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| UMass Lowell Chancellor Martin T. Meehan was unanimously elected president of the University of Massachusetts system today. |
Martin T. Meehan, a former U.S. congressman who became chancellor of his alma mater, UMass Lowell, and transformed it into a highly ranked national research university, was unanimously elected today as the next president of the five-campus UMass system.
Chancellor Meehan, the eldest of seven children, who used his UMass Lowell education as a springboard to a distinguished career in Congress and now to the presidency of the region’s largest and top-rated public university, said he was honored by the Board’s action and eager to build on the work he has done at the Lowell campus.
“Serving as chancellor of my alma mater, UMass Lowell, for the last eight years has been the most fulfilling period of my professional life, so I am excited about the opportunity to lead the University of Massachusetts system,” said Chancellor Meehan. He will succeed President Robert L. Caret, who will step down June 30 to become chancellor of the 12-campus University System of Maryland.
“I thank the UMass Board of Trustees and the Presidential Search Committee for their confidence. Massachusetts is synonymous with the best in higher education. We will seek to strengthen our position as a world-class public university system that is accessible, affordable and a catalyst for innovation and economic development in the commonwealth,” Meehan added.
As a campus chancellor, the University’s president-elect has worked closely with his colleagues on the other UMass campuses, all of whom hailed his election.
“We look forward with eager anticipation to a Marty Meehan presidency, as he undoubtedly will help guide our great university system to new heights,” said Michael F. Collins, MD, chancellor of UMass Medical School. “It has been a privilege to work and to partner with Chancellor Meehan during his tenure as an energetic and visionary leader for UMass Lowell, and I know that he will bring this clear vision and unbridled energy to the larger stage of University leadership.”
“At the medical school, we depend on the University president to be both a forceful advocate for our critical work and a leader who marshals the University’s many resources and commits to a path of exceptional achievement,” Chancellor Collins said. “Under President-elect Meehan’s leadership, we can work together, throughout the university, to advance our position as we engage the intellect and initiative of our faculty, staff and students, and as we collaborate with the vibrant life sciences ecosystem that exists throughout the commonwealth.”
Chancellor Meehan was one of two finalists chosen by a 21-member Presidential Search Committee, working with the executive search firm Korn Ferry. The other finalist was John A. Quelch, professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and the former dean, vice president and distinguished professor of international management at China Europe International Business School. Dr. Quelch was formerly chairman and a member of the Massachusetts Port Authority.
The Board of Trustees met separately with each candidate in open session before voting to select Chancellor Meehan as president. The Board also authorized Chairman Victor Woolridge to negotiate a contract with the president-elect.
Trustees cited Chancellor Meehan’s strong record of achievement and success at UMass Lowell, his distinguished record of public service, his passion for UMass and its mission and his ability to communicate and inspire as among the reasons for selecting him as the University’s 27th president. The former congressman will be the first UMass undergraduate alumnus to serve as president of the five-campus, 73,000-student system.
“We strongly believe that after a broad and encompassing search the best person to lead the University of Massachusetts into a new era of growth and achievement is someone who has proven to be an integral part of its current success,” said Woolridge. “Chancellor Meehan’s successful tenure at UMass Lowell has shown that he has what it takes to move the University of Massachusetts system forward. His results-driven, visionary leadership has opened up new frontiers for UMass Lowell, and we fully expect the same to happen for the entire University in the course of his presidency.”
The UMass presidential search began on Feb. 6, when the Board of Trustees established a 21-member Search Committee consisting of faculty members from all five UMass campuses; three students; community and business leaders; and members of the UMass Board of Trustees.
The Search Committee held two public meetings and five campus forums and conducted two days of candidate interviews before meeting yesterday to designate finalists.
As the process unfolded, the company hired to guide the search, Korn Ferry, reviewed the credentials of several hundred prospective candidates nationally, contacting nearly 80 prospects and bringing 20 declared and prospective candidates forward for the search committee’s consideration. The position also was advertised in five publications.
Propelling UMass Lowell forward
Since commencing the leadership of UMass Lowell in 2007, Chancellor Meehan has propelled the institution forward by every important measure of higher education. UMass Lowell has achieved record growth in enrollment, student retention and funding for research and scholarships. The campus has undergone a stunning physical transformation, with new academic buildings and residence halls; upgraded academic and research facilities; and enhanced student activity spaces.
In 2011, for the first time, UMass Lowell was named a top-tier national university and is No. 156 on U.S. News & World Report’s Best National Universities ranking. Its four-year, 27-spot climb is the second-fastest in the nation. UMass Lowell also ranks 84th among all public universities in the country. The University is the top-ranked public research institution in New England for starting salary, mid-career salary and overall return on investment for graduates according to PayScale.com.
While strongly focusing on academics and student success, Chancellor Meehan has made access, affordability and diversity a keystone of his vision to raise UMass Lowell’s image and impact on the region.
Chancellor Meehan has sought innovative and entrepreneurial means to obtain resources. Understanding that philanthropic support is vital to sustain the progress UMass Lowell has made, the chancellor has overseen the largest fundraising years in the history of the institution, culminating with a record $20.6 million raised in FY14, the fourth consecutive record year for University fundraising. During his tenure, UMass Lowell has raised more than $105 million in private gifts and pledges.
Chancellor Meehan represented the 5th Congressional District of Massachusetts in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2007, where he served on the House Armed Services and Judiciary committees. Widely respected as a reformer, he established a national reputation for his legislative leadership in transforming campaign finance laws and protecting the public from the health risks of tobacco use. Previously he served as Massachusetts deputy secretary of state for securities and corporations, and he was the first assistant district attorney of Middlesex County.
Chancellor Meehan graduated cum laude from UMass Lowell in 1978 with a degree in education and political science. He earned a master’s degree in public administration from Suffolk University in 1981 and a juris doctor from Suffolk University Law School in 1986. He holds honorary degrees from Suffolk University, Green Mountain College in Vermont and Shenkar College of Engineering & Design in Israel.
