Bolden replaces Diane Bosak, who served as Executive Director of the Commission for more than 11 years. Bosak left the Commission in August to work in a similar position in Arizona. Dr. Jim Linksz, President of Bucks County Community College from 1992 to 2012, has served as Interim Executive Director since August.
Bolden will serve as the chief spokesperson for the Commonwealth’s 14 community colleges, which serve more than 210,000 credit students and thousands of noncredit, workforce and adult students.
Bolden’s responsibilities will include working with Pennsylvania leaders seeking additional community college locations and with the CEOs of other higher education sectors in promoting coordinated opportunities. She will also work with leaders in the legislature and administration in coordinating the work of community colleges with the other aspects of state government.
Dr. Nick Neupauer, President of Butler County Community College and Chair of the Commission Board of Directors, said,, “We are extremely pleased that Ms. Bolden has accepted our invitation to lead the Commission. She has strong Pennsylvania roots and a clear understanding of educational issues facing the Commonwealth and the importance of community colleges.”
Bolden comes to the Commission from the Pennsylvania Department of Education where she served as the Director of the Policy Office. In this role, she worked with the Secretary and the Governor’s cabinet, as well as legislators and other stakeholders, on education initiatives throughout the Commonwealth.
Previously, she served in the Education Policy Office as a budget and legislative analyst and in the Governor’s Budget Office where she developed policy and legislation on various issues including education.
Her experience in the private sector includes working in the Congressional Relations Division of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. and as Deputy Director of Coalition Development with the Wexler Group, a division of Hill & Knowlton Public Affairs Worldwide.
She also served as an adjunct faculty member at Harrisburg Area Community College and at York College of Pennsylvania.
Bolden completed her bachelor’s degree at Washington University in St. Louis with a double major in Spanish and Political Science. She received her master’s degree in Political Science/Public Policy from the Rutgers University, Eagleton Institute of Politics. She also completed the Governor’s Office of Administration Management Training Program.
