After five years as president of the College of Southern Maryland, Dr. Maureen Murphy will retire this week, leaving behind a lasting legacy of excellence that was on full display through her commitment to education, innovation and equity.

CSM includes four campuses across Southern Maryland, as well as the Velocity Center at Indian Head and the Center for Transportation Training. During Murphy’s tenure, the college consistently received awards and recognitions that positioned CSM as among the top community colleges in the nation.

“My decision was difficult, largely because my time working here alongside all of you has been the best part of my career,” she said upon announcing her retirement earlier this year. “Our college is among the best in the country—and that’s because of the passion that all of you bring daily to the work of serving our students.”

Earlier this month, friends, supporters and alumni gathered at The Velocity Center to celebrate Murphy’s impressive career, her tenure at CSM and her “graduation” into retirement.

CSM’s Board of Trustees unanimously selected Dr. Yolanda Wilson to become the college’s sixth president and the first African-American president in the school’s 64-year history. Wilson comes to CSM from Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, where she was vice president of instruction at Ashe Campus and Alleghany Center and a leadership coach for Achieving the Dream.

G.S. Proctor & Associates congratulates Dr. Murphy on her incredible career and the lasting impact she’s made on Southern Maryland. We look forward to working with Dr. Wilson as she strives to carry on the legacy of her predecessor and lead the school for future generations.