12/20/2021
By Patricia McCafferty
After more than a decade leading human resources, diversity and inclusion operations at UMass Lowell, Lauren Turner has announced that she has accepted a leadership position at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
“It’s a bittersweet moment,” Turner said. “UMass Lowell has accomplished so much in the last decade and I’m so proud of the way Human Resources and Equal, Opportunity and Outreach have been strategic partners in that success. But I’m also excited for this new opportunity.”
Steve O’Riordan, vice chancellor for finance and operations, emphasized how Turner’s strong human resources and diversity leadership has been essential to UMass Lowell’s trajectory during the last 10 years.
“From modernizing our HR policies and practices to providing outstanding professional development educational opportunities to advising leaders through critical departmental restructuring to helping guide departments during the searches for new faculty and staff, Lauren and her team have provided the HR/EOO office we needed to transform this university,” O’Riordan said.
“Lauren also provided leadership on our 2020 Strategic Plan, serving as a member of the steering committee, and as co-chair of the Global Engagement Inclusive Culture committee, and most recently on the steering committee of the Council on Social Justice and Inclusion which was launched in the height of the pandemic.”
Chancellor Jacquie Moloney said Turner has been an essential leader and valued colleague during her time at UMass Lowell.
“Lauren has been an important part of our success during the last decade,” Moloney said. “I’m sad to see her go but I’m thrilled for this new opportunity for her.”
With Turner starting as senior vice president for talent and inclusion at WPI on Feb. 1, the university will use the month of January to transition to a new HR/EEO leadership structure.
Michael Rutherford, executive director of labor relations and compliance, will assume the role of associate vice chancellor for human resources overseeing workplace learning and development, compensation and benefits, talent management, labor relations and compliance, and HR payroll and operations. Rutherford and Clara Reynolds, associate vice chancellor for equity, opportunity and outreach and diversity and inclusion, will report directly to O’Riordan. Reynolds will continue to also have a dotted-line reporting relationship with the chancellor.
“I’m privileged to have been able to partner with so many in accomplishing goals that seemed so far away when we made them a decade ago,” Turner said. “I’m so proud of the increased diversity among faculty and staff and the people we’ve recruited to UMass Lowell in the last 10 years. And I’m so proud of the HR/EOO team that will remain to continue serving this university.”
Before starting at UMass Lowell in 2011, Turner was the Director of Human Resources and Affirmative Action at Mount Holyoke College.
She has her bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, her master's degree from Mount Holyoke College and her doctorate in Leadership and Organizational Studies from UMass Lowell.