In 2013, Jerry Sue Thornton retired as president of Cuyahoga Community College after 21 years at its helm. During her tenure, Tri-C added two corporate colleges, a campus in Westlake and a center in Brunswick, and developed a partnership with Case Western Reserve University that made it easier for Tri-C students to transfer. Before arriving in Cleveland in 1992, Thornton served as president of Lakewood Community College, now known as Century College, in Minnesota. She began her community college career in 1971 as an English faculty member at Triton College near Chicago, becoming dean of academic affairs. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin and her M.A. and B.A. from Murray State University.

Thornton is a director of American Greetings Corporation and Applied Industrial Technologies Inc. She serves as a board member of United Way of Greater Cleveland, Greater Cleveland Partnership and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.