The Gateway Community College Foundation is pleased to announce that ConnCORP President and CEO, Paul McCraven, a longtime member of the Gateway Community College Foundation, Inc. (GCCF), was recently elected as chairman of the GCCF Board of Directors.  

McCraven’s longstanding relationship with Gateway Community College and the GCCF includes serving on the Board for the past nine years.  In his role as a community-banking executive with First Niagara Bank (successor to NewAlliance and New Haven Savings Bank), he was instrumental in securing several large contributions for the college in his capacity as chair of GCCF’s major gifts committee.  

McCraven views GCC as “one of the greatest resources New Haven has,” due to its outstanding educational offerings, accessibility and affordability. “Our goal as a Foundation is to continue to help support the diverse student body access and connect with the many programs at Gateway.” 

“The GCC Foundation’s work is a critical resource of support for our students and the college,” said GCC President, Paul Broadie II. "I’m grateful to Paul McCraven for his leadership and look forward to working with him and the Foundation Board as we continue to forge partnerships and find resources to support our students.”  

Previously, McCraven was senior vice president of Community Development at First Niagara Financial Group.  He joined the former New Haven Savings Bank, which later became NewAlliance Bank, in 1997 as vice president of Community Relations.  He was responsible for all aspects of community development and affordable lending activities across First Niagara’s entire footprint.  He also served as president of First Niagara Bank Community Development Corporation and as a board member of the First Niagara Bank Foundation.   

In addition to the Gateway Community College Foundation, McCraven serves on numerous nonprofit boards in the community including Albertus Magnus College, ConnCAT, Market New Haven, Evergreen Cemetery and the NewAlliance Foundation.  He served as a consultant in the development of ConnCORP (Connecticut Community Outreach Revitalization Program) prior to being named president and CEO.  ConnCORP is a community economic development corporation focusing on community revitalization and wealth creation in low-income communities. The company helps stimulate economic activity through real estate development, food businesses and community-based business development.  It was formed by Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology (ConnCAT). 

Paul McCraven holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Hampshire College and an MBA from the Columbia University School of Business.  He also is an associate fellow at Yale University’s Berkeley College.