Debra L. McCurdy, PhD,  became the 14th president of Baltimore City Community College on May 1, 2019. She is a celebrated leader in higher education with more than 30 years of experience as an administrator and campus president.

For the past 11 years, she served as president of Rhodes State College in Lima, Ohio. Dr. McCurdy oversaw the transformation of the institution as it expanded its programs to include associate of arts and associate of science degrees. The college also expanded its reach into the region through distance and online programs and developed a manufacturing consortium to provide skill enhancement and training to serve 26 companies. Bringing a strategic vision for program development and growth, she was instrumental in securing increased grant funding and maintaining fiscal stability.

Dr. McCurdy previously served for nine years as provost and chief operating officer for the Dunwoody Campus at Georgia Perimeter College, and for seven years as assistant and associate provost at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia. Earlier positions included serving as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow and vice president for academic affairs at Paul Quinn College in Texas and as assistant dean of academic affairs at Brandeis University in Massachusetts.

Dr. McCurdy earned bachelor of science, master of education and doctoral degrees from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She has been a part of several national initiatives, and given her time to many community organizations and boards. She has also received numerous awards in recognition of her leadership.