Nashua, N.H. (June 5, 2025) – The Board of Trustees of the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) unanimously confirmed Dr. James Keane as the next president of Nashua Community College (NCC) during their meeting this week. As a career educator with experience in two- and four-year colleges, his leadership skills and talent for fostering partnerships with regional employers will help further the work and reach of NCC.
“We are delighted to appoint Dr. James Keane as president of Nashua Community College,” said CCSNH Board Chair Katharine Bogle Shields. “The search committee was very cognizant of its responsibility in identifying the first new leader of NCC in nearly three decades. We were looking for an individual who values NCC’s history and mission, is energized by its present position in the community, and presents an exciting vision for its future. We found that person in Jim. His skills and experience align perfectly with key priorities at NCC including building strong partnerships with industry, enhancing student support, fostering a strong sense of community, and ensuring the institution is well-positioned to contribute to the economic vitality of the region.”
Keane currently serves as Associate Provost at Curry College in Milton, Mass., a private college serving 2,000 students annually, where he leads internal efforts to build comprehensive support for student achievement and strengthened pathways to employment. From 2020-2024, Keane served as Vice President of Academic Affairs at Quinsigamond Community College (QCC), an institution serving more than 7,000 students in Worcester, Mass. At QCC, Keane expanded access to flexible course offerings, strengthened workforce development programs, and enhanced partnerships with high schools, local businesses and community organizations. Keane helped guide Quinsigamond through the COVID-19 pandemic to emerge as an agile institution positioned to meet a broad range of student and community needs. Recognizing the evolving needs of the community and local industry, Keane expanded QCC’s programming in healthcare and technology and developed a range of strategies to support student completion and pathways to careers across the region.
Keane spent a decade as Executive Dean and Campus CEO of the Michael J. Grant Campus of Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood, N.Y., and held several positions including Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies at St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y. He has served on the faculty of several institutions and continues to teach courses in education leadership, higher education administration and philosophy (ethics).
“Like each of our colleges, Nashua plays an integral role in improving the lives of New Hampshire’s students and communities. Building on the foundation created by Lucille Jordan, our objective for this search—and, in fact, our responsibility—was to identify a forward-thinking leader who would sustain the college’s dedication to excellence and its commitment to student success, to innovative programming to support industry and a genuine dedication to Nashua,” said Dr. Mark Rubinstein, CCSNH Chancellor. “With Dr. Keane’s appointment as president, I am confident we have fulfilled that responsibility, providing NCC’s students, colleagues, and other stakeholders with a leader who understands our mission, who will steward trust with the community, and who will keep students at the center of the work that the college does on behalf of the Greater Nashua area.”
“I am very grateful for the opportunity to lead Nashua Community College,” said Dr. Keane. “Education changes lives, and community colleges are at the heart of that mission. NCC is a place where opportunity and community intersect, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside dedicated faculty, staff, and students to shape a future grounded in innovation, student success, and community partnerships. I look forward to strengthening NCC’s impact, not only within our classrooms, but across the greater Nashua region. In a time of rapid change, community colleges are more essential than ever. I’m eager to support NCC as it continues to grow as a hub for workforce development, innovation, and lifelong learning.”
“Jim connected on campus with students, community partners, faculty and staff in an impactful way, illustrating how well-suited he is for this role,” said CCSNH Trustee and former Nashua Mayor Donnalee Lozeau, who co-chaired the search committee. “People responded to his positivity, his energy and his clear devotion to the mission of community college education. I am excited about the future of NCC under Jim’s collaborative leadership.”
Dr. Keane earned a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration from Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J., a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration and Student Development from the Steinhard School of Education at New York University in New York City, a Master of Arts in Theology from the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, N.Y., and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y.
Dr. Keane will start at NCC on July 14, 2025. He succeeds Lucille Jordan, who served as president of NCC for 27 years.
About Nashua Community College
Since 1970, Nashua Community College has been successfully meeting the educational needs of Greater Nashua by delivering a high quality two-year, post-secondary education. The college partners closely with area industries and community organizations that provide students with a unique perspective in their fields of study, allowing for a real-world experience to further their academic journey. Students can choose from a variety of associate degree, certificate, and career training programs. Nashua Community College is a member of the Community College System of New Hampshire. The seven community colleges in the system are committed to working with businesses throughout the state to train and retain employees to develop a robust workforce across all sectors. Learn more at NashuaCC.edu.
