Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has appointed a conservator to oversee the closing of Eastern Gateway Community College (EGCC).

According to the release, Fred Ransier will serve as conservator effective August 1 and will manage the college while overseeing the dissolution and closure process.

Earlier this year, the EGCC Board of Trustees voted to withdraw its accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission and dissolve the college after its final semester.

Ransier is a retired partner from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP and has experience as a Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorney. He has also served as a Bankruptcy Trustee for the Southern District of Ohio since 1988.

According to the release, management of the college dissolution and closure process is required to transition from a conservatorship to a five-member Governance Authority within 30 days.

Governor DeWine also named his appointments to the Governance Authority:

  • Kimberly Murnieks - Director of Ohio Office of Budget and Management
  • Mike Halleck - President of the Columbiana County Commissioners
  • Thomas D'Anniballe - Finance Chair of EGCC's Board of Trustees
  • Gregory White - Former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
  • Kimberly Bates-Bozich - Former co-owner of Bozich Food Services and corporate secretary at Bates Amusement Inc.

The Governance Authority will take over the dissolution and closure process on August 29.