Dr. Rose Mince, President of Carroll Community College
by Kym Byrnes, photography by Nikola Tzenov
From Lesson Plans to Leadership
Dr. Rose Mince, who started her education career wanting to be a physical education teacher, took the reins as the president of Carroll Community College this past summer. She believes a community college is a vital hub connecting people, providing opportunities and resources, and often acting as a foundation for “what comes next.” With a supportive husband and three grown children, Mince says she had no thought of being president of a college up until very recently, but is now ready for the challenges of running a robust organization.
How did you find your way from a classroom teacher to a principal?
I majored in communications and played football at Shepherd University, and I just knew I wanted to work with youth. In the early 2000s, I started working in Baltimore City schools with students with emotional difficulties, and I loved it. I never really thought about being in leadership at that time, but there were principals who saw that potential in me. I started to get the principal itch around 2013, and eventually, I got the opportunity to come to Carroll County and jumped at it. It was a seamless transition and fit for me. That was six years ago.
When did you decide you wanted to go into the education field? Did you always know you wanted to be in a leadership position?
I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. I can clearly remember playing when I was little, and I was always the teacher. My father was a teacher, and my mom was an adjunct, so I guess it’s in my blood. My first degree was in physical education. I got a job as an elementary school physical education teacher, and then when I got my master’s, I broadened my area of study to teacher education and learning theory. Then, for my doctorate, I went even broader into human development. I’m fascinated by the way the brain works and cognitive learning theory. After working in public schools, I transitioned into teaching at Dundalk Community College. That evolved into working in a variety of different roles. After working in several administrative positions at CCBC (the Community College of Baltimore County), there was an opening at Carroll Community College, and it just seemed like a perfect fit, so I made the move. It was a great decision, and when I came here, I had no thought of one day being president; I love the way this all fell into place.
You’ve been at Carroll Community College since 2017. What appeals to you about the community college experience?
I was a community college student, raised kids who went to community college, taught at community college, and worked in various leadership positions at several community colleges. There is something special about community college. I think that many [professionals who work at community college] think they’ll end up at the university level but find that you can really impact lives here. There are so many benefits to community college — so much literature shows that once students have 15 credits, they are going to soar. They come here to get that firm foundation. Also, we have the whole noncredit offerings; it’s for everyone. We have our Littlest Learners program, summer camp, folks coming for work skill certification and training, personal enrichment classes, and on and on. Everyone is welcome at a community college, and that’s not necessarily the vibe at a four-year university.
You have succeeded Dr. James Ball, who was known for being well-liked and achieving significant milestones during his decade-long tenure. What do you hope to accomplish in this position?
I have very large shoes to fill. The beauty for me is that I’m stepping into a role where the college is already excellent. There are not a whole lot of holes or challenges. I have the pleasure of starting at a position of strength and going even higher. Dr. Ball said at his retirement that we’re like a slingshot. We’re ready to take off. We’re poised for a great trajectory. For me, some particular milestones are ensuring success for all students regardless of their background and the modality that they take courses. One-third of our students are taking online courses, so we want them to be as successful as our in-person students. We want to make sure, across the board, everyone is achieving. One big endeavor for me this fall is developing the next long-term strategic plan; we’re in the fifth year of a five-year plan. Starting next academic year will be my opportunity to put my marks on where we go from here. We’re working hard to get input from the broader community on that plan through various committees and surveys. We’re trying to take a broad look from all perspectives, including business, community and partners, and we are bringing all voices to the table as we craft the next strategic plan.
What does success look like for you in this position?
There’s the subjective and objective. The subjective is when you feel good seeing a student do well and know they’ll achieve. On the more concrete or objective side, we’ll have very clear metrics tied to the strategic plan and monitor that process to make sure we’re getting where we need to go.
What are the challenges of running a community college today? What are the not-so-fun parts of the job?
The only downside is funding. Most community colleges across the country have a similar funding mode. One-third comes from state support, one-third from the county and one-third from tuition. Since all funding doesn’t come from tuition, when budgets are tight at the state or county level, it really impacts us. We cannot raise tuition to a degree to be able to fill that gap; that would be unconscionable. Last year, we raised tuition for the first time in six years to accommodate rising costs. It’s the biggest challenge, and we spend a lot of time trying to figure it out. We have a fabulous foundation here, and they work hard to help us raise scholarship money.
What are the joys of the job?
Whenever others succeed, I succeed. That includes the students who come here in the short or long term and the faculty and staff. There is a wonderful sense of community here. We’re small; we all know each other. We work well together and take the time to celebrate those wins.
If you had your professional career to do all over again, is there anything you’d do differently?
I don’t think so. I’ve been incredibly blessed to have opportunities and a support system that allowed me to do the things I wanted to do. I have a fabulous husband who says, “Go for it,” and family and friends who are very supportive, including three grown kids.
How do you stay grounded, keep your head in the game, and stay on track?
I prioritize my exercise time. I make a goal to go to the gym every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at lunchtime with a group of people who are a wonderful support network. They make it fun. People know not to mess with my exercise time. I love almost every type of physical activity. Get a walk or get out of the office for some break in the day. Professionally, the biggest help to me is the network of people I know — other presidents I can call on to talk to or folks I’ve worked with over the years. The internet makes it so easy to stay in touch with people. I’m not shy about calling people and getting feedback. My staff is fabulous, and they look out for me.
Is there something about yourself that might surprise people?
I think people would be surprised to know how introverted I am. The job requires a lot of extroversion, but I’m really much quieter than that.
What are three adjectives you think people close to you would use to describe you?
Passionate, dedicated and smart.
What is one of the most memorable trips you’ve taken?
One of my favorites is a recent trip my family took to the Canadian Rockies. There were seven of us, and it was gorgeous. We hiked and climbed mountains; it was awe-inspiring to be surrounded by that natural beauty and be with my family. We were in our parkas at the top of a mountain, and it was snowing. We would hike for hours and have to help each other along. It was hard, but when you got to the top, there was such a feeling of accomplishment.
Is there anything else you want people to know about you or your role here at Carroll Community College?
As soon as I came on campus, I had a great feeling. It was clear how much people enjoy their jobs here and that Carroll County is a wonderful place. We live in Harford County right now and are looking for something similar with land here in Carroll County. I am committed not only to the college, but also to the county and the amazing partnerships we have with people throughout the county. It makes my job easy. I don’t have to beg people to connect with the college. They are looking for opportunities to engage with us.
