The Frederick Community College Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Dr. Annesa Cheek will serve as the College’s 11^th president. 
 
Dr. Cheek, who is currently president of St. Cloud Technical & Community College in Minnesota, was selected after a six-month national search process.

“We are thrilled that Dr. Annesa Cheek has accepted our invitation to become the next president of our beloved Frederick Community College,” said Carolyn Kimberlin, vice chair of the FCC Board of Trustees and chair of the Presidential Search Committee. “Dr. Cheek thoroughly impressed the Board with her leadership experience, her passion for education and equity, and her all-around positive energy. We are excited to work closely with her as we continue our College commitment to transforming individuals and our community through learning.”  
 
Dr. Cheek was officially appointed as the next FCC president during an evening Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, February 16, 2022. Her FCC presidency is expected to begin July 1, 2022. 
 
“Overseeing the presidential search process is one of the most significant and influential duties of our Board of Trustees,” said Tom Lynch, chair of the FCC Board of Trustees. “After much deliberation and consideration that included extensive input from community leaders and College faculty, staff, and students, we are confident that Dr. Annesa Cheek will be an incredible leader not only for FCC, but for the entire Frederick County community. We look forward to seeing the positive impact she will have in all areas of our College and we are ready to assist her every step of the way.” 
 
Dr. Cheek was one of three finalist candidates invited to visit FCC last week as part of the search process.  During her two-day visit, Dr. Cheek met with the Board and College employees and participated in student, employee, and community forums to answer questions about her experience and interest in FCC. 
 
“I am most grateful to the Search Committee, Board of Trustees, College employees, students, and community members who participated in the search process,” Dr. Annesa Cheek said. “Their love for and commitment to FCC was evident and inspiring. I could not be more excited about my new role and the opportunity to hit the ground listening and learning about the College and its connections to support a vibrant workforce and regional economy.”
 
Dr. Cheek’s presidency at St. Cloud Technical & Community College began in 2018. Prior to her current role, Dr. Cheek 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. Her 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. 
 
Dr. Cheek earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business management at Tennessee State University, a Master of Business Administration at the University of Dayton, and a Doctor of Education at the University of Texas at Austin in the Community College Leadership Program. In 2016, she was chosen by the Aspen Institute for its Presidential Fellowship, a national leadership program for community college presidents. 
 
Dr. Cheek is active in her community and currently serves on numerous boards including the Central Minnesota Community Foundation, the St. Cloud Hospital, and Partners for Student Success, which unites the greater St. Cloud community in the collective pursuit of student success from cradle to career. She is a member of the American Association of Community Colleges Commission on Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity and is a Gubernatorial Appointee to the Executive Council for the Young Women’s Initiative.
 
The Board of Trustees extends its gratitude to the 13-member search committee, as well as Academic Search, Inc., a national search firm specializing in higher education, for its extensive assistance throughout the presidential search process. 
 
The previous president of FCC, Elizabeth Burmaster, retired in July 2021 after serving for seven years. The Board appointed Dr. Thomas Powell, president emeritus of Mount St. Mary’s University and Saint John’s Catholic Prep, to serve as interim president until July 2022. The Board is grateful to Dr. Powell for his strong leadership during this interim year.