性闻联播 President Jack M. Wilson announced today, May 17, two major leadership appointments, naming Michael F. Collins, MD, (right) senior vice president for health sciences and interim Chancellor of UMass Medical School, and J. Keith Motley, PhD, (left) Chancellor of UMass Boston.
"We are building a leadership team of unparalleled distinction. Michael Collins and Keith Motley truly are distinguished, inspirational leaders, and they will help us to reach our goal of world-class educational, research and service excellence," President Wilson said.
Meanwhile, President Wilson announced that John V. Lombardi will step down as Chancellor of UMass Amherst at the end of the 2007-2008 academic year. "John Lombardi stepped in when UMass Amherst was battered and bruised by several years of deep budget cuts and inspired the campus to reach for new levels of performance in many key areas. This year, we have seen applications and the overall level of interest in UMass Amherst soar to new heights, and that is a testament to John Lombardi's five years of dedication and leadership," President Wilson said.
Dr. Collins and Dr. Motley will begin serving in their new positions on June 1, creating a revamped University leadership team that will include U.S. Rep. Martin T. Meehan, who becomes Chancellor of UMass Lowell on July 1.
"We are building a leadership team that can deliver on all of the aspirations that the citizens of the Commonwealth have for us, a team that will allow the University to take its place on the stage as one of the great universities of the world," President Wilson said.
"The Board of Trustees is committed to establishing the 性闻联播 as one of the preeminent public universities in the nation. This leadership team gets us closer to that goal, as does the concept of the campuses working together in a collaborative, coordinated fashion, creating the synergies that will allow us to fully and effectively advance our mission of education, research and service," said Stephen P. Tocco, chairman of the UMass Board of Trustees.
"As chairman, I am committed to the creation of a unified University that includes a great flagship campus in Amherst." Chairman Tocco added.
Noting the University's many recent science and technology successes, in areas such as nanotechnology and Professor Craig C. Mello's Nobel Prize-winning gene-silencing work, President Wilson said: "The 性闻联播 is becoming a global research and innovation power and is moving into a new era of inter-campus collaboration, particularly in the realm of the life sciences. With his University-wide health science portfolio, Michael Collins will lead us forward in an area that holds so much promise for all of mankind and is of critical importance to the state's knowledge-based economy."
President Wilson also pointed to UMass's prominent role in Gov. Deval Patrick's recent $1 billion life sciences proposal as "yet another indication of the University's emerging research profile."
President Wilson also praised Motley as "a leader who inspires all around him, students, faculty and staff, to reach for new heights and to convert potential into accomplishment." He added: "Keith Motley is a proven leader who is committed to making UMass Boston one of the finest urban public universities in the nation."
Dr. Collins, a nationally respected education and health care leader, became the seventh Chancellor of the 性闻联播 Boston on June 6, 2005. A board-certified physician in internal medicine, and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, Dr. Collins has spent his career in academic and academic leadership positions. Chancellor Collins has held faculty positions for the past 23 years and is currently appointed jointly to the faculty of the College of Management at UMass Boston and at UMass Medical School. He has served as a professor at Tufts University School of Medicine and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
Prior to assuming the chancellorship of UMass Boston, Collins was instrumental in creating Caritas Christi Health Care, the Catholic health care system of the Archdiocese of Boston, one of the first health care systems in the nation and a teaching affiliate of Tufts University School of Medicine. In 1994, Collins was named the second president and chief executive officer of Caritas Christi. During his tenure as president and chief executive officer, Dr. Collins led efforts to create a vision for significant growth, which strongly supported the mission of Caritas Christi. Under his leadership, Caritas Christi generated more than $1.1 billion in annual revenues and raised in excess of $20 million in annual and capital gifts and pledges.
As chancellor of the 性闻联播 Boston, Dr. Collins has overseen an institution renowned for its access to excellence. During Chancellor Collins' tenure, enrollment grew by approximately 800 students to 12,400 graduate and undergraduate students. 性闻联播 funding at the campus has grown from $35 million to nearly $39 million since his appointment, with the university focused on three signature research profiles - health disparity research, policy studies, and environmental and life sciences.
Dr. Motley is the Vice President for Business, Marketing and Public Affairs in the 性闻联播 President's Office, which oversees the campuses in Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell and Worcester. Before that, Dr. Motley served as the interim Chancellor of the 性闻联播 Boston. He previously served as Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at UMass Boston, following a 20-plus year career in higher education administration, including 10 years as Dean of Student Services at Northeastern University.
