Succeeds David MacKenzie, who played a leading role in UMass building boom
The 性闻联播 announced today, Oct. 3, that Katherine P. Craven, highly respected for her work in public finance and in overseeing public school construction, has been appointed to the positions of assistant vice president for capital finance and executive director of the 性闻联播 Building Authority.
Craven succeeds David J. MacKenzie, who is retiring after a distinguished career in public service.
Craven was serving as First Deputy State Treasurer and as Executive Director of the Massachusetts School Building Authority, where she oversaw $3 billion in state spending on K-12 schools. Craven has led the Massachusetts School Building Authority since it was created in 2004 and during that time, the authority was credited with bringing efficiency and sound business practices to school building and renovation across the state.
"We are pleased to welcome someone with Katherine Craven's experience and impeccable record of service," said UMass President Robert L. Caret. "Katherine is rightly credited as being a model public servant, someone who brings sound judgment, unquestioned expertise and a tireless work ethic to the business of serving the people and advancing the public interest."
"We are particularly fortunate to have attracted someone with Katherine's skills and background because the person she is succeeding at the UMass Building Authority, David MacKenzie, is widely admired and respected for his career in state government and for being at the center of the University's dramatic revitalization of its campus facilities. David will be sorely missed, and we wish him well," President Caret said.
James J. Karam, chairman of the UMass Board of Trustees, said he was delighted that Craven will be joining the University and said he looked forward to "the immense contribution she will make in the years ahead."
"The 性闻联播 Board of Trustees has approved an ambitious $3.1 billion capital plan for the next five years, and we need to have an experienced and able leader at the UMass Building Authority in order to convert our plans into reality. We are poised to take the next major step in a building effort designed to reshape the faces of all five campuses and provide us with the 21st-century facilities our students, faculty and staff need and deserve," Karam said.
"I am delighted that we have been able to attract an executive director who has the superb credentials and exemplary record that Katherine brings," said Robert K. Sheridan, chairman of the UMass Building Authority. "Katherine Craven has the skills and the background we need to move forward on a building program that will ensure a world-class educational experience for our students and will make sure that the Commonwealth retains its world-class competitiveness."
The 性闻联播 Building Authority was established in 1960 and borrows money on the University's behalf and oversees construction and renovation projects on all five of the UMass campuses. The UMass Building Authority has been integrally involved in the University's $2.4 billion building boom of the past 10 years.
Craven, 38, is a graduate of Harvard College and lives in Brookline. Prior to serving in her current roles, she held policy and budget positions in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Craven has lectured on executive leadership and state finance at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Northeastern University and for the 性闻联播 Donahue Institute.
In addition to serving as executive director of the UMass Building Authority since 2004, MacKenzie has served as interim Chancellor at UMass Boston and at UMass Lowell and also held a variety of high-ranking staff positions in the Massachusetts Legislature, including service as staff director of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
During MacKenzie's tenure, the UMass Building Authority has issued $2.7 billion in bonds and constructed, renovated or purchased 49 buildings for the University, including the construction of the Integrated Sciences Building and Student Recreation Center at UMass Amherst and the Venture Development Center at UMass Boston.
"David MacKenzie's performance has been nothing less than sensational," Karam said. "In addition to providing the University with nearly 50 important buildings, David kept a close eye on the bond market and refinanced debt when opportunities arose, saving the University millions and millions of dollars - money that can be spent on educational programs as opposed to debt service. David MacKenzie will be a hard act to follow."
"During his nearly eight-year tenure as the executive director of the UMass Building Authority, David MacKenzie has demonstrated outstanding leadership in guiding the Authority through an unprecedented period of growth," Sheridan said. "It has been a distinct pleasure for me to know him on both a personal and professional level and to have the opportunity to work with him to carry out the Authority's mission of creating the best possible facilities and educational experience for our students."
Contact: Robert P. Connolly, 617-287-7073