President's Message

The President's Message

On behalf of our college community, I would like to welcome you to the College of Southern Maryland (CSM).  

Since its founding in 1958, CSM has been dedicated to serving the residents of Southern Maryland and supporting them in attaining their educational goals.  

Over its history, the college has expanded to meet the needs of our students and to keep higher education affordable and accessible. Our four campuses at La Plata, Leonardtown, Prince Frederick, and Regional Hughesville are augmented by the Velocity Center at Indian Head, the Center for Transportation Training, and the CSM Virtual Campus.  

Times change, and the college has changed as well, but amidst the evolution of our facilities and programs, we remain committed to our students’ success. 

For more than 60 years, the college has welcomed thousands of learners, and our students embody the incredible diversity of Southern Maryland. Our college community is united by our shared goals and aspirations and by our common belief in the power of knowledge to transform our lives, our future, and our world. 

Whatever form your college experience takes, wherever you would like it to lead, you can keep moving toward your goals at CSM. Take advantage of more than one hundred for-credit academic programs and hundreds of continuing education and workforce development courses. I encourage you to explore all of your options by perusing our website or getting in touch with our admissions specialists. 

All of us here at CSM welcome you to this college community and look forward to accompanying you on your learning journey. Whatever brings you to the College of Southern Maryland, we are here to support you and help make your experience the best it can be. 

Warm Regards,
Dr. Yolanda Wilson
President

Dr. Yolanda Wilson Biography

Dr. Yolanda Wilson became president of the College of Southern Maryland January 3, 2023. She is the first African American president in the college’s 65-year history.

Prior to her presidential appointment, Wilson was vice president of Instruction, Ashe Campus and Alleghany Center at Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. She worked in the North Carolina and South Carolina Community College Systems for more than 22 years, beginning her career as an adjunct faculty member before moving into more progressive leadership roles in both academic affairs, student services, and campus operations. Her work in higher education has centered on creating a student-ready college culture, mitigating institutional barriers to access, retention, and completion, and strategically focusing on programming and policies that support all students to success.

Wilson has completed the 2019-2020 Aspen Rising President's Fellowship program, received the Phi Theta Kappa Distinguished College Administrator's Awards – both internationally and within the Carolinas – and was recognized as the South Carolina Technical Education Association Administrator of the Year at York Technical College. She is the Region 2 director for the American Association for Women in Community Colleges, serves as a peer evaluator for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and is a Leadership Coach for Achieving the Dream. In June 2023, she was appointed to the American Association of Community Colleges Commission on College Readiness for a three-year term. She is also on the USM at Southern Maryland Board of Advisors, the Charles County Chamber of Commerce Board, the Charles County Economic Advisory Board, the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce Board, the CalvertHealth Board of Directors, the Maryland Association of Community Colleges Presidents' Council and Board of Directors, the Transform Mid-Atlantic Board’s Presidents’ Council, The Patuxent Partnership Board of Directors, the Southern Maryland Task Force – Catholic Charities, and the Southern Maryland Workforce Development Board. She is currently in Leadership Southern Maryland's Executive Program class of '24.

Wilson earned her bachelor’s degree in English Education and her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Maryland, College Park, her Developmental Education Specialist Certification from Kellogg Institute at Appalachian State University, and her Ed.D. in Adult and Community College Education from North Carolina State University. She is blessed to be married to her best friend, Dale, and they have three sons: Bryan, Brandon, and Braxton.