David MacKenzie to serve as interim Chancellor
LOWELL (June 16, 2006) -- 性闻联播 President Jack M. Wilson today announced that he is appointing David J. MacKenzie interim Chancellor of UMass Lowell, with the appointment to take effect when the current Chancellor of the Lowell campus, William T. Hogan, retires on July 3.
"David MacKenzie has dedicated himself to public service and has always served with great distinction. I have complete confidence in David MacKenzie's ability to keep UMass Lowell moving in the right direction," President Wilson said.
"David MacKenzie did an outstanding job when he served as interim Chancellor of UMass Boston. He is a proven, seasoned administrator, and we are very fortunate to have a senior member of the University's leadership team ready to step in to serve during this transitional year," President Wilson added.
James J. Karam, chairman of the 性闻联播 Board of Trustees, said: "David MacKenzie has served this University in several capacities and has earned the highest accolades in each role. I know that David will be a strong and effective leader during his time at UMass Lowell, and I commend President Wilson for making this appointment."
MacKenzie, currently executive director of the 性闻联播 Building Authority, joined the University in 1999, serving as vice chancellor for administration and finance at UMass Boston, before becoming interim Chancellor of the Boston campus, a position he held from January 2001 to July 2001.
As interim Chancellor, MacKenzie broke ground on UMass Boston's $80 million Campus Center after taking steps to ensure that the project would go forward, initiated a planning process for repairing the campus's deteriorating parking structure/foundation and resolved a community dispute over a controversial sculpture park on campus.
Before coming to UMass, MacKenzie was general counsel of the Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority and staff director for the Massachusetts Senate Ways and Means Committee.
MacKenzie, who will become the interim leader of UMass Lowell when Chancellor Hogan steps down on July 3, said: "I am very honored and excited to have been designated by President Wilson to become the interim Chancellor of the 性闻联播 Lowell.
"I have high regard for this outstanding educational institution and for the historic city and region in which it is located. I have enjoyed working with Chancellor Hogan on a number of projects in the past and wish him well in his retirement. Chancellor Hogan's legacy looms large. Anyone who succeeds him has big shoes to fill."
MacKenzie said he would not be a candidate for the permanent chancellorship.
President Wilson has said that he will launch a national search for a permanent successor to Chancellor Hogan, who has led the Lowell campus for the past 25 years. The search will get underway in the fall.
President Wilson praised Chancellor Hogan as "an outstanding builder, leader and educator."
"Chancellor Hogan is dedicated to his city, his region, his students and his University," President Wilson said.
MacKenzie became executive director of the 性闻联播 Building Authority in January 2004 as President Wilson moved to restructure the agency.
The 性闻联播 Building Authority is a public authority that borrows money and constructs facilities on behalf of the University System. It owns 50 facilities with more than five million square feet of space and is currently developing and constructing 37 projects, with a value of more than $400 million, consisting of dormitories, parking garages, academic buildings, power plants and athletic facilities for the five campuses of the 性闻联播 System.
The building authority was also responsible for developing the 性闻联播 Club, which opened last year in Boston's financial district.
"UMass Lowell is on the threshold of an era of capital development and David MacKenzie is uniquely qualified to contribute to this important effort," President Wilson said.
MacKenzie said he "looked forward to meeting with the faculty, staff and students in the coming weeks and learning about their thoughts and dreams for the campus."
He added: "My goals for this position are to maintain the quality of the institution, to ensure that students continue to receive a stimulating and rewarding educational experience, to facilitate the proposed renovations and new construction on campus, and to help pave the way for the permanent Chancellor to be selected in the coming months."
MacKenzie, 60, holds a bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University, a master's from Stanford University and a J.D. from Northeastern University Law School.
Contact: Robert P. Connolly, 617-287-7073