Posted by David Clough

Derek Langhauser was named President of the Maine Community College System (MCCS) on March 8, 2016, after having served as Interim President since February 2015.

President Langhauser has served as a senior member of the MCCS leadership team for over 20 years, becoming General Counsel of the seven-college system in 1994.

A nationally recognized expert in higher education law, President Langhauser has served as president of the National Association of College and University Attorneys, as an advisor to the Ford Foundation Initiative on Academic Freedom, and as chair of The Journal of College and University Law Board of Editors (The University of Notre Dame).

Since becoming MCCS President, he has secured new legislative and philanthropic support for the state’s community colleges; entered into new contracts with all six of the MCCS collective bargaining units; advanced the System’s strategic focus on student success; and been instrumental in the creation of the Higher Education Coordinating Committee to ensure greater collaboration with the University of Maine System.

As MCCS General Counsel, President Langhauser oversaw student, employee, and corporate legal affairs, emergency management, statutory and regulatory compliance, and risk management.  He also oversaw the development and implementation of MCCS policies, procedures, and legislation. In 2013, he served as the System’s Acting Director of Human Resources.

In addition to his work with the MCCS, President Langhauser has served as constitutional law counsel to former U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe and as a legal compliance advisor to Maine Maritime Academy.  He has taught for over a decade for the Williams College Maritime Studies Program.

President Langhauser is a 1984 graduate of Bates College and received his JD from the University of Maine School of Law in 1987.  He is a member of both the Council and Executive Committee of the American Law Institute, the leading independent organization in the United States producing scholarly work to clarify, modernize, and otherwise improve the law.

He resides in Cumberland Foreside with his wife and daughter.