Brian Lombardo
Manchester CEO Nicole Esposito answers questions at a Fall 2024 Student Forum in the Cougar Cave seating area.
To the surprise and dismay of many students, during the Student Government Association meeting on April 16, CT State Manchester CEO Dr. Nicole Esposito announced that she will likely not return next semester to the campus.
“I believe, leave it better than you found it,” she said, pointing to new student labs, partnerships with community members and other successes during her five-year tenure as CEO.
Esposito explained to the students assembled that CT State Community Colleges would be switching to the positions of Presidents instead of CEOs, and that they would be hiring seven presidents for the 12 campuses. Additionally, Manchester would be a paired campus with Middlesex in Middletown and Asnuntuck in Enfield, meaning that that president would be responsible for three campuses. This planned reconstruction of CT State was announced by CT State President John Maduko in March. It is scheduled to take effect July 1.
At the time of the announcement, Esposito and the rest of the CEOs of the community colleges were given the chance to apply for those president positions.
Esposito said she did not apply.
“It wasn’t an easy decision for me,” she said.
Esposito has been at the Manchester campus as a whole for almost thirteen years, she said, as both an instructor and administrator.
She is well liked by many on campus, who have described her as someone who has always stuck her neck out for the students of Manchester.
Cori Pace, SGA president, said she was sorry that Esposito would be leaving and asked her if she would come visit.
“Sure,” said Esposito. “But you guys will go on to do your own careers, and then I can come visit you.”
The news comes at a time when many students have already stated how they are not happy with the merger of the 12 community colleges into one, which took effect July 1, 2023, and that this next move solidified for many that there are more cons than pros to the merger.
Student Luis Quinones, who heads the Computer Repair and Share Club, was at the meeting.
“I’m disheartened that Dr. Esposito will potentially be leaving CT State Manchester. She is impactful here…and has a vast experience within education, is an advocate for inclusion both locally and nationally,” he said. “She is engaging with students who feel her monthly meetings with students are essential and students feel ‘heard.’ She will be a huge loss to us if she leaves!”
Things could change, Esposito said, in the next few weeks. CT State leadership could revise or decide to pause the revision plan.
But if that doesn’t happen, then this Spring 2025 semester will be Esposito’s last at Manchester.