Published: May 07, 2008 10:07 am         

Retiring chief spent nine years at college before taking top post

CUMBERLAND - Don Alexander, who will retire next month, is Allegany College of Maryland's third president.

Before becoming president in 1980, Alexander spent five years as the dean of instructional affairs and four years as the director of institutional research and development.

W. Ardell Haines served as president from 1967 to 1980.

ACM's founding president, Robert S. Zimmer, served from 1961 to 1967.

Bruce Exstrom, ACM's vice president of instructional affairs, will become president July 1.

Exstrom holds a doctorate in administration in curriculum and instruction, a master of arts in adult and continuing education, and a bachelor of arts in business administration and finance, all from the University of Nebraska. He also has an associate of arts in business administration from Northeast Community College in Nebraska.

Gary Durr, the vice president of continuing education, will also retire in June. Durr has been at ACM since 1977.