Seeking leader who will "shape our future"
DARTMOUTH -- November 18, 2011:The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Chancellor Search Committee held its first meeting today, pledging to conduct a "transparent and deliberative" search that would lead to the selection of "an outstanding new leader" for UMass Dartmouth.
"We all know that UMass Dartmouth plays a pivotal role in the South Coast and throughout the Commonwealth, and that the next Chancellor will help to set the agenda in this region and will shape lives and shape our future," said James J. Karam, chairman of the five-campus UMass system's Board of Trustees and a UMass Dartmouth graduate.
"We are committed to mounting a search that is comprehensive, transparent and deliberative -- one that will culminate in the selection of an outstanding new leader for this campus," Chairman Karam added.
President Robert L. Caret, who thanked the 19 members of the committee for their service, noted: "We are seeking a leader who will take what is already an outstanding public research university and bring it to even higher levels of accomplishment and acclaim. The selection of a permanent Chancellor is of critical importance to both this campus and to the University as a whole. I am expecting this Committee to help identify candidates who will be able to lead the Dartmouth campus along its chosen path and continue to shape its vision for the future."
President Caret added: "UMass Dartmouth is an important engine for progress. It makes a difference every day."
Both President Caret and Chairman Karam praised Chancellor Jean F. MacCormack for her service, with Chairman Karam describing Chancellor MacCormack as someone "who has done a terrific job and has been a good friend," and with President Caret calling her a leader "who has performed in an exemplary fashion."
Chancellor MacCormack has announced that she will step down at the end of the 2011-2012 academic year, after serving 13 years as Chancellor of UMass Dartmouth, following 12 years of service as a senior official at UMass Boston.
The UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Search Committee is being chaired by Maria D. Furman, a UMass Trustee and UMass Dartmouth graduate who also chaired the most recent UMass Dartmouth Chancellor performance review.
Furman said: "This Committee has been given the serious responsibility of identifying candidates for the chancellorship of this campus. We will play a critical role in selecting the next leader for the Dartmouth campus. Each member of this committee has a strong commitment to UMass Dartmouth and thus will pursue this task with diligence and with enthusiasm."
The Search Committee's role is to identify finalist candidates for the position. President Caret would then make a recommendation to the UMass Board of Trustees, which has the final say in the selection process.
Contact: Robert P. Connolly, 617-287-7073