose Andrea Ursuy as interim president and selected a search firm to help them find a long-term president. 

Ursuy is currently Delta’s executive director of administrative services and institutional effectiveness.

Gavin, whose departure was announced in September, is leaving Delta College for a significant role in developing a national coalition to defend higher education, according to a press release from the college. The specifics of the role have not yet been announced.

“What better position to be in if you have to lose someone in his capacity, than to have them going on to be a continued advocate for higher education,” Board Chair Stacey Gannon said at the meeting.

Following a closed session lasting over an hour, the board unanimously voted to accept Gavin’s resignation. 

The board also unanimously approved a motion selecting Ursuy as interim president beginning Jan. 1, 2026, provided Ursuy signs a contract agreeable to both her and the college. Ursuy told the board that she will not be pursuing the long-term position of president.

“(Ursuy) holds the same qualifications that are required of the position,” said Trustee Michael Rowley. “She obviously does tremendous work for the college. … She’s demonstrated, in my 12 years on the board, undying commitment to this institution, and I give her a leg up because she holds two degrees from Delta College.”

Ursuy told the Daily News after the meeting that she’s honored to take on the temporary role.

“It’s just a transition time for the college, and I think it’s an honor for me to be able to help,” she said.

Ursuy also serves as Delta College’s Freedom of Information Act coordinator, with the college president serving as a backup to whom those filing FOIA requests can appeal. The board voted that should Ursuy be formally hired as interim president, the assistant FOIA coordinator would temporarily serve as the primary FOIA coordinator, with Ursuy as the backup person during her interim presidency.

The board also unanimously selected the Association of Community College Trustees, with whom they have worked in the past, as a search firm to help them find a new president, provided the firm signs a contract agreeable to both parties. 

“What makes them so special, also, is that their whole mission is for community colleges,” said Trustee Michael Wood. “It’s not some generalized headhunter group or anything like that. These people are focused, razor focused, on community colleges.”

Following their discussion of the presidential search process, board members thanked Gavin for his work with Delta. 

“You’ve been amazing, not just for Delta College, but the entire community at large,” Board Vice Chair Arshen Baldwin said to Gavin. “One thing I can say is I’m confident in the trustees, because we did hire Dr. Gavin, so we will hire another suitable president who will continue to carry the torch.”

Source: Delta College president search starts; Ursuy named interim president