November 26, 2012

Kennebec Valley Community College president to be named Wednesday

By Matt Hongoltz-Hetling mhhetling@mainetoday.com
MaineToday Media

The name of Kennebec Valley Community College's new president is scheduled to be released Wednesday.

Three finalists were identified during a national search, the third undertaken by the Maine Community College System in an effort to find a successor for Barbara Woodlee, who has held the position for 28 years.

Woodlee first announced plans to retire in 2010, but two searches failed to find a successor, prompting her to delay her retirement.

John Fitzsimmons, president of the Maine Community College System, will make a recommendation to the board of trustees at its regularly scheduled meeting in Presque Isle.

The finalists were announced in October.

Charles Collins, of Portland, is a Thomas College graduate and state director of the community college system's Early College for ME program. The program helps to transition high school students to college through scholarships, advising and early college courses.

Richard Hopper, of Westport Island, is a senior education specialist for the World Bank, an international organization dedicated to combating global poverty.

William A. Nevious, of Derry, N.H., was president of Chester College of New England, a Chester, N.H., liberal arts college that closed in May.

Woodlee's most recent accomplishment as president has been a dramatic campus expansion that began early this year, when the college purchased 700 acres from Good Will-Hinckley on U.S. Route 201. Good Will-Hinckley, a residential school founded in 1889, closed in 2009 for financial reasons. It opened the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences in September 2011.

Matt Hongoltz-Hetling -- 861-9287
mhhetling@centralmaine.com

Were you interviewed for this story? If so, please fill out our accuracy form

Send question/comment to the editors




Further Discussion

Here at KJonline.com we value our readers and are committed to growing our community by encouraging you to add to the discussion. To ensure conscientious dialogue we have implemented a strict no-bullying policy. To participate, you must follow our Terms of Use.

Questions about the article? Add them below and we’ll try to answer them or do a follow-up post as soon as we can. Technical problems? Email them to us with an exact description of the problem. Make sure to include:
  • Type of computer or mobile device your are using
  • Exact operating system and browser you are viewing the site on (TIP: You can easily determine your operating system here.)


Most…