12/15/2025
By Julie Chen
Dear Faculty and Staff,
I’m writing to share an update on the search for our next provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs. Last week, all faculty, staff and students received an email inviting you to participate in an open forum this week.
These virtual sessions will give our search partner, Isaacson, Miller, the chance to collect valuable insights from students, faculty and staff on the most important considerations for this search. To help identify a strong national candidate pool, the team needs to hear about who we are, what matters to us and what we’re looking for in the next provost. I strongly encourage you to participate in the open forums this week and in the finalist interviews in April.
Session details: Participants will need to log in using their UML Zoom credentials. If you do not have a UML Zoom account, or are unsure of your account status, please visit the Zoom website and select “Sign In.” This will log you into Zoom and create an account.
UML Faculty Open Forum No. 1
Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2:30–3:15 p.m.
Faculty Dec. 16 Zoom link
UML Faculty Open Forum No. 2
Thursday, Dec. 18, 9:30–10:15 a.m.
Faculty Dec. 18 Zoom link
UML Staff Open Forum No. 1
Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1:30–2:15 p.m.
Staff Dec. 16 Zoom link
UML Staff Open Forum No. 2
Thursday, Dec. 18, 1–1:45 p.m.
Staff Dec. 18 Zoom link
I want to thank the members of the search committee, who have generously agreed to serve in this important effort. They represent the breadth, depth and diversity of our community, and they will each bring tremendous expertise to the process. My sincere thanks to Vice Chancellor Anne Maglia and Faculty Senate President Kevin Petersen for serving as co-chairs.
Search committee members:
- Anne Maglia, vice chancellor, Research & Economic Development (co-chair)
- Kevin Petersen, teaching professor, English, College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (co-chair)
- Elizabeth Altman, associate professor, Management, Manning School of Business
- Brian Arrigo, vice chancellor, Administration and Finance
- Abby Cooper, student trustee, Criminal Justice, College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
- Kerry Donohoe, dean of academic services, Academic and Student Affairs
- Mary Gallant, dean, Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences
- Alana Griggs, Graduate Student Association president, Mechanical Engineering, Francis College of Engineering
- Chris Hansen, professor and chair, Mechanical Engineering, Francis College of Engineering
- Kerri Johnston, dean of enrollment management, Academic and Student Affairs
- Teresa Lee, assistant professor, Biological Sciences, Kennedy College of Sciences
- Allison Quandt Westgate, senior associate athletic director of academic services, Athletics
- Adam St. Jean, teaching professor and MSP rep, Biomedical Engineering, Francis College of Engineering
- Ardeth Thawnghmung, professor, Political Science, College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
- Yi-Ning (Winnie) Wu, associate professor, Physical Therapy and Kinesiology, Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences
- John Kennedy ’70, ’16 (H), Advisory Board, Kennedy College of Sciences
- Brian Rist ’77, ’22, ’22 (H), Advisory Board, Manning School of Business
- Nef Walker, senior vice president for academic and student affairs and equity, University of Massachusetts President’s Office
- Sarah Corbett, associate vice chancellor, Marketing and Communications (ex-officio)
- