Dr. Mark Brainard named president of Delaware Tech

Delaware Technical Community College announces that Dr. Mark T. Brainard has been named the college’s fifth president, effective Aug. 4. He succeeds Dr. Orlando J. George Jr., who retired June 30 after serving 19 years as president of the college.

Mark S. Stellini, chair of the board of trustees, said, “Mark has all of the qualities we were hoping to find in a president. He has high intellectual and emotional intelligence, and cares passionately about student success and improving the lives of Delawareans through education. As a graduate of Delaware Tech, Mark brings an inherent understanding of and commitment to the mission of the college. His breadth and depth of diverse, professional experience, along with his strong relationships with college stakeholders throughout Delaware, will serve him and the college extremely well as he leads the institution in the future.”

Brainard has more than 25 years of experience successfully leading initiatives in higher education, business, government, and legislative arenas throughout Delaware. In his recent position as executive vice president at Delaware Tech, he worked collaboratively with the president in providing strategic thinking and direction for all administrative areas, and had day-to-day responsibility for management of the major operational divisions through the one-college governance structure.

In this role, he led the completion of a series of collegewide projects in a variety of areas including a review and assessment of allied health programs, the alignment of student programs, the complete reorganization of the Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and the college’s public safety and institutional advancement departments, and a comprehensive marketing and public relations study. He also worked directly with Gov. Jack Markell and his team to develop a statewide pilot project for high school students to address the manufacturing skills gap in Delaware.

Brainard earned an associate degree in criminal justice from Delaware Tech in 1981. He went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science in 1983 from Wilmington University and a juris doctor degree from Widener University in 1994.

Brainard’s extensive and varied executive leadership positions both at Delaware Tech and in other public and private sectors throughout the state played a significant role in his appointment. He held the position of assistant vice president for personnel and legal affairs at Delaware Tech from 1995-99 before going on to serve three years as executive vice president of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, where he managed overall operations of the organization, and developed and maintained numerous partnership programs.

Brainard then served six years as chief of staff to Gov. Ruth Ann Minner. He returned to the college in 2008, where he served as assistant campus director of the Stanton-Wilmington campus until 2010, and vice president and campus director until 2013. He led the implementation of the institution’s goals, mission, and agenda at the campus as chief administrator. He was then appointed to his role as executive vice president.

Brainard is active in the community, participating in numerous and varied fundraisers and charitable events throughout the year. He serves as chair of the Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership Board, a member of the Wilmington University Public Policy Advisory Board and a board member of the St. Patrick’s Day Society. He is a former volunteer for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, HOST mentor, and member of the state Strategic Economic Council.

“As president, I will apply my experience, knowledge, leadership, and commitment to this institution to ensure that future students receive the same opportunities that I did when I graduated from Delaware Tech. I am honored and very grateful to the board of trustees for their confidence and support, and especially appreciative of the encouragement, friendship and support I received from the college employees throughout the presidential selection process. I look forward to assuming the position of president, supporting our students, and serving this college that has done so much for me over the years,” said Brainard.

Brainard, a lifelong resident of Delaware, resides in Newark with his wife Charlotte. They have two grown children.