Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner has named Gregory Ebner, Ph.D., as assistant commissioner, academics and student affairs.
Dr. Ebner comes to the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner with a broad background in higher education administration. A retired brigadier general of the United States Army, Dr. Ebner served on the Academic Board of the United States Military Academy, West Point, where he also led a team of 60 staff and faculty members as the head of the Department of Foreign Languages. Most recently, he taught undergraduate students in the classroom at the University of Rhode Island during the 2022-2023 academic year.
“Dr. Ebner’s academic qualifications and experience stood out among all the candidates, and we’re pleased to welcome him to the higher education office,” said Rhode Island Postsecondary Commissioner Shannon Gilkey, Ed.D. “As higher education faces unprecedented and historic challenges, we are fortunate to have Dr. Ebner to help lead us through academic policies and programmatic solutions that will improve the delivery, accessibility, and affordability of college.”
Dr. Ebner champions not only students, but also educators, to reach their full potential, and as Rhode Island explores pathways to develop and sustain a successful workforce in a changing landscape, he remains hopeful in directing efforts to use higher education as a tool to improve the lives of all Rhode Islanders. As assistant commissioner, he will have direct oversight of the education financial strategy and public investment in postsecondary education to include Rhode Island Reconnect. He will also be responsible for budgeting, expenditure control, strategic financial planning, and program evaluation within the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner.
“I am honored to serve Rhode Island in the effort to advance the state through education,” said Dr. Ebner. “In working with the talented people who are helping our Rhode Island communities to learn and grow, I look forward to building educational bridges that will support and creatively impact everything we do.”
Dr. Ebner earned his doctorate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan. He graduated from the Defense Language Institute in California and is an aerospace engineering graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. In addition to teaching at the undergraduate level, Ebner led West Point’s department of eight world languages as well as the ESL program for international students. His focus centered on faculty development and student success across multiple pillars. Additionally, he orchestrated lasting academic institutional governing efforts and served on the undergraduate admissions committee.
