A university administrator from Iowa has been selected as the new president of Northern Maine Community College.
Doug Binsfeld, current vice president for academic and student affairs at Upper Iowa University, will start at the Presque Isle campus in April, system officials said.
Following an interview process that included about 50 national candidates, Maine Community College System President David Daigler recommended Binsfeld for the position. The system’s trustees confirmed the appointment Tuesday.
“Dr. Binsfeld is an outstanding leader with a deep understanding of critical issues facing higher education today,” Daigler said in a press statement. “His commitment to academic excellence and expanding access to underserved communities aligns with our strategic vision, and his experience in workforce development and strategic enrollment initiatives make him an excellent choice to lead the college through the upcoming years.”
Binsfeld will replace longtime NMCC President Timothy Crowley, who served 22 years as president and retired on Aug. 1.
NMCC Academic Dean Angela Buck will continue as interim president until Binsfeld starts.
“I am honored to be selected as president and I’m looking forward to working with the faculty and staff at NMCC to continue the excellent work taking place on campus and in the broader community,” Binsfeld said in a statement.
Binsfeld has been at Upper Iowa University since 2020, and before that was associate vice president of academic affairs at Northeast Iowa Community College.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communication and Spanish from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, a master’s in communications studies from South Dakota State University, and received his doctorate in adult and higher education from the University of South Dakota, according to the Maine Community College System.
Binsfeld has experience in planning for financial sustainability and helping students succeed, system officials said. He has also worked to grow community engagement and enhance faculty and student community.
“I am very pleased to welcome Dr. Binsfeld as the new president of Northern Maine Community College,” said Peter DelGreco, chairman of the system’s board. “I’m looking forward to seeing him apply his experience and expertise as he leads the NMCC community to a bright future.”
The community college opened in 1961 as Northern Maine Vocational Technical Institute, according to the campus history. In 1990 it became Northern Maine Technical College, transitioning to Northern Maine Community College in 2004.
The college operates a learning center in Houlton and also operates off-campus programs, including mechanized logging and commercial truck driving. It serves more than 770 students in 30 different programs.
It is one of seven colleges in the Maine Community College System.
