Meet the 2026 Presidential Search Finalists

The following are the three finalists to become Gateway Technical College's next president, replacing outgoing Interim President and CEO Morgan Phillips. Each candidate visited Gateway April 21-22 at a number of forums designated for internal and external groups and then with the Gateway Board of Trustees April 23.

Caron Daugherty

Dr. Caron L. Daugherty began her tenure as Flint Hills Technical College’s seventh president in July of 2021. As president, she appreciates students who choose the community-technical college sector of higher education for their education and career choices. While student access to education drives this mission, it is on behalf of the student that this sector thrives and excels in its ability to collaborate on projects, its drive to develop workforce partnerships, and its commitment to engage with the community – critical actions to advance the success of the student.

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Phillip King

Dr. Phillip King brings more than three decades of distinguished service in higher education, guided by a steadfast commitment to empowering students, faculty, and staff. Over the course of his career, he has served in teaching, service, and executive leadership roles, consistently advancing initiatives that strengthen institutions and expand opportunity. His leadership has driven transformative efforts in strategic enrollment management, the redesign of developmental education, institutional governance, and organizational effectiveness. Dr. King is deeply committed to fostering a culture of co-creation and innovation, working collaboratively with faculty and staff to develop forward-looking approaches that enhance student success, advance workforce education, and ensure comprehensive, holistic support for every learner.

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Veronique Tran

Dr. Veronique V. Tran serves as the Founding Vice Provost of the School of Manufacturing & Industrial Technology at Dallas College, where she leads large-scale, workforce-aligned programs that expand access to high-demand careers and drive regional economic mobility across advanced manufacturing and other applied workforce sectors critical to regional growth. In this role, she oversees multi-campus academic and workforce programs, builds industry partnerships, and advances training models that connect students directly to employment and career advancement opportunities.

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