Joseph L. Cassidy assumed the presidency of Southern Maine Community College on Wednesday, becoming the 11th person to lead the College in its 72-year history.
Cassidy comes to SMCC after serving as president of Washington County Community College for five years. He also simultaneously served as interim president of Eastern Maine Community College in 2015-16.
“I am honored to become the leader of Maine’s largest and most diverse community college,” Cassidy said. “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. We are committed to student success and remaining flexible to meet the changing needs of students and the marketplace.”
Cassidy replaces Ron Cantor as president of SMCC. Cantor, who served for seven years, stepped down as president to work on strategic initiatives for the Maine Community College System.
Cassidy is a graduate of the University of Maine School of Law and has a Master of Science in Education and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Southern Maine. He began his career at WCCC as a faculty member and once served as president of the WCCC Faculty Association and as mayor of the city of Calais.