New president starts at Southern Maine Community College

Courtesy / SMCC Joseph L. Cassidy, a seasoned community college president, took office Wednesday as president of Southern Maine Community College.

Write a Comment

By Staff

Joseph L. Cassidy, a seasoned community college president, took office Wednesday as president of Southern Maine Community College.

He replaces Ron Cantor, who stepped down to work for SMCC’s parent, the seven-school Maine Community College System.

Cassidy served as president of Washington County Community College, in Calais, for the past five years, and also was interim president of Bangor-based Eastern Maine Community College from 2015-16. Previously, he was a faculty member at WCCC and president of its faculty association. He also served as mayor of Calais.

Cassidy is a graduate of the University of Maine School of Law, and holds a master’s degree in education and a bachelor’s in history from the University of Southern Maine.

Susan Mingo, previously dean of enrollment management and student services at WCCC and an administrator for 13 years at the school, has replaced Cassidy as president there. She holds a master’s degree in human relations with a concentration in college student affairs from Husson University.

Cantor, who led SMCC for seven years, will now work on “strategic initiatives” for the college system, according to the release.

SMCC, which has campuses in South Portland and Brunswick, has 6,000 students and 40 degree programs.

Cassidy and Mingo will each serve three-year terms, after which the system will determine if new presidents should be named, a previous release stated.

Cassidy is the 11th president to lead SMCC, which was founded in 1946 and is MCCS’ largest school, with an enrollment of 6,000 at campuses in South Portland and Brunswick.

“We have many opportunities ahead of us to provide the education and training that prepares our graduates for bright futures while strengthening Maine’s economy,” Cassidy said.

“We are committed to student success and remaining flexible to meet the changing needs of students and the marketplace.”