Governor Kelly Ayotte recognized Chancellor Mark Rubinstein at a meeting of the Governor and Executive Council on June 17, 2026, presenting a commendation (PDF) on behalf of the State of New Hampshire as Dr. Rubinstein prepares to retire after a distinguished career in higher education.
Mark Rubinstein has served as the sixth chancellor of CCSNH, bringing to the role a record of leadership in higher education. Under his leadership, CCSNH has strengthened its reputation as one of the top community college systems in the nation and was named New Hampshire’s 2026 Business of the Year.
The commendation highlighted Chancellor Rubinstein’s commitment to aligning academic programs with the evolving needs of New Hampshire’s workforce, advancing the system’s mission of affordability, access, and opportunity for students across the Granite State. CCSNH also earned designation as one of New Hampshire’s Rural Health Transformation Program hubs, expanding the healthcare workforce in communities throughout the state.
Rubinstein expressed gratitude to the Governor and Council and to the Legislature for the steadfast support they have shown for the work of CCSNH. In addressing the group, Rubinstein drew particular attention to the appreciation he has for the talent and dedication of faculty and staff colleagues across CCSNH, noting,
“As I’ve shared in previous visits to this chamber, when you have taken opportunities to recognize CCSNH for our high-quality, high-demand academic programs, for our early college programs and our workforce credentialing and apprenticeship initiatives, and for the role we have been afforded to contribute to the transformation of healthcare in New Hampshire as one of the five hubs supporting GO NORTH, all of those are part of a team effort, and that is the only way we are able to serve students across this broad range of disciplines, in every region of New Hampshire, and with so many pathways to access. Our students and our state have benefited from the investments you make in our people and in their work, and with your continued support, CCSNH will always play a vital role in the future of the Granite State.”
“His vision and leadership have positioned the Community College System of New Hampshire as a national leader in affordable higher education,” Governor Ayotte wrote, “creating pathways to meaningful careers and strengthening New Hampshire’s economy for generations to come.”
Chancellor Rubinstein’s legacy is one of expanded opportunity — for students who need a flexible path, for communities that need a workforce partner, and for a state that needs a system willing to meet people where they are.
