WELLESLEY HILLS, MA (May 18, 2011) – Jonathan Bower, Chair of the MassBay Board of Trustees, announced today that an agreement has been reached with Dr. John O’Donnell to become the fifth President of MassBay Community College, subject to approval by the state Board of Higher Education. This past Sunday, May 15th, during a special meeting, the MassBay Board confirmed that Dr. O’Donnell was the body’s first choice by a unanimous vote.
“The Board of Trustees is thrilled that John O’Donnell is coming to MassBay,” said Chair Bower, who personally conducted the negotiations with the candidate. “We look forward to working with Dr. O’Donnell, who will build on the work of Dr. Carole Berotte Joseph and previous MassBay presidents in helping the College meet the needs of the communities we serve.”
Dr. O’Donnell has served as President of Stark State College in Ohio since January, 2004. A strong proponent of community colleges, he views education – specifically community and technical colleges – as the way to advance students, businesses, and communities.
During his career, he has taught psychology on the associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degree levels; practiced as a counseling and clinical psychologist; and has held leadership positions in community/technical colleges. Previous positions include leadership roles at North Shore Community College in Massachusetts, President of the Regional Campuses of the New Hampshire Community Technical College System, and Commissioner and CEO of the New Hampshire Community Technical College System.
Dr. O’Donnell’s own career was made possible through access to affordable education. He received a B.A. in history from Queens College of the City University of New York and his ME.d. and Ph.D. from Boston College.
The agreement MassBay has reached with Dr. O’Donnell will be forwarded to the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education for their approval. Details about his start date will be made available when they are confirmed.
Massachusetts Bay Community College (MassBay) is an open-access, accredited two-year public educational institution. The College grants associate degrees and certificates in a range of disciplines through its five divisions of academics: the Division of Health Sciences; the Division of Humanities; the Division of Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (S.T.E.M.); the Division of Social Sciences & Professional Studies; and the Division of Transportation & Energy. Offering over 60 academic programs, MassBay serves Boston and the MetroWest communities with locations in Wellesley Hills, Framingham and Ashland (Automotive Technology Center). In 2011, MassBay celebrates 50 years of making a difference in the communities we serve.