After three months as interim president, Nicolle Cestero has been named the thirteenth president of American International College. Upon assuming her official presidency on July 1, she will become the institution’s first permanent woman president.
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, American International College enrolls over 1,300 undergraduate students and 800 graduate students. Women represent 52 percent of the undergraduate population.
In 2011, President Cestero began her career with American International College as the associate vice president of human resources. She later received promotions to vice president, senior vice president, and executive vice president. In 2018, she took on the additional responsibilities of chief of staff. Three years later, the college promoted her again to the role of chief operating officer.
“It’s truly an honor to serve as president of American International College, an institution that has had such a transformative impact on my life and the lives of so many others,” said President Cestero. “I’m grateful to the board of trustees for their confidence and support. I’m excited to work alongside our dedicated faculty, staff, and community partners to continue advancing AIC’s mission of access, opportunity, and preparing students to achieve their goals.”
President Cestero received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mount Holyoke College, a liberal arts educational institution for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts. She holds a master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology from the University of West Florida and an MBA from American International College.