Dr. James Keane was recently chosen as the new president of Nashua Community College. Courtesy photo

NASHUA – For the first time in nearly three decades, Nashua Community College will have a new president starting on July 14.

In a unanimous vote, the Board of Trustees of the Community College System of New Hampshire chose Dr. James Keane to take the helm.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to lead Nashua Community College,” said Keane. “Education changes lives and community colleges are at the heart of that mission. NCC is a place where opportunity and community intersect and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside dedicated faculty, staff and students to shape a future grounded in innovation, student success and community partnerships. I look forward to strengthening NCC’s impact, not only within our classrooms, but across the Greater Nashua region. In a time of rapid change, community colleges are more essential than ever. I’m eager to support NCC as it continues to grow as a hub for workforce development, innovation and lifelong learning.”

Looking ahead, Keane said he will focus on the pillars of academic support, community partnerships and career readiness.

Keane said one way to accommodate students’ academic needs would be to offer micro internships. He said that in some cases, these programs are only two weeks long as opposed to a four-month semester, thus giving students greater flexibility to meet outside obligations.

Keane also said certificate programs are becoming increasingly popular as they give students the opportunity to enter the workforce sooner. Students can typically earn a certificate in about eight months whereas an Associate’s degree takes two years to complete.

Katharine Shields, chairwoman of the CCSNH Board of Trustees, said the Search Committee succeeded in finding the premier candidate to lead NCC.

“The Search Committee was very cognizant of its responsibility in identifying the first new leader of NCC in nearly three decades,” she said. “We were looking for an individual who values NCC’s history and mission, is energized by its present position in the community, and presents an exciting vision for its future. We found that person in Jim. His skills and experience align perfectly with key priorities at NCC including building strong partnerships with industry, enhancing student support, fostering a strong sense of community and ensuring the institution is well-positioned to contribute to the economic vitality of the region.”

Keane currently serves as associate provost at Curry College in Milton, Mass., a position he has held since January 2024.

Before Curry, Keane was the vice president of Academic Affairs at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, Mass. from 2020 to 2024. During his tenure at QCC, Keane helped guide the college through the unprecedented turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic. He worked to expand the school’s healthcare and technology programs and developed ways to keep students on track to graduate.

Keane also spent 10 years as the executive dean and campus CEO of the Michael J. Grant Campus of Suffolk County Community College. In addition, he served as associate provost for Undergraduate Studies at St. John’s University.

CCSNH Chancellor Dr. Mark Rubinstein said his organization was responsible for finding someone who would continue the work of former NCC President Lucille Jordan, who passed away in December 2024.

“With Dr. Keane’s appointment as president, I am confident we have fulfilled that responsibility,” he said. “Providing NCC’s students, colleagues and other stakeholders with a leader who understands our mission, who will steward trust with the community and who will keep students at the center of the work that the college does on behalf of the Greater Nashua area.”

CCSNH Trustee Donnalee Lozeau said she was impressed with how Keane conducted himself around the students and faculty while visiting NCC.

“People responded to his positivity, his energy and his clear devotion to the mission of community college education,” she said. “I am excited about the future of NCC under Jim’s collaborative leadership.”

Keane holds a Bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from St. John’s, a Master’s degree in theology from the Immaculate Conception Seminary, a Master’s degree in higher education administration from New York University and a Doctorate in higher education administration from Seton Hall University.