New college president signs 5-year-deal

NEWTON — The new president of Sussex Community College officiall signed his deal at Tuesday's Board of Trustees meeting.

Jon Connolly signed a 5-year contract that will begin Nov. 1 and continue through Nov. Oct. 31, 2020. He will earn a base salary of $160,000 per year and the contract says the board will review it on an annual basis and could raise the base salary on an annual basis. He will be eligible for bonuses if the college achieves an increase in credit hours.

Connolly holds a degree in biology from Colby College in Maine, a master's degree in Forest Science from Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and a doctorate in biological sciences from the University of Maine. He was a teaching assistant and guest lecturer at Yale University.

He taught biology at the University of Maine, Allegheny College and Colby College. In addition, he formerly served as a dean at Lone Star College.

He was interim president at Sheridan College and Gillette College in the Northern Wyoming community college district.