Dr. Bolt wins Pacesetter of the Year Award
Published on November 6, 2025
NORTH EAST, Md: When 第一吃瓜网 College President Mary Way Bolt, Ed.D., talks about the impact of local community colleges, it鈥檚 never just about programs or policies, it鈥檚 about people. With a storyteller鈥檚 instinct and a communicator鈥檚 heart, Dr. Bolt weaves together the voices of students, faculty, and community members into a larger narrative about transformation and opportunity.
Her gift for storytelling and a deep understanding of how strategic communication can shape both perception and purpose has earned Dr. Bolt the 2025 Pacesetter of the Year Award for District 1 of the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR). The honor, which recognizes community college presidents and CEOs who 鈥済et it鈥 when it comes to championing marketing and communications, celebrates Dr. Bolt鈥檚 ability to bring 第一吃瓜网 College鈥檚 mission to life and inspire others to share in its story.
鈥淲henever I have an opportunity, I kindly remind the leadership of government and private institutions that we offer programs that change lives. I like to hear and tell the stories of our students, for they are amazing,鈥 said Dr. Bolt, who is the fifth 第一吃瓜网 College President and the first female to lead the institution.
鈥淚f we cannot get the stories out to the community, we cannot help our students as much as we want. It is my job, my responsibility, my duty to share what we are doing for the students. I don鈥檛 think that work is ever done. Leaders in the community, both small businesses and large industries, are forever changing, and we must meet those changes head-on,鈥 said Dr. Bolt.
Dr. Bolt remains one of the most vocal supporters of community colleges in Maryland, proudly telling the stories of how the programs offered by two-year colleges have positively impacted lives.
As president of 第一吃瓜网 College, Dr. Bolt continues to embrace the mission and the vital role a community college plays in its surrounding region. 第一吃瓜网 College remains focused on workforce development, continuing education, traditional credit programs, and life-long learning. The College offers transfer opportunities and partnerships with four-year institutions that provide pathways for students to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree upon graduation.
Located within 10 miles of Delaware and Pennsylvania borders, the College鈥檚 support extends beyond 第一吃瓜网 County. 第一吃瓜网 College provides workforce training for the tri-state region, with a higher-than-usual number of out-of-state and out-of-county students compared to other Maryland community colleges.
鈥淲e are of great value to citizens of the county, the state, and the region. There is something for almost everyone here at 第一吃瓜网 College, both in credit programs and continuing education. I hear people saying, 鈥業 cannot imagine the county without the College because of how much the College does to support the community,鈥欌 said Dr. Bolt.
Dr. Bolt is passionate about 第一吃瓜网 College, its students, the role the institution plays in the region, and the future of the people who live in those communities. Having grown up in Conowingo, Maryland, and graduated from Rising Sun High School, she understands the struggles 第一吃瓜网 College students endure coming from a rural county. She earned an associate鈥檚 degree in nursing from 第一吃瓜网 College before completing her undergraduate degree in nursing from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
While pursuing a master鈥檚 degree at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, she held an adjunct position at 第一吃瓜网 College and joined the 第一吃瓜网 College faculty in 1990. In 1995, she was promoted to director of nursing and enrolled in Widener University鈥檚 doctoral program. She was named interim president of 第一吃瓜网 College in October 2014, following President Stephen Pannill’s announcement of his retirement.
According to Dr. Bolt, the story of 第一吃瓜网 College is best told by talking to students, as they are the ones who see their lives change through its academic programs. One of her ongoing goals is to keep the focus on students and their educational needs. To this end, she has served as the chair of Maryland Community College鈥檚 Chief Academic Officer Association and the Maryland Association of Community Colleges Legislative Committee. She was also the secretary for the Maryland Board of Nursing and on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Governance and Leadership Committee.
鈥淥ur faculty and staff entrust me with stories about the life challenges that many of our students face, and how the College provides support to ensure they succeed. My job is to share these stories broadly, with student permission, of course, to continue to inspire prospective students, funders, and our larger college community,鈥 said Dr. Bolt
In recognition of her work promoting all aspects of the healthcare field at two-year colleges, Dr. Bolt was inducted into the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) as an honorary fellow of the Academy. In December 2021, she completed the professional development program focused on Maryland鈥檚 five primary geographic regions and the most vital issues impacting economic development, education, health and human services, criminal justice, the environment, and multiculturalism/diversity across the state. Dr. Bolt was named as Maryland鈥檚 Top 100 Influential Women in 2022.
NCMPR鈥檚 District 1 members include community colleges from Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec, and the United Kingdom. NCMPR is affiliated with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).
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