2025 District 1 Pacesetter
Dr. Mary Way Bolt
President
Cecil College
North East, MD
How has Dr. Bolt ensured Cecil College meets the needs of her community during her tenure? Cecil College has established numerous innovative workforce development partnerships and academic program offerings to meet local and regional needs for in-demand careers. The programs she’s developed to meet those demands include accelerated nursing, bioproduction, data science, marine service technology and diesel technology. According to the December 2024 Lightcast Economic Impact Study for Higher Education, the workforce trained by Cecil College generated an additional $18.2 million in tax revenue.
How has Dr. Bolt helped advance community colleges nationally? Dr. Bolt has provided written and oral testimony to the Maryland Legislature about the impact of the Budget and Reconciliation Finance Act on Cecil College and other Maryland community colleges. While serving on the Maryland Association of Community Colleges’ legislative committee, she reviewed bills to determine course of action and followed up with testimony or legislative advocacy. She has participated on a Maryland Association of Community Colleges sub-group to review proposals and engage a firm to study the state of baccalaureate nursing and community college nursing degrees. She has also prepared and presented updates on the Maryland Association of Community Colleges’ strategic plan at the Maryland Council of Community College Presidents meetings.
How does Dr. Bolt demonstrate an understanding of marcom and PR principles? By promoting a unified brand message, Dr. Bolt ensures that all external communications reflect the college’s mission, values and impact. She supports marketing by empowering the communications team with resources and professional development, and she encourages innovation in digital outreach, storytelling, and community engagement. She actively communicates with the marketing team to align the college’s brand representation with institutional goals, always placing students first.