In November 2025, Dr. Dawn Lindsay, announced her retirement from Anne Arundel Community College, concluding 13 years of service as the college’s president. Her retirement will be effective June 30, 2026. In an email to the college community, she reflected on her time at AACC.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve alongside such an exceptional community of professionals. The dedication, innovation and unwavering commitment of our faculty and staff to student success have been a constant source of inspiration. Together, we have embraced challenges and opportunities with integrity and creativity, always striving to advance the mission of this remarkable college.”
Additional updates, including information about the appointment of an interim president and opportunities to celebrate Dr. Lindsay’s leadership, will be shared as details become available.
Read the press release announcing Dr. Lindsay's retirement.
As we celebrate the leadership and legacy of Dr. Dawn Lindsay and begin the transition to our next president, we’re committed to keeping our community in the loop every step of the way.
You’ll find updates on the transition process here, including the overall timeline, key milestones and ways to get involved. As details are finalized, we’ll share information about listening sessions and other important moments connected to this transition.
Check back often for the latest news. This is a shared journey for our college community, and we’re looking forward to what’s ahead together.
We’re excited to share that we have selected RH Perry & Associates to lead the search for the next president of Anne Arundel Community College.
The firm has successfully completed nearly 1,100 executive searches and brings five decades of experience to this important work. Our search will be led by experienced executives who are former college presidents. Their firsthand understanding of higher education leadership will help ensure a thoughtful, inclusive and thorough process.
We will share additional details about the search committee, opportunities to engage with the search firm and other key milestones as they become available.
We will share additional details about the search committee, opportunities to engage with the search firm and other key events as they become available.
The search consultants will hold in-person listening sessions on April 13 and 14. They will provide a separate digital platform to collect feedback from the community on expectations and recommendations on the core qualifications and leadership attributes needed to guide AACC forward.
Additional details will be available soon.
Good morning,
On behalf of the board of trustees, I am writing to share an update on the presidential search process.
At last night’s meeting, the board heard a presentation from the selected presidential search firm, RH Perry & Associates. The presenters, former college presidents Dr. Joanne Bashford and Charline Newkirk, will be the lead consultants for the search. They provided a proposed timeline and key milestones Including opportunities for engagement across the college community:
Please keep in mind that these dates are tentative and subject to change. The new Presidential Transition webpage will be updated regularly with announcements and information as the process advances.
We appreciate the engagement and partnership of our college community as this important work continues.
Sincerely,
Nadine Chien, Ph.D., Esq.
Chair, Board of Trustees
Good afternoon,
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to share an update on the presidential search process.
After reviewing all RFP responses, the Board has selected RH Perry & Associates to lead the search for our next college president. The firm will provide a brief introduction at the Feb. 24 Board meeting, which you may attend either online or in person in Cade 219 at 4 p.m.
Additional information is available on the new Presidential Transition webpage. This page will be updated regularly with news, announcements and information as the process moves forward.
While the search for the next President is underway, a parallel process to identify an interim president has also begun. I do not have further updates at this time, but I will continue to keep the college community informed as both processes advance.
Thank you for your continued support as we move forward with this important work.
Sincerely,
Nadine Chien, Ph.D., Esq.
Chair, Board of Trustees
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to provide an update on the presidential search process.
To ensure a fair, transparent and thorough search, the Board is engaging an external search firm. A request for proposals was issued on November 11, with submissions due December 16.
A committee of trustees will review all proposals, interview finalists, and hopefully select the search firm by early February. I would like to thank Vice Chair Price-Jones and Trustee Ulvila for working over the holidays to review search firm proposals to meet this aggressive timeline. Once the firm is engaged, the Board will work with them to establish a clear timeline for the remainder of the search.
I understand there are questions about the presidential transition and how the process will unfold. While this work is still in its early stages, I want to assure you the search will be inclusive and will involve a committee representing key stakeholders, including constituency groups.
I will continue to provide regular updates to keep the college community informed as the process advances and more information becomes available. Thank you for your continued support as we move forward with this important work.
Sincerely,
Nadine Chien, Ph.D., Esq.
Chair, Board of Trustees
ARNOLD, MD, Nov. 5, 2025: Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) president Dr. Dawn Lindsay has announced her plans to retire effective June 30, 2026, concluding a distinguished tenure of more than 13 years of service to the college and community.
During her presidency, Dr. Lindsay guided AACC through a period of exceptional growth, innovation, and achievement. Under her leadership, the college opened the Health and Life Sciences Building and the Clauson Center for Innovation and Skilled Trades, which expanded skilled trades programs, and celebrated the reopening of the Truxal Library, all designed to create spaces that inspire learning and foster connection.
Dr. Lindsay led AACC with compassion and resilience through the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring continuity of learning and safety for students, faculty and staff. Dr. Lindsay established the college’s first Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, championed AACC’s core values, and oversaw two exceptional accreditation reviews.
Under her leadership, AACC earned recognition as one of the top community colleges in the nation, received multiple Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Awards and was named among the nation’s Military Friendly Schools. The college strengthened transfer agreements statewide and nationally, expanded Early College Access Programs, and deepened its engagement with partners such as the Aspen Institute. She is a member of the board of directors for the League for Innovation in the Community College and a board member of the American Association of Community Colleges, which she serves as a member of the Community College Advancement Committee, and member of the National Council of Instructional Administrators.
Most recently, Dr. Lindsay was inducted into the Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame for her lasting contributions to education and community development.
Dr. Lindsay shared the following statement with the college community:
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve alongside such an exceptional community of professionals. The dedication, innovation, and unwavering commitment of our faculty and staff to student success have been a constant source of inspiration. Together, we have embraced challenges and opportunities with integrity and creativity, always striving to advance the mission of this remarkable college.”
Anne Arundel Community College Board Chair Nadine Chien, Ph.D., Esq. stated “The Board of Trustees expresses our deepest gratitude for Dr. Lindsay's many years of visionary leadership and service to Anne Arundel Community College,” and added, “The Board is committed to a fair, transparent, and inclusive search for our next president, supported by an external search firm.”
Dear Colleagues,
When I arrived at Anne Arundel Community College in the fall of 2012, I made a personal and professional commitment that AACC would be the institution where I would ultimately conclude my career. After much reflection, I have decided that I will retire from AACC effective June 30, 2026.
Details regarding the search for a new president will be shared in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I look forward to continuing our important work over the remaining months as we ensure our students achieve their goals.
It has been an honor and privilege to serve alongside such an exceptional community of professionals. The dedication, innovation, and unwavering commitment of our faculty and staff to student success have been a constant source of inspiration. Together, we have embraced challenges and opportunities with integrity and creativity, always striving to advance the mission of this remarkable college.
As I prepare for this next chapter, I do so with immense gratitude and pride. My 13 years at AACC have been among the most rewarding of my career, and I will always look back on this time with deep fondness and appreciation. I have every confidence that AACC will continue to thrive, meeting the future with the same excellence, vision, and resilience that define this outstanding institution.
With sincere thanks and warm regards,
Dawn