Norwalk Community College President Announces Retirement

NORWALK, CT — After 15 years serving as president of Norwalk Community College, David Levinson still can't wait to get to work in the morning. Even in the midst of Friday's snowy morning weather, he found himself eager to get to the school for what will be his final semester in his position.

Last week, Levinson announced he will be retiring as president and as vice president of Community Colleges for the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system (CSCU). His official retirement date is June 30.

"I’ve been doing the presidency now for about 15 years, and the CSCU vice presidency for about eight [years], and I’m at a point in my life where I felt that I’ve done about as much as I can do," Levinson said in an interview with Patch. "I’ve exceeded the average shelf life of a college president, which is between five to seven years. I’ve doubled that."(To sign up for Norwalk breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

Despite his retirement from these positions, it won't be the end of Levinson's involvement with the school. CSCU President Mark Ojakian has asked him to stay on for an additional year to support ongoing system efforts, during which Levinson will serve as presidential fellow from July 1 of this year until June 30, 2020.

As a fellow, he will contribute to CSCU's Students First initiatives, work with creditors, act as a mentor and aid the system in a number of initiatives. Levinson said he was "very happy" Ojakian has asked him to serve in this new position.

"I’m the first person to occupy it," Levinson said. "The idea really is to provide retiring presidents with a year of service so that they can really give back. The idea of a fellow is someone who has a number of responsibilities and will be a consultant on many matters. It’s someone who is being recognized for what they’ve contributed during their careers, and really just giving back and using that expertise on more of a full-time basis."

Ojakian has selected Cheryl DeVonish to serve as the NCC Interim Campus Chief Executive Officer, with responsibility for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the campus beginning July 1, according to a press release. DeVonish has more than 14 years of public service experience and is currently serving as NCC’s Chief Operating Officer. Prior to that, she was NCC’s Chief Diversity & Equity Officer & Special Advisor to Levinson.

"Having Cheryl DeVonish named as the interim CEO who will be following me, that gives me a lot of comfort," Levinson said, "and it helps makes this decision palatable because I know Cheryl will continue doing great things at NCC and will take the college to the next level."

Looking back on his many years with NCC, Levinson finds himself most proud of the community connections the school has made in that time.

"We’re the only community college in Connecticut that’s been designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a community engaged institution," Levinson said. "I think serving the community is the mission of a community college."

Levinson also points to NCC's academic standards and expectations as something that sets the school apart from other community colleges. All students are required to complete a "very intense" general education CORE, consisting of classes such as Oral Communications, something Levinson feels is very important to set students up for success.

While perhaps difficult at times, those challenges also come with something even more important: a caring staff that is willing to nurture a student's desire to succeed.

"From the minute I walked into the college for my interview many years ago, I found the people here to be so caring, loving and nurturing," Levinson said. "They really care for students, and our people go out of their way to make sure that all students succeed as best as possible. That academic rigor, the nurturing and the nature of this institution...I’ve never seen another place like it."

With June looming off in the distance, Levinson still has many responsibilities to tend to. On Tuesday, he will attend his last convocation as president. He will also preside over the college’s commencement ceremony on May 21 one final time. The ceremony will act as his own commencement is some ways, and Levinson said he will more than likely be "holding back tears" during the ceremony.

"The greatest joy I've had as president is that I get the opportunity to shake everyone’s hand as they go across the stage during commencement and look into their eyes," Levinson said."It’s just overwhelming, the appreciativeness of our students; just to see what we’ve done is indescribable. I’ll miss that, but I’ll cherish these memories for the rest of my life. I’ve been really privileged to serve in this position. It’s been wonderful."

Photo courtesy Norwalk Community College