Duranda Greene is to retire as president of the Bermuda College at the end of the academic year.

Jerome Reid, the chairman of the college’s board of governors, made the announcement and thanked Dr Greene for her contribution and years of service.

Dr Greene, an alumna at Bermuda College, became president in 2007.

Mr Reid said: “I wish to thank Dr Greene for 37 years of distinguished service to this institution in her various remits as well as the valuable contributions she has made to the local and overseas communities in her presidential capacity.

“Through her outstanding leadership, she has positioned Bermuda College as the island’s only tertiary education institution to take full advantage of opportunities that present themselves and has created a strong legacy of academic and financial progress for the institution.”

Before becoming president, Dr Greene served as a faculty member in the Department of Business, was dean of Business and Hospitality, and assistant to the president for special projects.

She is one of the longest-serving employees at the college, as well as being its youngest and first woman president.

In her role as president, Dr Greene has led the college through international accreditation and re-accreditation with the New England Commission of Higher Education, as well as through the development and implementation of two strategic plans.

She also led the introduction of various new programmes including nursing, diagnostic imaging technology, marine science and compliance, and established the Bermuda College Foundation as a separate incorporated company to raise money on behalf of the college.

As a result of the foundation’s fundraising efforts, a new Career Development Centre was built recently on the campus.

The board of governors has begun searching for a new president, and job advertisements will be posted soon.