Asnuntuck Community College President Dr. Martha McLeod has announced that she will retire on June 30, 2013. She has held the top position at the community college, located in Enfield, since 2003.
The outgoing President came to Asnuntuck after serving as the founding President of Bay Mills Community College, a tribal college, located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
McLeod had praise for the college community and praised its student centered culture and nurturing environment. “Asnuntuck has an incredibly talented family of students, alumni, staff, faculty, administrators, foundation board members, advisory council partners, community supporters, and friends who have collectively joined together over the last ten years to polish the jewel that our institution has become,” she said.
She cited the many strengths of the college. “We have the highest graduation rate of the state’s community colleges. We have dramatically increased on-campus enrollment, and we will complete our campus master plan this spring,” she noted.
“Governor Malloy has called our Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center the model for manufacturing technology education in Connecticut," McLeod added. "The Department of Labor has noted that 95% of our MTC graduates are placed in jobs within six months of program completion, with starting salaries that average $55,000 per year.”
The President commented on other recognition the college has received, “We have earned not only ten-year NEASC accreditation but also specialized NAEYC accreditation for our Early Childhood Education program and NIMS accreditation for our precision machining programs.”
She praised other areas of the college. “Our Department of Workforce Development and Continuing Education now offers a dozen Allied Health Programs that qualify students for licenses, state credentials, and national certification, achieving impressive results in job placement for its graduates,” she said.
McLeod reflected on the support the college has received from the community and the college’s Foundation. “The ACC Foundation has awarded over $150,000 in scholarships over the last five years," she said. "Furthermore, the Foundation provided funding to support the creation of our new, state-of-the-art Mac Lab and committed $90,000 to provide additional tutors in the Skill Center.”
McLeod has been and will remain active in her local community, as well as in organizations across the country. She sat on the President’s Advisory Board for Tribal College and Universities from 2003-2011 for both President Bush and President Obama. She is on the Boards of The North Central Chamber of Commerce’s Marketing Committee and The Literacy Volunteers of America. She has served on the Capitol Workforce Partners Workforce Investment Board for two terms and now sits on their Strategic Management Committee. Dr. McLeod sits on the Enfield Economic Development Commission. She has chaired the Town of Enfield’s 10 year Plan of Conservation and Economic Development. She is a member of the AACC Commission on Diversity, a member of Kappa Delta Pi, Epsilon Pi Tau and is a member of Rotary International.
The retiring President said, “After many years in higher education administration, it's time to refocus my attention on a different set of personal objectives. In this next phase of my life, I plan to travel and enjoy more time with my family and friends. I will also continue to serve my community and will offer advice and consultation whenever my support is requested.”
She added, “‘Commencement’ marks the beginning of a new phase in the lives of our graduates. As I commence my journey down the next path of my life, I look forward to the adventures that lie ahead.”