There was a time when becoming president of a college never crossed the mind of Kathryn Rogalski, the new Grand Rapids Community College president. Once upon a time she was just a young girl living on the north side of Chicago with her parents, thriving in athletics, with education not being at the top of her priority list like most young people.
Playing basketball, softball, tennis, and volleyball, athletics was what Rogalski loved. It was at the foundation of her heart and treasured greatly. Meanwhile, education stood on the sidelines, waiting for its turn to make an impact on her life. Even though Rogalski’s love for athletics was apparent, getting an education was still something that both her parents highly wanted for her.
Rogalski’s parents didn’t go to college, and in fact, her dad didn’t even attend high school, as he went off to the Army at age 16. He married her mother right after returning home. With her dad going on to work full-time and her mom staying home with her, Rogalski was able to benefit from having present and supportive parents at a young age.
“I had parents who were very interested in making sure I was successful,” Rogalski said. “For them, it was really important for me to get my education.”
After high school, and her time in athletics being over, college was next. But with education still not being high on her priority list, that decision came with some bumps in the road. “I wasn’t so successful my first time around in college,” Rogalski said. After two years in school, Rogalski decided to leave college and return home. Giving herself some time to think about what’s next for her life.
But during the hiatus, a life-changing event occurred. Rogalski and her then boyfriend, now husband, Christopher, found out they were pregnant with their first child. A moment in someone’s life that can sometimes cause them to put their big future plans on hold, but this, in fact, drove Rogalski to consider the possibilities that higher education could offer her and the newest addition to her family.
“That’s what really motivated me to go back to college and get my degree,” Rogalski said. She went on to attend Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. Returning to school as a new mom, Rogalski had a new reason and mission this time around. Despite the change in mindset, support from others in the journey was paramount to her success, and Rogalski mentions those people who helped her often. One of them is a faculty member at her school, Ruth Breckenridge Church.
“She really changed the trajectory of my life,” Rogalski said. “I had never really thought about going after anything beyond a bachelor’s degree; a bachelor’s degree was always the goal, but I didn’t know there were any goals beyond that.”
Ruth instilled belief and provided opportunities to Rogalski that catapulted her academic career to heights that Rogalski herself could’ve never predicted. Moments that Rogalski believes changed her life forever.
“She allowed me to do undergraduate research, which allowed me to do things that not every student gets to do,” Rogalski said. “I got to do research, and I published a journal article when I was an undergraduate in college and I got to co-author, and go and present at National Associations with my faculty members, and I got to do that because she gave me opportunities and she believed in me.”
Rogalski goes on to reflect on her husband, Chris Rogalski, who also provided encouragement outside of the classroom.
“He was, always is, and still is, so supportive,” Rogalski said. “When I say ‘this is what I got to do,’ he’s always like ‘alright, what do we need to do to make it happen?’ So I’m very fortunate to have him in my life. When I went back to get my master’s after we got married, I told him, ‘I’m going to quit my job, because I need to go into the master’s program and it’s a full-time program,’ and he was like, ‘Okay, we’ll figure it out.’ And I don’t know that everybody’s partner would be that understanding.”
Love and support also came from the people who desired for her to get her education from the very beginning, her parents. “They were there the whole time, they supported me through childcare, and watched my daughter. Sometimes when I was out of school, and my husband was off work, they would cook us dinner,” Rogalski said. “I was very fortunate to have the support system that I had around me when I went back to school.”
Roglaski was officially announced as the 12th president of GRCC back in December of 2025. From that time to now, a lot of transition has taken place for Rogalski. She formerly served as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Workforce Development at Northeast Technical College in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Relocating, learning her way around campus and a new city, getting to know new people and departments, it can all be overwhelming for most. But for Rogalski, the constant learning has been enjoyable thus far.
“I am having a lot of fun as the incoming president, sometimes I think maybe too much fun,” Rogalski said. “It doesn’t feel like work, I really like it.” Even though Rogalski has found joy in the early stages of her new role, it likely doesn’t compare to the bliss she feels while riding on her horse named Hilde.