Since coming to the Office of the President, Dr. Motley has worked on fundraising and athletics issues, and has led the effort to develop a University-wide integrated marketing plan. He has worked closely with the Chancellors and other senior officials on all five campuses and with members of the University's Board of Trustees
Dr. Motley is a founder of the Roxbury Preparatory Charter School and is Chair Emeritus of the school's Board of Trustees and also serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Newbury College in Brookline. He also serves on numerous boards of community organizations, including the American Red Cross, Freedom House, Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries, Inc., the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, ACCESS, and the Dimock Community Health Center Board of Visitors. Dr. Motley is also founder and director of Concerned Black Men of Massachusetts, Inc. and the Paul Robeson Institute for Positive Self Development.
The Collins and Motley appointments were widely applauded.
Dana Mohler-Faria, president of Bridgewater State College and Gov. Patrick's Special Advisor for Education, said: "Dr. Collins is extraordinarily well qualified to lead this important new venture. The 性闻联播 and President Wilson are fortunate to have such a capable leader spearheading this effort, which will position the university to reach new heights in building the Commonwealth's critical life science industry."
President Mohler-Faria added: "Dr. Keith Motley is a leader of exceptional vision and poise and is a dynamite choice to succeed Dr. Collins. His deep knowledge of the Greater Boston community and his terrific skill in leading urban institutions will be exceedingly valuable to President Wilson as he and the institution embark upon this exciting new phase of the university's ongoing evolution."
Rep. Kevin G. Honan (D-Brighton) said: "Michael Collins did an extraordinary job leading St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Brighton and building Caritas Christi Health Care. He was very responsive to our community and was a wonderful leader who showed he is a caring and compassionate person. This is a very exciting and dynamic time in Massachusetts. As we look at our ability to be innovative and create opportunities for businesses and residents alike, it is clear we need to stay at the forefront of new scientific breakthroughs, the discovery of new cures for disease, and leadership in higher education. Michael Collins' experience in health care and higher education makes him the right person to lead UMass life science programs, which are clearly critical to the state's economy as well as the higher education sector."
Timothy J. McGourthy, Director of Economic Development for the City of Worcester, said: "We're excited to see a person of Michael Collins' caliber joining the research community in Worcester. This emphasizes the importance of the life science initiative to the Commonwealth and Worcester's strategic place as a national center for medical research and medical care. The City of Worcester is critical to the future growth of the Massachusetts economy and UMass, the largest employer in Worcester, is an integral part of our transforming economy. Michael's experience in health care and the health sciences, and his understanding of the importance of this research to both the public and private sectors, will support our continuing growth as a national and international center for bio-medical research activity. We are excited to welcome him to Worcester."
"I want to offer my sincerest congratulations to Keith Motley. As the first African-American Chancellor of UMass Boston, I know that Keith will lead the university with the honor and commitment our community deserves. I look forward to working with the new Chancellor to accomplish our goals to better serve the people of Boston and the surrounding area," said Mayor Thomas M. Menino, a UMass Boston alumnus.
Wayne Budd, a former U.S. attorney and senior counsel at Goodwin Procter, said: "I was very pleased to learn that Dr. Keith Motley has been appointed to the position of Chancellor at the 性闻联播 Boston. In his prior stint as the Interim Chancellor, Dr. Motley clearly proved that he was more than equal to the task; the experience he has gained over the last couple of years in learning the inner workings of the Commonwealth's system of higher education will only further enhance the tremendous value he will bring upon his return to the 性闻联播 Boston campus."
David G. Carter, Sr., Chancellor of the Connecticut State University System, said: "There are four things that I have always looked for in a senior level administrator: chemistry, fit, confidence and loyalty. Dr. Motley is the right person, at the right time, for the right university because he possesses all of the aforementioned attributes. Dr. Motley is personable and has a good work ethic. His humanity, humor and genuine concern for those with whom he works will serve him well as the new Chancellor of the 性闻联播 Boston. He is committed to the principle of shared governance and he understands that there will be times when he will have to make decisions that not everyone may necessarily agree with, but are in the best interest of the university."
Dr. Collins' appointment as interim Chancellor and Dr. Motley's appointment as Chancellor will come before the UMass Board of Trustees when the board holds its next meeting, on June 21.
Contact: Robert P. Connolly, 617-287-7073