The Garrett College Board of Trustees announced Tuesday it has reached an agreement with Dr. Richard Midcap that will keep the College’s president at GC through June 2029.
The College’s second-longest-serving president, Midcap has been at GC since 2017. Midcap, whose contract was set to expire in June 2025, received a four-year extension.
“I’m thrilled that the Board of Trustees was willing to extend my contract to 2029,” said Midcap, who is finishing his 30th year as a Maryland community college administrator. “I fully anticipate finishing my higher education career at Garrett.”
“The Board of Trustees is very pleased that Dr. Midcap was agreeable to extending his contract,” said Don Morin, chair of the Garrett College Board of Trustees. “Dr. Midcap has brought confident and capable leadership to the College during challenging times, especially during the COVID pandemic.”
Midcap was appointed Garrett College’s 13th president by the Garrett College Board of Trustees in November 2016. His tenure has been marked by comprehensive capital improvements – including the construction of the Offutt STEM Center and the Performing Arts Center at Garrett College – as well as a successful reaccreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). The College has also seen a broad expansion of its intercollegiate athletic program.
The Daniel E. Offutt III STEM Center opened in 2018 and the Performing Arts Center at Garrett College opened in 2022. The College expanded its intercollegiate athletic program to include wrestling along with women’s soccer while building a $3 million turf complex in 2023.
“I feel we have the best facilities of any community college in the state,” said Midcap. “That’s a testament to the capital support Garrett College receives from Garrett County Government. I honestly know of no community college in the State of Maryland that is supported as well as Garrett College is by its local government.”
Midcap also praised the Garrett County community for its commitment to the College.
“Our community gave more than $6 million in consecutive capital campaigns supporting the Offutt STEM Center and the Performing Arts Center,” noted Midcap. “Those campaigns illustrated the impressive spirit of giving in our community. The Garrett College Foundation did a wonderful job tapping into that giving spirit in those campaigns.”
Midcap said he views Garrett College’s successful 2020 MSCHE reaccreditation as one of the College’s most impressive recent achievements.
“Middle States has an extremely rigorous reaccreditation process that focuses on evidence-based improvements,” said Midcap. “And our reaccreditation affirmed that the College has comprehensive evidence that we are achieving our mission and goals. Our faculty and staff should be proud of their great work, which was recognized by the Middle States as part of that reaccreditation.”
Midcap said the terms of his extension tied directly to the College’s accreditation timeline.
“Our next reaccreditation self-study and site visit takes place in 2027-28,” said Dr. Kelli Sisler, the College’s accreditation liaison officer (ALO). “We appreciate Dr. Midcap’s willingness to lead the College through that next visit.”
Midcap earned a Bachelor of Science degree in History from Salisbury University, a Master of Education degree in History from Washington College, and a doctorate in innovation and leadership from Wilmington University. He is also a graduate of Maryland Eastern Shore Leadership and earned a certification in sport management from Concordia (Minn.) University St. Paul.
Midcap said he and his wife, Donna, anticipate remaining in Garrett County when he eventually retires.
“We live right across the street from the College,” said Midcap. “I fully expect we’ll be attending athletic contests and PAC events for years to come. This is our home.”
