Fitzsimmons praised locally
for opening the doors to higher education
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — While Gov. Paul LePage may have been critical of longtime Maine Community College System President John Fitzsimmons for being too slow in enacting the governor’s higher education agenda, those locally who worked with — and for — Fitzsimmons say he did a tremendous job.
“John’s been a visionary for the state of Maine, and certainly for the community college system. His leadership has really allowed for a lot of things to happen here in Presque Isle,” said Timothy Crowley, president of Northern Maine Community College. “For example, when he created the Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges, they were instrumental in providing funding to help build the Smith Wellness Center.
“The changes we’ve made in the early college program so our high school students can access college credits has been a boost to the area, and a boost to the high schools and the colleges in this area, as well,” he said.
Crowley said when you “step back away from it all” and separate the emotions and excitement that resulted in Fitzsimmons’ resignation last Wednesday, the community college president “had a tremendous career.”
“He’s a person of integrity and puts service above self in all of his work. He’s been a very caring employer whether it was for the faculty or staff, and he was very concerned about the students,” he said. “Literally thousands of people have been able to improve their lives by going to a community college because of the work that he’s done.
“John’s done a tremendous job, and I’m going to miss him,” said Crowley. “I have a great deal of respect for him, the work that he’s done, and the way he conducts his business.”
Brian Hamel, who chaired the MCCS’s board of trustees from 2001-04, agreed.
“My experiences with John Fitzsimmons have been nothing but positive,” he said. “I think his 25 years of tenure with the MCCS should be applauded, and the efforts that he has made to grow that system to make higher education accessible to more Mainers is really a good thing.
“I think he’s shown great leadership over his tenure, and when I was chairman of the board I enjoyed working with him and he did fine things,” said Hamel. “My memory of John — and his legacy — will be fine leadership and growing the community college system so more Mainers can gain access to higher education.”
