College Leadership
Strong leadership is at the heart of our mission—and central to how we deliver on our promise to students, employees, and the broader community. Our leadership team is guided by a shared commitment to innovation, collaboration, and measurable impact, ensuring that every decision advances our strategic priorities and strengthens the College’s role as a catalyst for opportunity.
Grounded in our values and informed by data, our leaders work across disciplines to align strategy with action—enhancing the student experience, expanding access to high-quality programs, and building meaningful partnerships that drive regional growth. Through a culture of transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement, they foster an environment where people and ideas thrive. Together, our leaders are shaping a forward-looking institution—one that is responsive to change, dedicated to student success, and contributes to a vibrant Frederick County.
Meet the Leadership Team
Leadership Bios
Dr. Annesa Payne Cheek began as the 11th President of Frederick Community College on July 1, 2022.
President Cheek came to FCC from St. Cloud Technical & Community College in Minnesota,
where she served as President for four years. Prior to that presidency, she spent
12 years at Sinclair Community College in Ohio, an institution serving over 30,000
individuals across five locations. While there, she was the Vice President of the
School and Community Partnerships Division for three years. President Cheek’s other
past positions at Sinclair Community College include Vice President for Student Financial
Services and Senior Advisor to the President, Chief of Staff in the Office of the
President, and Senior Director of Advancement. She has also served as the Executive
Vice President for the Ohio Association of Community Colleges.
With more than 25 years in higher education, Dr. Anne P. Davis brings deep experience as both an educator and a strategic leader. She has served Frederick Community College as Provost and Vice President for Teaching, Learning, and Student Success since July 2023.
Dr. Davis’s professional journey began in the community college classroom as a biology faculty member and steadily evolved through roles of increasing responsibility, including associate dean, dean, chief online learning officer, and chief academic officer at colleges in Maryland and Virginia. Throughout her career, she has remained a teacher at heart, consistently championing evidence‑based teaching and learning practices that promote equitable outcomes for all students.
Dr. Davis holds a Doctor of Management from the University of Maryland Global Campus, a Master of Science in Animal Science from Cornell University, and a Bachelor of Science in Dairy Science from Virginia Tech. She lives on her family farm in Union Bridge, Maryland, and enjoys recharging by kayaking, birding, trail and beach walking.
Dr. Ed Cabellon proudly serves FCC as its Interim Vice President for Student Experience, providing strategic leadership across student enrollment, engagement, and completion. He leads a dynamic team committed to best practices in student recruitment, support, and transformational outcomes in support of FCC’s mission and future-ready plan.
After nearly 30 years in Higher Education, Dr. Cabellon is known as a trusted servant leader who translates complex institutional challenges into collaborative, data-informed action through strong systems, emerging technologies, and clear accountability. As a first-generation Filipino American college graduate, Dr. Cabellon brings lived experience that shapes his leadership philosophy and his unwavering commitment to co-creating the conditions where all students feel they belong. As a published scholar, his research examines digital technology as a catalyst for student experience improvement, actively contributing to statewide and national higher education association work.
Dr. Cabellon previously served as Interim Senior Vice President for Student Affairs at Montgomery College (MD), Vice President for Enrollment Management at Curry College (MA), and Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management at Bristol Community College (MA).
Dr. Cabellon earned an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Johnson and Wales University (RI); an M.S. in Educational Leadership from Central Connecticut State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Stonehill College (MA).
Dr. Bridgette N. Cofield, J.D., SPHR, is an accomplished human resources executive with more than 25 years of experience spanning law, human resources leadership, and organizational management. She currently serves as Vice President for Talent and Culture at Frederick Community College, where she provides strategic leadership in advancing initiatives that strengthen institutional culture, talent development, and organizational effectiveness. Dr. Cofield is widely recognized for delivering tailored, high-impact strategies and executive-level solutions for higher education institutions, businesses, and nonprofit organizations.
Dr. Cofield earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Memphis and her Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis School of Law. She also holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute, affiliated with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), a credential she actively maintains while upholding the highest standards of human resources and strategic leadership excellence.
