Mark Erickson

Mark Erickson 

President 

Northampton Community College 

As president, I serve as the institution’s chief executive, providing leadership and direction to fulfill our mission of ensuring affordable access to a high-quality college education to all those who seek it. 

Until 2012, I was president of Wittenberg University and prior to that vice president for administrative and government affairs at Lehigh University. Some found it unusual that I moved from private higher education to a publicly funded community college. But I realized that much of the most important and innovative activity in higher education would be occurring at or with community colleges. 

We are in the business of transforming lives, oftentimes for those who come from the most challenging backgrounds. That is a powerful responsibility we take seriously and a pretty motivating reason to get up and go to work each day. Be authentic and true to your core values, check your ego at the door, listen with your head and your heart and admit your mistakes. 

For enjoyment, I travel internationally, attend Broadway shows, play tennis and golf, read a good book and spend time with family and wonderful friends. 

This profile is part of Lehigh Valley Business' Higher Education Power 30 list for 2021. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. See the full list at lvb.com or in our digital edition.