Pacesetter Current Winner

Sandra L. Kurtinitis, Ph.D.
President
The Community College of Baltimore County
Baltimore, Maryland

When Sandra Kurtinitis arrived at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) in the fall of 2005, the college was suffering from harsh public scrutiny and bad press. The former chancellor’s departure was turbulent; the college had just undergone the controversial consolidation of three colleges into one; and the faculty and staff were skeptical.

Undeterred, Dr. Kurtinitis went to work. Her passion for CCBC and its mission – underscored by more than 40 years of experience in community colleges – was evident from the start, and she quickly put everyone at ease, making it clear that she was committed to inclusive governance and open communication.

Today, the college is thriving. For the first time in its 54-year history, CCBC is the largest community college in the state of Maryland, serving nearly 75,000 students annually. Moreover, CCBC graduated 2,300 students in 2011, making it among the “Top 100 Associate Degree Producers” in the United States, according to a recent special report by Community College Week. Based on positive employee survey results, CCBC was named a “2011 Great College to Work For” by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Dr. Kurtinitis’ tenure is marked with many other notable milestones, thanks to what her supporters refer to as her “vision, planning and executive leadership.”

With an emphasis on building strategic partnerships, she strengthened the college’s ties with the Baltimore County Public Schools. Most recently, she collaborated with the schools superintendent to launch a “Diploma-to-Degree” program that enables high school students to graduate from high school and simultaneously earn an associate degree.

Dr. Kurtinitis emphasizes the fact that “community” comes first (it’s the first word in the college’s name, she notes), and with this in mind she encourages community involvement, particularly when it comes to giving. This past year, she led a record-setting employee giving campaign, which raised more than $96,000 to support student scholarships and programs. Last year’s annual fundraising gala for the college raised more than $200,000 for student scholarships.

Dr. Kurtinitis has gained a reputation as a “doer” at the regional and national levels. She was among a select group of community college representatives who took part in the White House Summit on Community Colleges, and she was asked to co-chair a panel on developmental education because of groundbreaking work at CCBC. Recently she worked with the Lt. Governor of Maryland to form a Veteran’s Compact to help veterans transitioning from combat to college.

Dr. Kurtinitis is characterized as a true “brand champion” because of her strong support for the college’s marketing and public relations efforts. Among other things, she restored funds to the advertising budget to support a year-long awareness campaign; she supported the transition from a printed schedule to an online version; she shifted management of the college’s website from Information Technology to College Communications and approved the hiring of new Web team members; and she convinced the board of trustees to approve funding for a major overhaul of the website. She is also recognized as a savvy spokesperson who is responsive to the media, who doesn’t shy away from controversial issues, and who skillfully weaves CCBC’s brand messages into her comments.

Without a doubt, Dr. Kurtinitis has earned the respect of students, faculty, staff and community leaders in the past six years. Based on her past success, it’s no wonder that more good news is projected for the future. Barbara Kerr Howe, chair of CCBC’s Board of Trustees, puts it this way: “Dr. Kurtinitis has created an incredibly positive atmosphere where all things are possible. I have no doubt she will continue to take CCBC far beyond where we may have imagined!”