After more than two decades at the helm of the Community College of Baltimore County, President Sandra L. Kurtinitis has put an end date on her presidency. She will step down as CCBC's president effective July 31, 2027, then take a one-year sabbatical beginning August 1, 2027, before officially retiring on July 31, 2028. Kurtinitis, who has led the college since 2005, currently oversees an institution that serves more than 50,000 students each year.
In a press release via CCBC, Kurtinitis called her tenure "the honor of a lifetime to serve this extraordinary institution and community" and promised to stay "fully committed to leading CCBC over the coming year and ensuring a smooth transition to new leadership." Board Chair Richard Scheper said the Board of Trustees will launch "a comprehensive national search" to find the college's next president, and the announcement makes clear this is a long-planned, orderly transition, not a sudden exit.
Two Decades Of Growth And Program Building
During Kurtinitis's tenure, CCBC completed the consolidation of separate campuses into a single institution and expanded both academic and workforce offerings. Those efforts include building out an Honors College, strengthening transfer pathways, and increasing dual-enrollment options for local high school students. Local leaders have credited CCBC's workforce partnerships with helping sustain the region's jobs pipeline, according to reporting by WMAR-2 News.
What Comes Next For CCBC
The Board of Trustees says it will conduct a national search to name Kurtinitis's successor and is stressing continuity for CCBC's many partnerships and long-running projects. In its announcement, the college noted that Kurtinitis will remain in her role through the transition year to help onboard new leadership and wrap up multiyear initiatives, per CCBC.
Transition Matters For Students And The Workforce
Kurtinitis's final year is expected to be busy, with projects aimed directly at expanding access and career pathways. They include a Direct Admit partnership with Baltimore County Public Schools, giving graduating seniors a clearer post-high school option, and an expanded welding training center at CCBC's Dundalk campus tied to the Francis Scott Key Bridge effort. The Direct Admit program was announced in February 2026, and the welding center is slated to break ground in late 2026, according to reporting by CBS Baltimore and WMAR-2 News. CCBC leaders and county officials will be watching the presidential search closely for clues about whether the college's current focus on workforce credentials and transfer pathways will remain the guiding strategy under new leadership.
