Cheryl Norman has been named president of Ridgewater College in Willmar, Minnesota. She is slated to begin her presidency on July 1.
According to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education, Ridgewater College enrolls more than 3,100 students, 64 percent of whom are women.
Dr. Norman brings extensive experience in higher education leadership to her new role. She comes to Ridgewater from Central Lakes College in Minnesota, where she has been serving as vice president of academic and student affairs since 2023. Before her current role, she was dean of assessment and academic administration at the University of Northwestern in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has also served in a variety of academic and administrative positions at Minneapolis College.
A graduate of Concordia University in St. Paul, Dr. Norman earned her master’s degree in education from Shenandoah University in Virginia and her doctorate in higher education administration from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.
Ellen Kennedy has been selected to serve as interim president of Cape Cod Community College in West Barnstable, Massachusetts. Her appointment is effective July 1.
Cape Cod Community College enrolls nearly 3,300 students. Women represent about two-thirds of the student body.
Dr. Kennedy has spent the past 14 years as president of Berkshire Community College in Massachusetts. Before her presidency, she was the community college’s vice president for administration and finance and chief financial officer. Earlier, Dr. Kennedy was chief advancement officer for the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and president of the MCLA Foundation.
Dr. Kennedy holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, an MBA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a master of public administration degree from Harvard University, and an educational doctorate from Northeastern University in Boston.