Community College System of New Hampshire
26 College Drive
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 271-2722, (603) 271-2725 Fax
www.ccsnh.edu

Concord, NH - The Board of Trustees of the Community College System of NH (CCSNH) appointed J. Bonnie Newman to be the next Chancellor of the system.  Ms. Newman will succeed Richard Gustafson, who retires this summer. 
Ms. Newman, of Portsmouth, who served in the administrations of two United States Presidents, is a former chief of staff to US Senator Judd Gregg when he served in the US House of Representatives and has a record of leadership experience that spans the public, private and academic sectors over three decades, including serving as interim President of the University of New Hampshire. 
Ms. Newman’s role as Chancellor will be to oversee the operations of the system of seven New Hampshire community colleges, and to work with the CCSNH Board of Trustees to ensure the system fulfills its mission of providing comprehensive, market-driven, accessible, quality programs of higher education that respond to the needs of students, businesses and communities.
Newman accepted the Chancellor post at the Community College System effective August 15.  Upon announcing her appointment, chairman of the CCSNH Board of Trustees Paul Holloway said “The Community College System will be in exceptionally capable hands. Few people in New Hampshire or the nation have Bonnie Newman’s breadth of experience in higher education, business and government, her focus on business and policy advocacy, and her remarkable record of leadership and stewardship.  The Community College System continues to grow and develop as a key resource for NH students and families seeking an affordable, high-quality education and Bonnie Newman will be a tremendous asset at this important time.  We look forward to working with her.” 
 “I am humbled to have this opportunity to help guide the future of the CCSNH,” said Ms. Newman.  “An educated citizenry is essential to the civil and economic future of our State and nation.  The CCSNH provides a high quality and meaningful pathway for tens of thousands of New Hampshire families to pursue their dream of a higher education and improved quality of life.  I am honored to have a part in making those dreams come true and working vigorously with the CCSNH leadership team and business community to ensure that New Hampshire's citizenry and workforce will be among the best and brightest in the nation and the world.”

A search earlier this year for a permanent Chancellor for CCSNH to take over upon Richard Gustafson’s retirement did not yield a final candidate.   Ms. Newman will serve as Chancellor for an indefinite period of time while a search is resumed.

BIOGRAPHY OF J. BONNIE NEWMAN

The former Interim President of the University of New Hampshire, Executive Dean at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and Assistant to the President of the United States, J. Bonnie Newman’s experience spans the public, private and academic sectors.  

Presently, Ms. Newman is a Director of the Lumina Foundation for Education, Gilbane Building Company, Global Relief Technologies, Exeter Trust Company and Exeter Hospital.  She is the former Chairman of the United States Naval Academy Board of Visitors and former Vice-Chair of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.

Past appointments include service on the President’s Export Council, an advisory board on US trade policy, and the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services. She is a former Director of Markem Corporation, NYNEX Telecommunications, New England Telephone and Telegraph Company, Perini Corporation, Consumers Water Company, FairPoint Communications, Citizens Advisors, Sallie Mae Corporation, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, Strawberry Banke Museum, New Hampshire Public Television, the New Hampshire Industrial Development Authority, Indian Head Banks, Fleet Bank of New Hampshire and Public Service Company of New Hampshire.

In the public sector Ms. Newman served on Capitol Hill and in the Reagan and Bush administrations. From 1989 until 1991 she served as Assistant to the President for Management and Administration, where she oversaw all administrative operations for the White House and Executive Office of the President during the transition and administration of President George H.W. Bush.  President Ronald Reagan nominated Ms. Newman to the position of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development and the United States Senate confirmed her appointment in February 1984.  Earlier, she served as Associate Director of the Office of Presidential Personnel at the White House and as Chief of Staff for New Hampshire Congressman Judd Gregg.

In addition to serving from 2006-2007 as Interim President at the University of New Hampshire and from 2000-2005 as Executive Dean at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, Ms. Newman’s academic positions include engagements at the University of New Hampshire as Interim Dean of the Whittemore School of Business and Economics, Dean of Students and Assistant Dean of Students.

In the private sector, Ms. Newman has been active as a private investor in the financing and development of early stage entrepreneurial opportunities. Ms. Newman was the founder and owner of Coastal Broadcasting Corporation, licensee of WZEA-FM radio.  She also held the position of Executive Vice President with Exeter Trust Company.  From 1985 through 1988 Ms. Newman served as President of the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire and in 1988 was named President of the New England Council Inc. She served as Executive Director of the Forum on New Hampshire’s Future from 1978 through 1980.

A resident of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Ms. Newman is a graduate of St. Joseph’s College of Maine and The Pennsylvania State University. She has honorary degrees from the University of New Hampshire, Rivier College, Notre Dame College, Keene State College, St. Joseph’s College, and New Hampshire College. Awards include the University of New Hampshire’s Granite State Award and Profile of Service Award for distinguished public service, the New Hampshire Public Relations Society’s Yankee Award, the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the New England Council’s Leadership Award to Women in Business and the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus’ Abigail Adams Award for commitment to the political, economic and social advancement of women.  She was presented a Lifetime of Service Award by City Year in 2007. In 2005 The Pennsylvania State University named Ms. Newman an Alumni Fellow and in 2009 honored her with their Distinguished Alumni Award.  In 2010 the University of New Hampshire Alumni Association bestowed upon Ms. Newman its Pettee Medal for distinguished service to the state, the nation and the world.

About CCSNH
The Community College System of NH consists of seven colleges, offering associate degree and certificate programs, professional training, and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. The System’s colleges are Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth; Lakes Region Community College in Laconia; Manchester Community College; Nashua Community College; NHTI – Concord’s Community College; River Valley Community College in Claremont and Keene; and White Mountains Community College in Berlin.