Maine Community College System president stepping down next year
Maine Community College System President David Daigler to Step Down at End of 2025‑26 Academic Year
Portland, Maine – David Daigler, who has led the state’s community‑college system for eight years, announced Wednesday that he will leave the presidency at the end of the next academic year. In a letter to trustees, Daigler said the decision was personal and driven by a belief that the system “deserves someone who has the energy I had eight years ago.”
Daigler, 68, has been a familiar face in Maine education since the mid‑1990s. He began as the director of Southern Maine Technical College, left briefly to work in the health‑care sector, and returned to the system in 2003 as chief financial officer. He later served as vice president before stepping into the top role in 2019, the same year Janet Mills took office as governor.
Under Daigler’s leadership, the Maine Community College System has achieved several milestones. The state codified free community‑college tuition, a program that has dramatically lowered financial barriers for over 20,000 students across the seven colleges that comprise the system. Daigler also oversaw the creation of the Harold Alfond Center, a workforce‑training hub that has forged new partnerships with local employers and expanded training options for students seeking rapid entry into high‑demand careers.
“I feel very good about where we are as a system,” Daigler wrote. “It has been my greatest privilege to work alongside the outstanding people at Maine’s community colleges to make these colleges, our communities, and the entire state a more prosperous, kind, and supportive place for all.”
His tenure has been marked by collaboration with Gov. Mills, whom he described as a “fruitful partnership.” Together, they secured permanent free tuition, “after years of budget‑to‑budget funding,” and aligned state policy with the system’s expansion goals. Daigler noted, “Our strategies were in sync.”
Looking ahead, Daigler said the timing of his departure is strategic. With the state’s next governor yet to be elected—an election that will culminate in a ranked‑choice runoff—he believes the incoming leadership would benefit from a president who can immediately establish a partnership with the new administration. “That’s part of why I announced my departure now,” he said.
The board of trustees’ chair, Peter DelGreco, praised Daigler’s stewardship during a “consequential and difficult period,” citing his navigation of pandemic‑related disruptions, political turbulence, and economic swings. DelGreco said, “David has been a tremendous leader… He will be sorely missed.”
Daigler emphasized that he does not view his exit as a retirement. Instead, he expressed a desire to continue advocating for the changes he has overseen in workforce training and higher education. “I’m not interested in another traditional job,” he said. “I’d like to keep pushing for the improvements we’ve made.”
The search for Daigler’s successor will begin immediately. The Maine Community College System, which serves more than 20,000 students and offers two‑year degrees and short‑term training programs, will need a new president who can carry forward its momentum in affordability and workforce readiness while building relationships with the forthcoming state administration.
As Daigler reflects on a record number
