WCCC President Joseph Cassidy to Serve as Interim President of EMCC

Search for new EMCC president to begin this summer

AUGUSTA, ME – MCCS President Derek Langhauser today announced that Joseph Cassidy, the president of Washington County Community College (WCCC) in Calais, will provide leadership to Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC) while a search is underway for a new president of the Bangor institution.  President Cassidy will continue to lead WCCC and will divide his time between the two colleges beginning next month.

In April, Dr. Lawrence Barrett, who has served as president of EMCC for the past five years, announced that he had accepted the presidency of Florida Gateway College in Lake City, Florida. He will leave EMCC in mid-July and assume his new position at the end of July.

“We are grateful to President Cassidy for his willingness to serve both WCCC and EMCC during this transition,” said President Langhauser in making the announcement. “Larry Barrett leaves EMCC in strong shape, and I have no doubt that Joe Cassidy will bring to the college the same thoughtful and effective leadership that has characterized his work at WCCC.”

President Langhauser also announced that the search for a new president at EMCC will begin this summer, with the goal of naming Dr. Barrett’s permanent replacement in the first half of 2016. President Cassidy will begin his interim position at EMCC on July 13 and has agreed to serve the college until a new president is in place.

Mr. Cassidy has served as president of WCCC for the past two years. An attorney and former elementary and secondary school teacher, he was a member of the WCCC faculty for nine years before being named president.