Board of Trustees

Larisa Pfeiffer, Ed.D.

Member Information

Position:	Member, Parent Alumni, CSM Chief of Staff

Other Information

Biography
Dr. Pfeiffer has enjoyed raising a family and living in the southern Maryland community for over three decades and has spent the last 15 years at the College of Southern Maryland. She has recently been appointed by the college to lead a presidential initiative to stand up a Center for Career Development and Success. Prior to her appointment she served as the institution’s Chief of Staff, serving as a member of the Executive Cabinet and leading the institution through a presidential transition. Her roles at the college include running business and information technology, community engagement, and working with students directly in the classroom as an adjunct faculty member. She is particularly proud of her Food Pantry initiatives to address food insecurities with students and employees. Dr. Pfeiffer is familiar with board work most recently serving as President of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Professional Board Staff Network (PBSN) focusing on governing boards, representing more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees who govern more than 1,200 community, technical and junior colleges in the United States and beyond. Simultaneously, she served as a board member for the National Association of Presidential Assistants (NAPAHE) an international organization for professionals supporting higher education leaders in two- and four-years institutions. Locally, she has been a board member for the Center for Children and Friends of Hospice of Charles County. Along with the Calverton Board she currently sits on the Ferris University Alumni Steering Committee. Dr. Pfeiffer holds an associate degree in Arts and Sciences from the College of Southern Maryland; a bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Maryland; a master’s in Communication from Southern New Hampshire University, and a doctoral degree in Higher Education Leadership from Ferris State University where her dissertation research focused on trusteeship. She is the recipient of the 2022 Distinguished Scholar-Practitioner Award. Additionally, Dr. Pfeiffer holds certifications in Cornell Labor Relations, LEAN, Program Planning, and is Institutional Review Board Certified. Dr. Pfeiffer’s most recent published words include Dear CEO’s and Trustees: Your Leadership is Showing in Trustee Quarterly, Building the Community College Leadership Pipeline: Prioritizing Succession Planning in At Issue, and Mentors vs. Leadership Coaches to Address the Leadership Crisis in Community Colleges in the League for Innovation in the Community College. Larisa lives in Charles County with her husband Steve. Their sons Nicholas and Gregory are graduates of The Calvertson School, 2015 and 2017 respectively. Along with their daughter, Meaghan, the family enjoys spending time on the river, at the beach, in the mountains, and attending The Chautauqua Institution in upstate New York each summer.

Biography

Dr. Pfeiffer has enjoyed raising a family and living in the southern Maryland community for over three decades and has spent the last 15 years at the College of Southern Maryland. She has recently been appointed by the college to lead a presidential initiative to stand up a Center for Career Development and Success.

Prior to her appointment she served as the institution’s Chief of Staff, serving as a member of the Executive Cabinet and leading the institution through a presidential transition. Her roles at the college include running business and information technology, community engagement, and working with students directly in the classroom as an adjunct faculty member. She is particularly proud of her Food Pantry initiatives to address food insecurities with students and employees.

Dr. Pfeiffer is familiar with board work most recently serving as President of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Professional Board Staff Network (PBSN) focusing on governing boards, representing more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees who govern more than 1,200 community, technical and junior colleges in the United States and beyond. Simultaneously, she served as a board member for the National Association of Presidential Assistants (NAPAHE) an international organization for professionals supporting higher education leaders in two- and four-years institutions. Locally, she has been a board member for the Center for Children and Friends of Hospice of Charles County. Along with the Calverton Board she currently sits on the Ferris University Alumni Steering Committee.

Dr. Pfeiffer holds an associate degree in Arts and Sciences from the College of Southern Maryland; a bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Maryland; a master’s in Communication from Southern New Hampshire University, and a doctoral degree in Higher Education Leadership from Ferris State University where her dissertation research focused on trusteeship. She is the recipient of the 2022 Distinguished Scholar-Practitioner Award. Additionally, Dr. Pfeiffer holds certifications in Cornell Labor Relations, LEAN, Program Planning, and is Institutional Review Board Certified.

Dr. Pfeiffer’s most recent published words include Dear CEO’s and Trustees: Your Leadership is Showing in Trustee Quarterly, Building the Community College Leadership Pipeline: Prioritizing Succession Planning in At Issue, and Mentors vs. Leadership Coaches to Address the Leadership Crisis in Community Colleges in the League for Innovation in the Community College.

Larisa lives in Charles County with her husband Steve. Their sons Nicholas and Gregory are graduates of The Calvertson School, 2015 and 2017 respectively. Along with their daughter, Meaghan, the family enjoys spending time on the river, at the beach, in the mountains, and attending The Chautauqua Institution in upstate New York each summer.

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