A former president of two colleges in the United States has been chosen as the next president of the Bermuda College.

David Sam, who has also been a college chief financial officer, is to take the helm on August 5 after approval from the Department of Immigration.

He will serve as Bermuda College’s seventh president. Duranda Greene stepped down as president last year and Branwen Smith-King served as interim president.

Nasir Wade, the chairman of the college’s board of governors, said Dr Sam’s appointment came after six months of work by a presidential search committee comprising governors, alumni, faculty, staff and student representatives.

Mr Wade said the new president came with a record as “a change agent with more than 25 years of experience in higher education”.

The board said the new president would leverage the college’s legacy towards “even greater prominence in the community, through innovation and partnerships, for the next 50 years and beyond”.

Dr Sam, from Ghana, has spent a career in the US.

He has served as president of Elgin Community College, in Illinois, and was previously president at North Harris College in Texas.

Dr Sam said: “I am eager to bring my A-game daily to collaborate with all stakeholders to advance the mission of the college and serve the people of Bermuda.”

Diallo Rabain, the education minister, said the appointment came at a pivotal time as the college neared its 50th anniversary.

He added: “This appointment, following a rigorous and thorough second search process, brings a leader of exceptional calibre to the helm.

“Having had the opportunity to engage with all the candidates, I was truly impressed by their vision and capabilities.

“Dr Sam's experience and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to build on Bermuda College's legacy and execute our strategic plan.”

Mr Rabain highlighted the Government’s support for the college, which included the College Promise programme, launched in 2020 for public school graduates to qualify for free tuition, dual enrolment schemes and an annual funding grant of $300,000 since 2017.

The minister said he was confident that the new president would “usher in a new era of growth and innovation”.

He added: “I look forward to collaborating with Dr Sam and witnessing the continued evolution of Bermuda College.”

The new president holds a doctorate of philosophy in international relations from Tufts University; a juris doctorate from the University of Akron; a master of laws in energy law and policy from the University of Dundee; a master of business administration from Northwestern University; a master of arts in law and diplomacy from Tufts; a master of arts in international development, also from Tufts; and a bachelor of arts in economics, history and political science from Illinois State University.

Mr Wade praised the new president’s “vibrant demeanour, passion for student success, and his ability to genuinely connect with others”.

He added: “He guides with his heart and wears his integrity on his sleeve.

“His general nature is to rise to any challenge and ensure individual success transitions into team and organisational success.

“We envision a future of unbounded potential for Bermuda College and for all those who share in the college’s mission of access and opportunities leading to local and global success for our students.”