Statement from Monroe County Community College President Dr. Kojo A. Quartey on the Passing of Founding MCCC President Dr. Ronald Campbell
We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing yesterday, February 2, 2025, of Monroe County Community College’s founding president, Dr. Ronald Campbell, after a brief hospitalization. Dr. Campbell was just shy of reaching his 100th birthday.
Dr. Campbell was a World War II veteran and earned a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University, master’s degree from the University of Detroit and doctorate from Wayne State University. He began his career in higher education at Henry Ford Community College (HFCC) in Dearborn as a biology instructor and eventually became vice president of instruction.
As an instructor, Dr. Campbell had a reputation, according to his lifelong friend and successor, the late MCCC President Emeritus Gerald D. Welch. He was thorough, fair and had a sense of humor. He was willing to spend time with his students. It was at HFCC that he honed his leadership skills. He also inherently possessed several essential qualities of leadership, according to Welch – integrity, perseverance and fidelity. These traits were reflected early on and they were engrained deeply into the character of Dr. Campbell when he transitioned to become the first president of MCCC at the young age of 39.
The MCCC Board of Trustees’ charge for Dr. Campbell was clear:
Build a brand new community college from scratch with a strong program for students wishing to transfer to four-year colleges or universities, post-secondary vocational courses for those pursuing an associate degree, a strong complement of student services and a wealth of cultural opportunities for the community.
It was no small task, but Dr. Campbell was up to the challenge.
He hired administrators, faculty and support staff, led the development of curriculum and support services and put into place policies and procedures to run the college. As architects designed the buildings and grounds for the new campus on South Raisinville Road in Monroe Township in consultation with the staff, MCCC opened in a temporary location at 2 East Front Street in the city of Monroe.
Classes began at Ida High School on September 6, 1966 with an enrollment of 469 students. Phase 1 of campus construction was completed in February 1968; however, classes began earlier in the two technology buildings – known today as Founders Hall – as more than 1,000 students started Fall Semester at MCCC.
Over the next two decades, Dr. Campbell worked diligently to carry out MCCC’s mission. The college’s many thousands of graduates
became judges, welders, dentists, attorneys, electronic technicians, nurses, educators, accountants and more. Many chose to remain in Monroe County to live, work and contribute to the community.
On October 16, 1988, the Board of Trustees dedicated the facility that is the focal point of campus – a two-story building at the front of campus that contains classrooms, faculty offices and the library – as the Campbell Learning Resources Center in his honor.
On August 12, 2022, the Board of Trustees rededicated that facility, which was renovated and expanded to meet the evolving needs of MCCC students, as the Campbell Academic Center, and Dr. Campbell was in attendance. A permanent display near the west entry to the building was unveiled that honors Dr. Campbell.
Dr. Campbell’s leadership provided guidance and direction for the college’s leaders who followed him. He was passionate in his belief that the college belonged to the citizens of all ages and walks of life who used its services. He called it a “citadel of learning for the residents of Monroe County” – and we continue to carry on his legacy of serving these constituents.
We are forever grateful for his perseverance, integrity and dedication to Monroe County Community College and the community. He left an indelible impression on all of us.
Dr. Campbell always spoke of MCCC as the community’s college – that’s why he built it. We are humbled to follow in his footsteps. With that, I leave you with one of my favorite Dr. Campbell quotes and a quote about him from Dr. Welch.
“In short, Monroe County Community College is your college, Mr. and Mrs. Citizen. You created it, you support it, you use it. That’s why we’re here, and that’s why we operate with you in mind.” – Dr. Ron Campbell
“Ralph Waldo Emerson said: ‘An institution is the lengthened shadow of one man.’ And so it is. Dr. Ronald Campbell is the Emersonian man of Monroe County Community College.” – Gerald D. Welch, MCCC President Emeritus
Our deepest condolences go out to Dr. Campbell’s entire family.
