Julius Edwards Selected as President of Eastern Maine Community College

Julius Edwards

AUGUSTA, ME — The Board of Trustees of the Maine Community College System (MCCS) has confirmed the recommendation of MCCS President David Daigler and appointed Dr. Julius Edwards, a vice president at Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, as the next president of Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor. He will begin April 1.

Edwards has served in a series of leadership roles at Ivy Tech over the last 15 years, including vice chancellor of academic affairs, dean of the Ivy Tech School of Business & Supply Chain Management, director of the transfer center, and assistant director of the financial aid office. Ivy Tech is one of the nation’s largest community colleges, serving more than 168,000 students a year and has 19 campuses.

“Dr. Edwards has outstanding experience leading initiatives that are directly tied to our priorities at Maine’s community colleges,” Daigler said, noting Edwards’ work in aligning academic programs with industry trends, developing short-term workforce training in high-demand industries, and finding innovative ways to improve student experience and outcomes.

Edwards also managed diverse academic programs that included agriculture, advanced automation and robotics, supply chain management, culinary, and commercial driving. He also worked as an adjunct professor teaching business courses.

“I have spent my career working in a multi-campus community college, keeping access, student success, and workforce relevance at the center of every decision. Along the way, I have worked to strengthen academic quality, build meaningful employer and transfer partnerships, and secure resources that expand students’ opportunities,” Edwards said. “Those experiences have shaped how I approach leadership and will guide my work alongside the Eastern Maine Community College community as we support students, employers, and the region together.”

“We warmly welcome Julius Edwards to our community and look forward to working with him,” MCCS Board Chairman Peter DelGreco said. “His deep and broad experience with community colleges, commitment to the student experience, and focus on innovation is just what the board was looking for in a leader.”

Edwards has a doctorate in higher education leadership from Indiana State University, a master’s in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University, and a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Indiana University and Pursue University at Indianapolis.

Edwards succeeds Elizabeth Russell, who passed away last fall shortly after retiring. MCCS Chief Academic Affairs Officer Janet Sortor has served as interim president.

Eastern Maine Community College, located in Bangor with an off-campus center in East Millinocket, enrolls more than 2,700 students. It is one of seven colleges in the Maine Community College System.