The Potomac Highlands Dispatch - the online newspaper

Letter to the editor

Allegany College of Maryland names
Dr. Cynthia S. Bambara as new president

For The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
CUMBERLAND, Dec. 17 -- The Allegany College of Maryland Board of Trustees has named Dr. Cynthia S. Bambara, a veteran community college administrator in Virginia, as ACM’s new president.

Bambara is currently the interim president at Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg. Named to that post in August by the Virginia Community College System, she has been guiding CVCC in a transition period as it concludes its search for a permanent president.

In that role she leads CVCC’s more than 150 full-time employees and several hundred part-time employees as they provide instruction and support services to 5,500 students at one full-service campus, four off-site centers and a one-stop career center.

Bambara went to CVCC from Lord Fairfax Community College, where she has been vice president of student success since 2004. She began there in 1992 as a student services specialist, later becoming a counselor and director of student services. She also has served as chief administrative officer for LFCC’s Fauquier Campus in Warrenton.

Prior to joining LFCC, Dr. Bambara worked as a career and academic counselor at Northern Virginia Community College, Furman University and the Florida Department of Rehabilitative Services.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Juniata College and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from the University of South Alabama. In 2007, she earned a doctorate of philosophy in Community College Leadership from Colorado State University.

The announcement of Bambara’s appointment as ACM’s fifth president was made by Kim Leonard, Board of Trustees chair. Her assuming the post is dependent upon finalization of pending contractual negotiations.

“This will mark an important milestone for ACM, and I invite all to join me in welcoming Dr. Bambara collectively and on behalf of all members of the ACM community,” said Leonard in a letter circulated college-wide.

The board’s appointment of Bambara as ACM’s new chief executive officer follows an extensive national search involving all college constituent groups and representation from the larger community of the Cumberland campus and ACM campuses in Bedford and Somerset counties in Pennsylvania.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the ACM Presidential Search Team for their dedication, their commitment and their hard work on behalf of Allegany College of Maryland,” said Leonard.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to all committee members for their service and their outstanding work.”

He continued in his letter to ACM personnel: “It is also important for me to acknowledge the involvement and contribution of all of you. Your participation enriched the process.”

The selection of a new president involved the college and larger communities when Bambara and another finalist participated in open forums at all three AM campuses in mid-November.

The sessions allowed interested persons the opportunity to hear from the candidates and to ask them questions. The two candidates also were interviewed by the Board of Trustees.

Gary Durr, retired vice president of continuing education, has served as interim president of ACM since July 1. He will continue in that role until the newly appointment president takes office.