Anne Arundel Community College President Dawn Lindsay To Retire

After more than 13 years of service to Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) and the area overall, President Dawn Lindsay is retiring next June.

During her presidency, Lindsay guided AACC through a period of 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.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve alongside such an exceptional community of professionals,” Lindsay said in a statement. “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.”

One of those challenges came during the COVID-19 pandemic, as Lindsay ensured continuity of learning and safety for students, faculty and staff. She 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, Lindsay was inducted into the Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame for her lasting contributions to education and community development.

“The Board of Trustees expresses our deepest gratitude for Dr. Lindsay’s many years of visionary leadership and service to Anne Arundel Community College,” said Anne Arundel Community College Board Chair Nadine Chien. “The board is committed to a fair, transparent, and inclusive search for our next president, supported by an external search firm.”