Who is working to improve Keene State College as it deals with financial issues and staff shortages? Among budget cuts from the state and the loss of the Cheshire Academy for Lifelong Learning (CALL) program for the spring semester, Citizens for Keene State College has been working to address concerns related to the college and its future.
According to the organization’s mission statement, it “advocates for the essential role of Keene State College (KSC) in public higher education, emphasizing its contributions to workforce development and its economic importance to Keene, the Monadnock region, and the state of New Hampshire.”
Paul Vincent, a former professor and chair of holocaust and genocide studies, explained the organization’s goals regarding the college.
“I was with the original trio, it was Debbie [Bowie], Jan Cohen and myself who met late in November [2025] and said ‘there’s a crisis going on in the state that has the potential of destroying Keene State College and we need to do something about that,’” Vincent said. “We got our heads together and called a meeting that brought 18 people together, and we came out of that knowing we had to find out what role we needed to play to save the institution.”
Vincent emphasized that “saving the institution as we know it” is a main goal, while acknowledging progress and changes being made that can benefit students going forward.
Peter Whittemore, class of ‘69 alumnus, echoed Vincent’s statements and the importance of getting the word out.
“We want to reach outside of the college, not only inside,” Whittemore said. “We feel a lot of folks on campus, both faculty and students, don’t know what we’re about. We think it’s important to spread that message.”
Whittemore drew attention to the importance of funding higher education and encouraged faculty and students to vote for candidates who will support colleges and universities.
Whittemore also highlighted previous work that the organization has done with The Keene Sentinel, such as letters to the editor and an opinion piece by Vincent. The organization hopes to have its own website up in the next couple of weeks.
“It’s important to get in the newspaper, to get on the radio,” Vincent said. “Something that we hope to do soon is make videos and get out there so people can see and learn about how good the institution is. I do believe we have an excellent institution here.”
The organization has a couple of different subcommittees focused on alumni, CALL, legislative activity, public relations and business/economics.
The organization’s advisory committee comprises the 18 original members of the organization and its five-person steering committee guides the group’s activities.
Debbie Bowie, a member of the CALL subcommittee, emphasized the organization’s mission.
“For me personally, the top priority is the students,” Bowie said. “From there, though, the concern goes to the administration and the faculty and the staff. And I think everyone working together can make a great difference.”
Bowie said she feels the college benefits everyone in the Monadnock area. She also drew attention to economics, saying students have opportunities they wouldn’t have elsewhere due to the businesses around the college that provide internships and potential jobs.
Bowie seconded what Whittemore said about the importance of public funding.
“My biggest concern is lack of support,” she said. “Both statewide and nationally for public university education. When we advocate and we share the advantages it [KSC] has to the state, I think that might change some views and provide future economic support for the college.”
Another concern Bowie said she had was students choosing not to attend four-year universities after high school.
Jan Cohen, a member of the steering and advisory committees as well as various subcommittees, described her concerns and hopes for the college.
“The big concern is its viability,” Cohen said. “We’ve all read that there’s a demographic cliff happening. Schools are closing because of financial pressures and the cliff.”
Cohen added that the organization is particularly focused on the business/economic subcommittee right now, and that she and other members have realized how many internships in the community lead to long-term careers with businesses in Keene.
“We would love to have our own president,” Cohen said. “We love Don Birx, but we are sharing him with Plymouth. We’d love to see a presidential search. Birx has also created a three-school model and going forward we hope that it will receive support from faculty, staff and students. I want people to know that there are dozens and dozens of people who are involved in our effort.”
Chloe Erno can be contacted at
Nathan Hope, managing executive editor, is a member of the community support group, and had no part in the editing or writing of this article.
