FAIRFIELD — After serving as interim president at Kennebec Valley Community College for the last year, Karen Normandin was appointed the permanent president of the college, effective June 1.

Karen Normandin, the acting president of Kennebec Valley Community College since May 2021, was named the permanent president of KVCC. Photo courtesy of Trenetta Saba

The Maine Community College System announced in a news release that Normandin was appointed to the position following a national search and an initial pool of over 40 candidates. The MCCS board of trustees unanimously supported the appointment.

“As we move forward, I am excited to be in a leadership role, working with the faculty and staff to continue the great work that KVCC is known for in this community,” Normandin said in the release. “I look forward to continuing that tradition and strengthening the ties to our community.”

Her appointment was announced Friday.

KVCC has campuses in Fairfield and Hinckley, has over 35 programs of study and enrolls more than 2,000 students. Normandin stepped in as interim president last May after Richard Hopper resigned to pursue a Fulbright Fellowship in Ukraine. Hopper is currently serving as interim president of Greenfield Community College in Greenfield, Massachusetts.

Normandin has worked at KVCC for over 30 years in a variety of roles, including as vice president of student affairs, enrollment, marketing and recruitment; dean of student affairs; director of educational support services; and director of TRIO student support services. She has twice received the KVCC President’s Award for her leadership.

In addition to her work at the college, Normandin serves as vice chairperson of the Kennebec Behavioral Health Programs advisory board and is an executive board member of the Mid Maine Chamber of Commerce.