It's Official: Cox Set to Take Reins at Cape Cod Community College

The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education confirmed at its meeting in Framingham Tuesday (Jan. 31) the appointment of Dr. John L. Cox as the next President of Cape Cod Community College. Cox will succeed Dr. Kathleen Schatzberg upon her retirement at the end of June.

Dr. Cox officially takes over the leadership post on July 1, 2012. Currently, he serves as Vice President for Finance, Operations, and Government Relations at Harford Community College in Bel Air, Maryland.

Cape Cod Community College’s Board of Trustees made its unanimous selection from a large field of candidates on Dec. 7, 2011, ultimately selecting Cox as Schatzberg's successor. Since that time, Dr. Cox has met at length with Massachusetts Commissioner of Higher Education Richard Freeland, and with the state Board as a precursor to yesterday’s vote. During his meeting with the State Board, Dr. Cox expressed his appreciation and said he looks forward to engaging in the policy deliberations on the Governor's proposals affecting community colleges.

"We are in an exciting time for community colleges," Cox said. "Our challenge is to serve the diverse educational needs of the Cape as an open admission institution that remains accessible and affordable.  My family and I are looking forward to joining the Cape Cod community this summer."

Prior to the Board’s vote, CCCC’s Board of Trustees Chairperson Christopher Oddleifson was asked to speak to the State Board regarding the search process and the selection of Dr. Cox. In testimony on Tuesday January 24, 2012, he noted, “…Dr. John Cox has demonstrated… that he has the expertise to meet our institution’s challenges and opportunities ahead…We believe he is an experienced, visionary leader who embraces the needs and challenges of our institution, celebrates the diversity of our region, and for many years to come will champion our mission to serve our unique geographic area and contribute to the growth of the Commonwealth.”

Commenting on the State Board’s action yesterday afternoon, the Trustee Chair noted his pleasure in the Board’s affirmation of the Trustees’ decision, and looked to continued institutional success, building upon the foundation laid by President Kathleen Schatzberg over the past 14 years.

“I am extremely pleased to have the Board of Higher Education join with us in seeing John Cox as the visionary and accomplished leader that he is, and in securing his leadership for this College for many years to come, we’ve chosen an outstanding individual who will take the very best that has been accomplished to date, and use it as a springboard to further success in serving the people of our region," Oddleifson said.

Dr. Cox returns to Harford Community College to finish this academic year and he and his family have visited the Cape as they prepare for their move.  The in-coming President will be returning to the Cape and the College over the next few months as he prepares to make the transition this summer.

Cox officially becomes the next President of Cape Cod Community College on July 1, 2012.

Currently, he serves as Vice President for Finance, Operations and Government Relations at Harford Community College, Maryland. He is responsible for providing financial and administrative counsel to the President and Board and senior-level management of fiscal planning, facilities, operations, public safety, and auxiliary enterprises to support students. As an advocate for student success, the college and its mission, Dr. Cox is a member of the Legislative Committee of the Maryland Association of Community Colleges and the Chamber of Commerce. He has facilitated expansion of environmental sustainability initiatives at the College, including almost 250,000 square feet of LEED building renovations and construction and campus outreach through the college-wide Sustainability Committee.

Cox is also a recipient of the 2010 John Grenzebach Award for Outstanding Research in Philanthropy for Educational Advancement through the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and has been published in peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Cox teaches and encourages future community college leaders in the doctoral program in Community College Policy and Administration at the University of Maryland University College and in the Graduate Community College Certificate Program at Kent State University.  Dr. Cox offers a broad background in education with such experience as:

- He was the first budget director and initiator of a formal budget development process supporting the 40,000 students of Harford County Public Schools;

- The budget advisor and trainer to the student government and student affairs staff at Portland State University;

- Program manager at the University of Southern California;

- Faculty research assistant and trainer at the University of Maryland.

In addition, he has collective bargaining and CEO experience working directly with a governing board as a former township manager.  Cox is a former Community College Leadership Fellow sponsored by the Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC) and Morgan State University, a Rotary International Scholar at the University of Birmingham, England, and a Rotary Group Study Exchange team member to Brazil. He earned his Ed.D. in Higher Education and MPA and BA from George Washington University.

- This story was submitted via press release from the office of Michael R. Gross, Director of College Communications Cape Cod Community College.