Deeply committed to civic engagement and community service, Dr. Cofield dedicates her time and leadership to a range of impactful organizations. Her work reflects a strong focus on community partnerships, youth development, and philanthropy. Through her governance contributions, program support, and mentorship of young people, she continues to advance meaningful, community-centered initiatives. As a leader in charitable efforts, Dr. Cofield consistently demonstrates a sustained commitment to service, outreach, and lasting community impact.
Dr. DeSanto’s career spans close to 50 years in higher education. Dr. DeSanto earned a BS degree in Economics and an MBA degree in Finance from the University of Scranton. Dr. DeSanto earned a doctorate in education with an emphasis on higher education leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. DeSanto’s career highlights include positions as VP for Strategic Planning and CIO at the University of Scranton in Scranton, Pa. Dr. DeSanto also held the role of Executive Vice-President at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio. As a leader of digital transformation Dr. DeSanto continued his work as Interim CIO at EDUCAUSE, Interim CIO at Illinois Wesleyan University, Interim CIO at the Nebraska State College System, Interim VP/CIO at Montclair State University, Interim CIO at Chatham University, and Interim CIO at Harford Community College. In all these assignments Dr. DeSanto led teams, large and small, towards goals of delivering and aligning digital strategies with business/institutional strategies and goals.
As a consultant and contractor Dr. DeSanto has performed dozens of IT assessments, conducted leadership development workshops, and served as a mentor to newly appointed or developing IT executives.
As a college professor Dr. DeSanto has taught a wide variety of business courses to undergraduate and graduate students, both in the classroom and online, utilizing several different learning platforms and modalities.
Dr. DeSanto has published many articles and presented at several IT leadership conferences. Dr. DeSanto’s doctoral dissertation focused on the evolving role of the higher education CIO amidst a wave of significant change in the higher education and IT industries.
Scott McVicker is Chief Financial Officer and Vice President for Administration at Frederick Community College, where he provides executive leadership for finance, operations, grants, procurement, and campus police. Since joining in 2024, he has overseen financial stewardship, capital planning, and risk management, aligning resources with institutional strategy and long-term sustainability.
Previously, Scott served as CFO at WVU Potomac State College, leading finance, facilities, IT, and auxiliary services. He developed the campus’s first balanced budget after a decade of multimillion-dollar losses, establishing a foundation for fiscal stability. He has also served as Chief Operating Officer for two national nonprofits, where he led successful turnarounds that restored financial health and operational performance.
Earlier in his career at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Scott held leadership roles in incident command, governance, and advisory functions. Across sectors, he is known for disciplined fiscal management, operational efficiency, and building high-performing teams.
A U.S. Army veteran, Scott served eight years in the Finance Corps, supporting global operations and earning the Joint Meritorious Service Medal. He holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins University and a BS in Management from St. John Fisher University.
Dr. Paushter serves as Chief Foresight and Decision Support Officer at Frederick Community College, where he leads the Center for Strategic Innovation and Foresight. In this role, he partners with senior leadership to strengthen institutional effectiveness and advance student success through data-informed decision-making, future-ready strategic planning, and organizational learning.
Dr. Paushter holds a master’s degree in education and a doctorate in educational leadership, and brings more than 25 years of experience across secondary and higher education. This background informs his systems-level approach to improving student outcomes and strengthening institutional practice.
His work focuses on identifying root causes of student success and aligning institutional strategy to address them. He integrates foresight practices into higher education, helping the college anticipate and respond to emerging trends and disruptions. He leads strategy development efforts exploring the future of higher education and its impact on access, inclusion, and workforce development.
Committed to building institutional capacity, he supports leaders and teams in using evidence, assessment, and continuous improvement practices to drive meaningful and sustained transformation.
Board of Trustees
Frederick Community College is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees appointed by the Governor of Maryland. The Board serves as the College’s sole governing authority.
Meet the Board of Trustees