ARNOLD, Md. — Dr. Dawn Lindsay, president of Anne Arundel Community College, announced her retirement effective June 30, 2026, marking the end of more than 13 years leading the institution. The decision, shared with the college community on November 5, 2025, reflects a tenure defined by facility expansions, academic advancements and navigation of crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lindsay, the college’s sixth president since assuming the role on August 1, 2012, directed AACC through periods of enrollment fluctuation and infrastructural development. Credit enrollment, which dipped to 10,192 students during the height of the pandemic, rebounded to 17,214 by fiscal year 2025, part of an overall unduplicated enrollment of 29,378 across credit and noncredit programs. Under her guidance, the college opened the Health and Life Sciences Building in 2021, enhancing programs in nursing, cybersecurity and biotechnology. This facility, spanning 92,000 square feet, supports hands-on training in high-demand fields, contributing to the county’s workforce pipeline.
The Clauson Center for Innovation and Skilled Trades followed in 2023, adding 50,000 square feet dedicated to welding, HVAC and advanced manufacturing. These spaces have enrolled more than 1,500 students annually in skilled trades certificates, aligning with regional employer needs in shipbuilding and aerospace sectors around the Chesapeake Bay. The Truxal Library reopened in 2024 after a $12 million renovation, incorporating collaborative study areas and digital archives to promote interdisciplinary learning.
Lindsay prioritized equity and resilience during the 2020-2022 pandemic, shifting to hybrid instruction within weeks of closures while distributing $5 million in emergency aid to 4,000 students. She established AACC’s first chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer position in 2019, leading to four Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Awards between 2020 and 2025. Two successful accreditation reviews by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in 2018 and 2023 affirmed the college’s standards, with the latter highlighting enrollment strategies amid national declines.
Recognitions mounted under her leadership. AACC ranked among the top 150 community colleges nationwide by the Aspen Institute in 2023, crediting transfer pathways that placed 85% of associate degree graduates into four-year programs. The college secured Military Friendly School designation annually since 2017, serving 1,200 veteran students yearly through dedicated advising. Statewide transfer agreements expanded to include 20 Maryland institutions, while national pacts with universities like the University of Maryland facilitated seamless credit movement.
Lindsay deepened ties with the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program, earning a $1 million grant in 2022 for equity-focused initiatives. Early College Access Programs grew to enroll 2,500 high school students, reducing time to degree completion by up to two years. These efforts bolstered AACC’s role in Anne Arundel County’s economy, where the college contributes $1.2 billion annually through alumni earnings and operations, supporting 8,000 jobs.
For Southern Maryland residents, AACC’s reach extends through partnerships with the College of Southern Maryland. A 2023 memorandum of understanding between the institutions targets workforce development in cybersecurity and environmental training, addressing gaps in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties. Transfer agreements allow seamless progression for CSM students into AACC’s health sciences tracks, with 150 Southern Maryland enrollees annually benefiting from shared credentials. Joint events, such as the 2024 Velocity Center workshops in La Plata, have trained 300 participants in emerging skills like renewable energy installation, fortifying the region’s pipeline for naval base expansions at Patuxent River.
Lindsay’s professional path traces back to social work in Harford County, followed by degrees from McDaniel College and a doctorate from Morgan State University. She joined the community college system in 1994, rising through administrative roles before AACC. Nationally, she serves on the League for Innovation in the Community College board, the American Association of Community Colleges’ Community College Advancement Committee and the National Council of Instructional Administrators.
In October 2025, the Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce inducted her into its Business Hall of Fame, citing her role in elevating AACC as a hub for lifelong learning.
Lindsay reflected in her announcement: “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.”
Board Chair Nadine Chien, Ph.D., Esq., responded: “The Board of Trustees expresses our deepest gratitude for Dr. Lindsay’s many years of visionary leadership and service to Anne Arundel Community College.” Chien added that the board will launch a national search using an external firm to ensure transparency and inclusivity in selecting the seventh president.
Community colleges like AACC, founded in 1961 as Maryland’s largest single-campus two-year institution, enroll 14,000 credit students yearly across 150 programs. Lindsay’s era coincides with broader shifts in higher education, including a 15% national enrollment drop since 2010, offset locally by targeted outreach to underrepresented groups. Her emphasis on apprenticeships has placed 700 graduates into county firms annually, from Northrop Grumman to local trades unions.
The search process, set to begin in early 2026, will involve faculty, staff and community input, mirroring Lindsay’s collaborative style. As AACC prepares for transition, its facilities and partnerships stand as testaments to a presidency that bridged academic rigor with regional vitality.
