In January of 1979, Dr. George Ayers took up the position of the second President of Massasoit Community College. At 40 years of age, President Ayers had a wide range of experience to bring to the College. After completing his Bachelor of Science degree in 1962 at Western Illinois University, he received both his Masters of Arts degree in Special Education and his Doctor of Education degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Northern Colorado. At the time of his joining the Massasoit Community, he was the author of over forty professional publications and his most recent academic background was as Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs at Metropolitan State University in Minneapolis.
In his State of the College Address in 1979, President Ayers called for diversity, equality of opportunity and commitment to community. “…if the College is to become an educational and cultural center for the people in the greater Brockton community. We need to make the college facilities available to the community and to offer programs and services that would generate support for the college’s existence and programs in the community. The community must be made to feel that it is part of the college, committed to its goals and committed to helping it provide educational opportunities for its residents.” Under Dr. Ayer’s guidance, Massasoit launched several new academic programs, improved the quality of instruction, and achieved a level of funding to support the College’s mission. Massasoit’s position throughout the Commonwealth was advanced as a result of his efforts
In 1982, President Ayers resigned from Massasoit to accept the position of President at Chicago State University. He has served in administrative capacities at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, Central State University, Minnesota Metropolitan State University, Mankato State University, and CASE Western Reserve University.
He established his own consulting firm in 1989, Ayers & Associates, Inc., providing executive search and strategic consulting services to higher education institutions and related organizations. He unexpectedly passed on November 1, 2018 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.