“I like to horseback ride, and I’m learning new riding styles, and I have a coach,” Rogalski said. “Hilde is a really pretty horse, really fun, 12 years old right now, and I’ve had her for a little over a year. I started horseback riding when I was little, and then my daughter started riding also.”
As Rogalski is well into her role as president, the work behind the scenes to find her was a detailed and careful process. An approach that GRCC Board Chairperson, Salvador Lopez, believes they got right. “Dr. Rogalski brings the experience, skillset, and leadership to be an outstanding GRCC president,” Lopez said. “Even in the short time she has been in the role, I can already see the positive impact she is having on our campus, and that speaks for itself.”
For the college, having a permanent leader to usher us into a new chapter was the utmost importance for the board. Now with Rogalski as president, Lopez hopes the students and campus community sees a person that is genuinely excited and cares about their success.
“Dr. Rogalski joins GRCC at the right moment for her and for us,” Lopez said. “She is dedicated, genuinely excited, and deeply motivated to make a meaningful difference, both on campus and in our broader community. I hope students see that and feel it.”
GRCC Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Sheila Jones has also been around to see Rogalski in action early on in her new role. Jones saw right away that Rogalski’s level of care for GRCC was where it needed to be for the college to move forward.
“Dr. Rogalski showed great respect for and understanding of the GRCC community as she first stepped into the role,” Jones said. “During her first week, we had the pleasure to join faculty and staff members at the Achieving the Dream (ATD) annual conference, where GRCC was named an ATD “Leader College.” This recognition highlights GRCC’s commitment to teaching and learning excellence.”
“I can’t think of a better way to welcome a new college president than by celebrating on a national stage,” Jones continued. “The dedication of our faculty, staff, and administrators who provide thoughtful care and leadership in every area of this college, from teaching courses, providing student service support, researching how we can do better, and ensuring that our entire campus is a welcoming learning community. In spending time with Dr. Rogalski that week, it was evident that she understands the support our students, faculty, and staff need in order to continue to be the best choice for students in West Michigan.”
With this being Rogalski’s first time ever assuming a presidential role, the title alone can bring some nerves, especially since anyone in her position would want to do a great job at leading an institution. Despite this, the nerves are something that Rogalski welcomes, knowing that it means she’s continuing to grow in new ways.
“I’m not just going out and doing things that I’m comfortable with,” Rogalski said. “I’m always pushing myself to be better, to learn new things. I was nervous during the process of coming into this role, but I’m not uncomfortable in nervous spaces. When I’m nervous, I’m okay with being nervous because I know that means that I’m pursuing something I care about.”
It’s been a long road from the little girl in Chicago who never thought she would be here. When athletics was king, and her educational goals and future had yet to be realized, having no idea that one day people will be calling her ‘President Rogalski.’
With her now knowing how she’d end up, she emotionally reflects on what she would go back and tell her younger self as the new president of GRCC.
“Keep working hard, and keep believing in yourself,” Rogalski said. “You don’t have to do it alone. I think for many years I didn’t allow myself to ask for help because I took it upon myself to make sure I was successful, and I didn’t want to burden anyone else.”
Rogalski continued.
“But what I’m learning coming to GRCC and in my past roles is that it’s better when you do it together.” Rogalski goes on to leave a final note for GRCC students and the campus community as she embarks on her journey as president of GRCC.
“For me, being a president of a college is all about making sure that our students can have the outcomes that are going to support their futures,” Rogalski said. “I believe in the power of education, so right now I get to be in a role where I have an influence over how do we remove barriers for students, how do we support students, and how do we make sure that we have pathways that they don’t even see right now? Like I had that opportunity with the faculty member who saw a future for me that I didn’t see.”
Rogalski concluded, “As president, I’m here to really support students’ educational journeys beyond even where they know they’re going right now. But how can we help them to get to places that are going to transform their lives?”
