LARGO, Md.(October 30, 2019)– Sidney Gibson, chair of Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) Board of Trustees, announced today that President Charlene M. Dukes will retire on June 30, 2020. President Dukes became the institution’s eighth and first female president on July 1, 2007.
“President Dukes is a talented educator and leader who is passionate about Prince George’s Community College, the county, and the region. We are pleased that she has served this community as president for 13 years,” said Gibson.
Over her tenure, Prince George’s Community College and the community have benefited from the leadership of President Dukes. A partnership with Prince George’s County Public Schools led to the development of the Academy for Health Sciences, the first middle college in the state of Maryland, a Teacher Academy, two P-Tech Schools, and the 3D Scholars Program with University of Maryland Global Campus. It also includes two Information Technology Early College Academies with the Chesapeake Math and Information Technology Charter School’s north and south campuses. President Dukes co-chaired the task force for the development of the Prince George’s County Promise Scholarship. The scholarship, adopted and funded by former County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III, supports students graduating from Prince George’s County Public Schools.
A champion of teaching, learning, and student success, President Dukes guided the realignment of organizational structures and program offerings to create connections between and among the three key components of the 2019-2021 Strategic Plan: student success, regional impact, and organizational excellence. The College’s work with the Ensuring Student Success Institute, the Association of American Colleges and Universities’ Roadmap Project, Achieving the Dream, and the American Association of Community Colleges’ Pathways Project heightened the need for a reimagining of the work and commitment to the nearly 40,000 students served annually at Prince George’s Community College.
President Dukes led the enhancement of facilities on the 52-year-old Largo campus and many of the College’s degree and extension sites. Newly constructed or significantly renovated facilities include Bladen Hall, the Center for Health Studies, three modular buildings, the Culinary Arts Center, Lanham Hall, and the Center for Performing Arts. Growing enrollment led to additional square footage at University Town Center and Laurel College Center. In spring 2020, new construction and renovation will commence on the largest and oldest classroom building, Marlboro Hall.
President Dukes served as vice president for Student Services at PGCC prior to becoming president, and her leadership and interest in educational excellence have involved her in a number of professional and community organizations. She holds membership in a variety of professional associations, including the American Association of Community Colleges, the American Council on Education, the Association of American Colleges and Universities, the Presidents’ Roundtable, and the National Council on Black American Affairs.
In addition, she is a member of the board of directors of the Institute for Higher Education Policy, Campus Compact, the Biden Institute, the Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce, the Business Roundtable, and Hillside-Works Scholarship Connection. President Dukes is on the board of directors of the Greater Washington Community Foundation, the Meyer Foundation, and Venture Philanthropy Partners. From 2007 through 2015, she served on the Maryland State Board of Education and from 2012 through 2015, was president of the board. From 2002 through 2006, President Dukes served on the Appointed Board of Education of Prince George’s County and chaired the Student Support, Student Appeals, and Personnel Committees.
Washingtonian magazine recognized President Dukes as one of the 100 most powerful women in the Washington metropolitan area in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. She was inducted into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame in 2013, and was awarded the Dr. Reginald Wilson Diversity Leadership Award by the American Council on Education in 2014. President Dukes will leave an everlasting legacy when she retires in June 2020.
The Prince George’s Community College Board of Trustees will initiate a national search for the ninth president of the College.
About Prince George’s Community College
Named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance designated by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security (2015-2020), Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) provides high-quality education and training for the progressive and career-oriented residents of Prince George’s County. From new high school graduates and career seekers to more seasoned professionals and senior citizens looking to enhance their skillsets, PGCC is comprised of students who represent a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and goals. Serving nearly 40,000 individuals annually, the college is the first choice for higher education for residents of Prince George’s County. Collaborative partnerships, responsive degree and training programs, and a commitment to student success enable PGCC to address diverse education and workforce development demands. For more information, visit the college website at www.pgcc.edu. Prince George’s Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104; (267-284-5000); www.msche.org. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.
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