NMCC appoints Buck interim president

Angela Buck, Special to The County
2 weeks ago

Angela Buck has been appointed as the interim president of Northern Maine Community College for the 2024-25 academic year. 

A first-generation college graduate and an alumna of NMCC, Buck brings a wealth of experience, deep ties to the community and a strong commitment to institutional excellence.

“Angela’s commitment to strong partnerships both on- and off-campus, and the depth of her professional and personal experience make her a natural leader for Northern Maine Community College,” said David Daigler, president of the Maine Community College System.

Buck began her career at NMCC in January 2017 and has served in several key roles, including Nursing and Allied Health Department chair and academic dean. In her capacity as academic dean, she successfully developed equitable workload agreements, partnered with industry leaders to meet regional training needs, managed academic budgets, and ensured compliance with accreditation standards.

Buck helped establish a state-of-the-art simulation center at NMCC, which became part of Nursing and Allied Health curriculum in 2018. The center provides realistic, hands-on training opportunities for healthcare students and meets national accreditation standards. 

Building on the success of the nursing program, Buck championed the construction of a separate simulation center for NMCC’s Emergency Medical Services program, helping lead the fundraising, design and implementation of the innovative lab and classroom spaces. The EMS Simulation Center officially launched in 2022. As a result of these efforts, NMCC has been able to provide hands-on training experience not typically available to rural students.

Buck has over a decade of experience as a family nurse practitioner, providing primary care in both solo and collaborative practice settings. She has managed healthcare operations, supervised medical staff, and served as the medical director for Whited Bible Camp in Bridgewater.

As an educator, Buck has worked closely with accreditation organizations and developed programs that align with both state and national standards. To support the growing urgency for quality healthcare education, Buck led efforts to seek accreditation for fields requiring professional licensure, including registered nursing, practical nursing, medical assisting, medical coding, and emergency medical services. To expand accessibility for the increasing demographic of non-traditional students — including parents and full-time workers — Buck piloted the college’s first 100 percent online course offerings, allowing to apply for and achieve accreditation to offer fully online programs.

Buck holds a master of science in nursing from the University of Maine, where she graduated summa cum laude and received recognition for student excellence in the MSN Program. She also earned a bachelor of science in nursing and an associate of science in nursing, both with highest honors, from the University of Maine and Northern Maine Community College, respectively. 

Prior to entering the nursing field, Buck also earned an associate’s degree in accounting from NMCC, then named Northern Maine Technical College.

Angela Buck is a certified family nurse practitioner by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and licensed by the Maine State Board of Nursing. Her professional memberships include the Maine Nurse Practitioner Association, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society.