MACC Hires Educator, Legislator to Lead State's Community College Association

The Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC) has appointed a former Minnesota legislator and higher education administrator to lead the organization as it faces a challenging year of record campus enrollments in the face of state funding restraints, the election of a new governor and the election of many new members of the Maryland General Assembly due to redistricting and retirements.

Anthony G. "Tony" Kinkel, Ed.D., brings to the MACC executive director post comprehensive teaching, administrative, policy making and leadership experience in secondary and higher education systems. He also has extensive legislative experience through nine elected terms to the Minnesota State Legislature.

MACC was formed in 1992 in response to the Maryland General Assembly's request that community colleges address the legislature in a united voice. A voluntary organization of 16 community colleges, it works to achieve legislative and other statewide goals of its members as well as advocates the benefits of community college services for Maryland citizens.

"Dr. Tony Kinkel fit our need for an executive director who has a strong background both in politics and in higher education," said Pat Stanley, vice-president of MACC and president of Frederick Community College.

Kinkel joins MACC from his post as dean of general education at Northwest Technical College in Minnesota, that state's largest technical college with five separate campuses. Elected to state office at age 24, Kinkel served from 1986-98 in Minnesota's House of Representatives where he chaired the Higher Education Committee and from 1999-2002 he served as a state senator.

He also represented Minnesota on the Education Commission of the States, a national organization of state policy makers who hold educational leadership positions in their respective states. Kinkel's background as an educator includes teaching political science at a Minnesota community college and teaching social studies at a Minnesota high school. For information, call 410-974-8117.