Dr. Chris Reber
President, Hudson County Community College
Dr. Christopher M. Reber has devoted his entire 40-year career to higher education. On July 1, 2018, he became the sixth president of Hudson County Community College (HCCC) in New Jersey. Located in one of the most densely populated and diverse areas of the United States, HCCC serves more than 18,000 credit and noncredit students and 1,000 employees annually on three urban campuses near New York City.
Dr. Reber is leading and supporting the College’s engagement in local, regional, and national partnerships that support life-changing opportunities for students and the community. He is committed to transparency and the full participation of students, faculty, staff, and community members in the life of the College. His leadership priorities include student success, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Prior to arriving at HCCC, Dr. Reber served as president of Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) near Pittsburgh, PA, where he led new initiatives in support of a student-centered learning environment; strategic enrollment management; regional partnerships; and a culture of planning, assessment, and improvement.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Reber served for 12 years as Executive Dean of Venango College of Clarion University of Pennsylvania. He led the achievement of record-breaking enrollments and supported the development of new programs and stackable credentials including certificates, associate degrees, applied baccalaureates and graduate degrees. Dr. Reber led the development and approval of Clarion University’s first doctoral degree in nursing practice.
Dr. Reber’s career also includes 18 years at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, where he served as the Chief Development, University Relations and Alumni Relations Officer during a successful $50 million capital campaign; and as Chief Student Affairs Officer during a period of significant college growth. He also led continuing and cooperative education programs at Lakeland Community College near Cleveland, Ohio, in the late 1980’s.
Dr. Reber holds a bachelor’s degree from Dickinson College, where he graduate Summa Cum Laude and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa; a master’s degree from Bowling Green State University, where he was named “Graduate Student of the Year;” and a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. He also holds a post-graduate certificate from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.
