Community College System of NH Appoints Two College Presidents

The Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) appointed Patrick Cate of Campton as president of Lakes Region Community College in Laconia, and Sarmad Saman of Marlborough, Mass., as president of White Mountains Community College with campuses in Berlin and Littleton.

“One of the unique strengths of community colleges, so much so that it is embedded in the name, is the role our colleges play in the communities that we serve through the strong connections that are built between our colleges and their regional partners and stakeholders,” says Dr. Mark Rubinstein, CCSNH Chancellor. “The only way to do that right is to have campus leaders working closely with local leaders so that our students can contribute to the economic, civic, and cultural vitality of their communities and help New Hampshire achieve a competitive edge with a highly skilled workforce that is prepared for the future. I am very pleased that we have identified two outstanding candidates for college leadership whose demonstrated commitment to the students we serve will benefit our communities our statewide efforts across New Hampshire.”

Patrick Cate

Cate joined Lakes Region Community College in 2018 as associate vice president and vice president of academic and student affairs before being appointed as interim president of the college in July 2022. 

Cate has over 20 years of experience in higher education, including roles at Walnut Hill College in Philadelphia, Rivier University in Nashua, and 17 years with Plymouth State University. Under Cate’s leadership, Lakes Region Community College raised funds for and launched a Fire Fighter Paramedic program, with the first graduating class achieving a 100% pass rate for the national paramedic exam.Cate holds degrees from Keene State College and Plymouth State University.

Saman has more than two decades of experience in teaching and administration. He is bilingual in English and Arabic and has studied and worked in four countries—his native Iraq, the United Kingdom, Jordan and, since 1999, the United States. Saman became a U.S. Citizen in 2019. 

Sarmad Saman

Saman studied and conducted research in microbiology before transitioning to faculty and administrative positions within the Massachusetts public school system and then higher education. In 1999, he began teaching biological sciences, first at the Chelsea, Mass. public schools and then at Boston University before transitioning to community college teaching and administration. Since 2000, Saman taught in the science departments at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, Mass., MassBay Community College in Wellesley Hills, Mass., and Bristol Community College in Fall River, Mass. 

Saman completed the Community College Leadership Academy in 2014. He holds the academic rank of Professor in Microbiology and most recently served as chief of staff and deputy academic officer at Bristol Community College. Saman also served at Bristol as dean of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), acting dean for online learning, and interim dean for Behavioral, Social Science and Education. 

Saman has extensive experience in grant writing and management, including a $4.4 million grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to Bristol Community College to build a Clean Room (spaces typically used in manufacturing to ensure a low level of pollutants).