CSM Newsroom

College of Southern Maryland Continues Search for 6th President

July 28, 2022
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Following CSM President Dr. Maureen Murphy’s announcement in late spring that she plans to enter retirement Dec. 31, 2022, the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Board of Trustees has begun its nationwide search for the college’s sixth president. The Presidential Search Firm RH Perry & Associates – hired in May to help transition leadership and coordinate a national search for CSM’s new leader – is now seeking confidential nominations and expressions of interest for the position until Aug. 22.

“This will be among the most important decisions this board will ever make,” said CSM Board of Trustee Chair and Presidential Search Committee Chair Shawn Coates. “Dr. Murphy’s shoes will be hard to fill. We will be looking for a leader who will continue to fortify this institution’s vision to be our region’s first choice for accessible, inclusive, and innovative education that transforms communities.”

The trustees will select a new president who will be a visionary, humanistic, and compassionate leader and who is passionate about leading a student-centered institution while ensuring student equity and success, Coates continued.  

The trustees have also appointed a Presidential Search Committee, with members reflecting a diverse perspective. The committee includes:

  • Trustee Shawn Coates, Search Committee Chair
  • Trustee Jay Webster, Search Committee Co-Chair
  •  Trustee Cordelia Postell, Search Committee Member
  •  Larisa Pfeiffer, Chief of Staff, ex officio
  •  Theodore Harwood, CSM Foundation
  •  Judith (Judy) Mills, CSM Vice President Financial Services
  •  Ellen Flowers-Fields, CSM Associate Vice President, Continuing Education and Workforce Development
  •  George Bedell, CSM Faculty Senate President
  •  Stephen Johnson, CSM Associate Dean
  •  Heather Zeolla, CSM Director of Campus Operations
  •  Lena Hancock, CSM Director of Marketing
  •  Trenace Richardson, CSM Director of Organizational Development
  •  Valerie Shelton, CSM Associate Professor
  •  Timothy Fenner, CSM Program Coordinator, Men of Excellence
  •  Jimmy Eppley, CSM Systems Administrator

Please visit the Presidential Search webpage for more information and updates. Inquiries should be emailed to, CSMPresident@rhperry.com. To apply or make a nomination, visit https://rhperry.com/csmpresident/.

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