President

Bristol Community College (Bristol or the College), one of the leading resources for education and workforce development in southeastern Massachusetts, seeks a strategic, creative, and determined leader to serve as its next President. Whether students are recent high school graduates, new to the English language, juggling family and other responsibilities, seeking specialized career advancement, or returning to college after years away from learning, Bristol offers them the support and guidance they need to thrive. The College’s new President will enthusiastically embed themselves in the Bristol County community and be motivated by an authentic passion for high-quality, accessible, and affirming education.

Since its chartering in 1965, Bristol has expanded to include four campus locations in the cities of Attleboro, Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton, as well as an extensive portfolio of online learning opportunities. In 2023, Bristol also created the National Offshore Wind Institute (NOWI) on New Bedford’s working waterfront, which has established the College as a global hub for offshore wind health and safety and skill development training. Bristol’s array of career and transfer programs lead to associate degrees in science, arts, and applied sciences, along with certificates of accomplishment or achievement. To maintain the relevance and value of its credit and non-credit programming, the College collaborates directly with industry, community organizations, K-12 public, private, and charter schools, social service agencies, and other colleges and universities.

Over the past several years, Bristol has benefited from proactive leadership, financial stability, and substantial enrollment growth, which is predicted to continue due to statewide policies significantly expanding access to free community college. MassReconnect, which provides free community college to students aged 25 and older, was passed in 2023, and in July 2024, Massachusetts passed MassEducate, which goes a step further by offering eligible residents of all ages without a bachelor’s degree to attend community college free of tuition and fees. 

Bristol is one of Massachusetts's largest community colleges by enrollment and one of the most affordable. In the spring of 2024, the College enrolled 5,696 students. In FY2023, its unduplicated enrollment was 8,143, and it awarded 909 degrees and certificates. Ninety-seven percent of 2024 graduates would recommend Bristol to others. The College is supported by the Bristol Community College Foundation, a separate yet highly engaged 501(c)(3) entity that raises funds for Bristol’s mission. The College has 105 full-time and 365 part-time faculty and, 259 full-time employees and 74 part-time employees who are non-instructional. In FY2024, the College's operating budget was approximately $90 million.

Bristol’s next President will advance the College’s mission to provide an accessible, innovative, and inclusive education that prepares students to navigate and succeed in an ever-changing world. They will build on Bristol’s recent impressive progress and co-create the next strategic plan focusing on student and community needs, expected enrollment growth, and evolving policy and economic trends. They will foster a college-going culture in Bristol County, invest in faculty and staff, and think creatively about the mix, delivery, and modality of the College’s educational, workforce, and student support programming. The President will effectively advocate for Bristol, connecting the College with the community and collaborating with government, industry, community organizations, donors, and other educational institutions. Reporting to and working closely with the Board of Trustees, the President will ensure Bristol is fiscally, administratively, and technologically sound. They will advance diversity and equity initiatives and foster an inventive, results-oriented, and cohesive culture. 

Interested candidates should review the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education Guidelines and Procedures for the Search, Selection, Appointment, and Removal of State University and Community College Presidents. The application process will be confidential through the first round of interviews, which are currently scheduled to take place in the fall of 2024. After the first round is concluded, the search committee will recommend to the Board of Trustees three to five finalists for consideration. Finalists will be invited to campus for a series of open meetings with various constituencies in the fall. The Board of Higher Education and the Commissioner of Higher Education will have the opportunity to interview finalists as part of the campus visit process. Following the campus visits, the Board of Trustees will vote in open session to recommend to the Board of Higher Education the appointment of a single candidate as President. The Board of Higher Education must approve the appointment, compensation, and all terms and conditions of employment for the President.  

Bristol fully respects the need for confidentiality and assures interested parties that their background and interest will not be discussed without the consent of the applicant prior to them becoming a candidate.

All inquiries, nominations, and applications (including CVs and two- to three-page letters of interest describing relevant experience relating to the opportunities, challenges, and qualifications outlined in the full position profile) should be directed in strict confidence electronically below. Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted. To be assured full consideration, please submit materials by Friday, September 27.

Donna Cramer is leading this search with Tatiana Oberkoetter.

Bristol Community College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran or military status, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and college policies. The College prohibits sexual harassment, including sexual violence. Inquiries or complaints concerning discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or sexual violence shall be referred to the College's Title IX Officer, Emmanuel Echevarria, at diversitytitleix@bristolcc.edu or 774.357.2682; the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination; the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission; or the United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.