Southern Maine Community College Dean of Administration Tiffanie Bentley will serve as interim president of the college as of Aug. 1.

Tiffanie Bentley Courtesy photo

Bentley follows President Joe Cassidy, who is leaving to become the president at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine. The Maine Community College System Board of Trustees announced that it will commence a nationwide search immediately.

Bentley will serve as interim president until a new president is seated, which will likely be in spring 2024.

“Tiffanie is an inclusive and trusted leader,” Maine Community College System President David Daigler said in a June 16 news release. “I look forward to working with her in this role.”

Bentley, who is from South Portland, joined SMCC in 2007 as director of student life, was promoted to dean of students in 2013, and named dean of administration in 2019.

She is a member of the South Portland-Cape Elizabeth Rotary Club and served on the board of The Locker Project, which provides Cumberland County children in need with food. She also served on the city of South Portland’s initial Affordable Housing Committee.

Before coming to SMCC, Tiffanie worked at the University of Texas at Austin, Texas Woman’s University in Denton, and the University of Southern Maine. She has a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University.