CCSNH to See Leadership Changes in 2026

CCSNH recently announced two significant leadership changes, one imminent and one immediate, as the system chancellor announced plans to retire and a new board chairman has been elected.

Chancellor to Retire in August

Dr. Mark Rubinstein, who has served as the CCSNH chancellor since 2021, announced his plan to retire before the start of the 2026-27 academic year, bringing to a close a career in education that has spanned more than four decades. 



“Our mission is a vital one, connecting the talents and ambitions of New Hampshire’s students to the needs and opportunities of this state through accessible, high-quality postsecondary education,” said Dr. Rubinstein. “CCSNH is well-positioned to serve our students and the state’s workforce needs, and I am grateful to my colleagues who prepare our students to make such positive contributions to the health and wellbeing of our communities and to the economic competitiveness and vitality of our state.” 

Lozeau Elected Board Chair

Donnalee Lozeau was elected as incoming board chair at the January 15 quarterly board of trustees meeting. Lozeau succeeds Katharine Bogle Shields who served as chair since 2021. Lozeau was first appointed to the CCSNH Board in 2021 by Governor Chris Sununu. January is the time of year when the Board elects a new annual slate of officers. 

“We are very excited that Donnalee will be leading our board. She has a longstanding history of impactful leadership in the Granite State and has been a highly engaged member of the CCSNH board,” said Dr. Mark Rubinstein, CCSNH chancellor. 

National Security Agency Backs NHTI's Cybersecurity Program

NHTI-Concord’s Community College has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense through a prestigious program managed by the National Security Agency. This affiliation ensures that graduates of the college’s cybersecurity associate degree program are equipped with the skills they need to perform at a high level in the field.

“NHTI is deeply committed to meeting the evolving demands of today’s workforce,” said Chad Johnson, NHTI’s program coordinator for information technology. “And few fields are growing as rapidly or as critically as cybersecurity.”

This was echoed in NHTI’s designation letter, which cites the National Cyber Strategy: “A highly skilled cybersecurity workforce is a strategic national security advantage.”

The National Security Agency manages the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity program alongside federal partners, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the FBI, the National Institute of Standards and Technology /National Initiative on Cybersecurity Education, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense Office of the Chief Information Officer and US Cyber Command.

Scholarships for LRCC Students Help Fuel Pipeline for Auto Industry Workforce Demand

Reprinted with permission: Inside a large garage chock-full of cars, trucks, engines and classrooms at Lakes Region Community College is hidden one of the Lakes Region’s most valuable secrets: the school's auto tech program. 

And the New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association helps talented students get there.

Eight New Hampshire students received a total of $30,000 in scholarship funds from the NHADA at a ceremony Dec. 10, two of whom will attend Lakes Region Community College — Chase Paquette, from Concord Regional Technical Center, and Griffin Patch, a student at the Richard W. Creteau Regional Technology Center. Both students earned $2,000 scholarships to attend LRCC. 

The students will join cohorts in a stringent and fast-paced program seeking to educate the whole student, putting them on a pathway to earn both an associate’s degree and technical certification, all while participating in gainful employment, forming the basis from which a career will eventually blossom. 

The work done by the NHADA is significant for the automotive industry. It provides a mechanism for both dealers and independent auto repair businesses to attract and retain students who become workers during the early stages of their careers. For students who may be considering leaving the state in search of opportunity, or who may not consider attending college at all, the scholarship program could make the difference.

Pictured above: From left, instructor Forrest Powers, associate professor and Transportation Technologies Chair Jamie Decato and students Spencer Jones and Brian Garrett work with diagnostic tools at Lakes Region Community College on Jan. 13. (Gabriel Perry/The Laconia Daily Sun photo)

CCSNH's Milestone Anniversaries: MCC and GBCC Turn 80

Reprinted with permission: When Manchester Community College (MCC) opened its doors in 1945 as the State Trade School at Manchester, its mission was clear: to give returning World War II veterans the skills they needed to find work. That same year, the State Trade School of Portsmouth—now Great Bay Community College (GBCC)—welcomed its first class of 130 veterans.

Today, MCC serves about 3,500 students each semester, with 97% from NH and the rest representing 13 states and 37 countries. Its Workforce Development Center trains nearly 700 more students in short-term programs in health care, IT, manufacturing, and business. Another 2,100 high school students are enrolled through MCC’s Early College program.

GBCC today serves a diverse mix of students, from recent high school graduates to adult learners seeking new careers. Half of GBCC’s students pursue transfer degrees in liberal arts and general education, while others enroll in signature workforce programs such as surgical technology, veterinary technology, culinary arts and biotechnology, which has helped launch a new apprenticeship program with Lonza Biologics at Pease.

As both colleges celebrate their 80th anniversaries, their shared legacy is clear: to open doors and build futures. From factory floors to advanced biotech labs, from veterans returning from battle to working parents returning to school, MCC and GBCC have spent eight decades proving that practical education can transform lives and sustain communities.