FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 6, 2020
Contact: Shannon Reid 603-230-3504
[email protected]
SUSAN HUARD NAMED INTERIM CHANCELLOR FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
Recently Retired President of Manchester Community College Will Serve as Transitional Leader of Community Colleges; Interim MCC President Brian Bicknell Appointed Permanent Leader of Manchester Community College
CONCORD, NH— When Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) Chancellor Ross Gittell leaves to take over a new position in higher education outside of New Hampshire, a familiar face will assume temporary day-to-day leadership in Concord. Dr. Susan Huard was selected by the CCSNH Board of Trustees to serve as Interim Chancellor when Dr. Gittell departs this spring. Huard is expected to serve for approximately one year while the Board conducts a search for a permanent replacement.
“During these uncertain and challenging times, it is critical for CCSNH to have a leader with proven skills who can guide the college system,” said Jeremy Hitchcock, Chair of the Community College System Board of Trustees. “Susan’s exemplary leadership as the President of Manchester Community College and her expertise in key aspects of NH’s educational and workforce landscape gives us complete confidence that the system will be in very capable hands.”
Dr. Huard retired from MCC in December, after nearly a decade of a distinguished tenure at MCC marked by consistent growth of student enrollment, increased graduation rates and an unprecedented expansion of programs. She ushered in a number of new programs at the Manchester campus in coordination with NH employers, including the launch of a new HVAC/Electrical Technology facility, and a partnership with Eversource which enabled the college to meet workforce needs in the utilities sector. During her tenure, she also was called upon by the trustees to serve as interim President of Great Bay Community College during a search for a permanent replacement in 2018.
“Susan stands out as an exceptionally capable leader who is deeply familiar with the operations of individual campuses and the workings of our system leadership, and I am confident she will lead CCSNH well during the next phase of the system’s evolution,” said CCSNH Chancellor Ross Gittell.
“The success of community colleges is due to leaders who constantly ask themselves, “What else can we do for our students and for our community?” said Huard. “This question will be the underpinning of every decision we make to see the system through these turbulent times.”
The Community College System Board of Trustees has also named Dr. Brian Bicknell President of Manchester Community College, effective immediately. Bicknell had been in the post on an interim basis since January 1. A search for a permanent appointment resulted in the selection of Bicknell as the unanimous choice. “We quickly saw that Brian has proven his ability to take charge, act quickly, work well and effectively with senior system leadership, be empathetic to staff, faculty and students and to adjust course as needed in these ever-changing circumstances,” said CCSNH Board Chair Jeremy Hitchcock. “The board felt it was important to have permanent leadership in place as soon as possible given these unique circumstances, and we were pleased to see such a strong recommendation from the search committee.”
“I’m honored by the vote of confidence from the CCSNH trustees,” said Bicknell. “The coronavirus pandemic has created a number of urgent challenges, and I am deeply proud of MCC’s service to our students and the community.”
Before becoming interim President, Bicknell served as Vice President of Academic Affairs at MCC for three years. He led a variety of initiatives working closely with faculty and staff and colleagues across the Community College System. During this time, the graduation rate at MCC more than doubled. Bicknell understands the challenges that MCC faces and is poised to continue building upon institutional successes.
About The Community College System of New Hampshire: The Community College System of NH consists of seven colleges, offering associate degree and certificate programs, professional training, transfer pathways to four-year degrees, and dual-credit partnerships with NH high schools. The System’s colleges are Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth and Rochester; Lakes Region Community College in Laconia; Manchester Community College; Nashua Community College; NHTI – Concord’s Community College; River Valley Community College in Claremont, Lebanon and Keene; and White Mountains Community College in Berlin, Littleton and North Conway. The seven community colleges in the system are committed to working with businesses throughout the state to train and retain employees to develop a robust workforce across all sectors and embraces the “65 by 25 Initiative,” which calls for 65% of NH citizens to have some form of postsecondary education by 2025 to meet future workforce demands. For more information, visit www.ccsnh.edu.
About Manchester Community College:
Manchester Community College is part of the Community College System of New Hampshire and offers more than 65 associate degree and certificate programs for transfer and career preparation in the areas of: Arts, Humanities and Communication; Business; Education, Social and Behavioral Science; Health Science and Services; Industry and Transportation; and STEM and Advanced Manufacturing. MCC also offers non-credit professional and workforce development, and customized corporate training. For more information, visit www.mccnh.edu.
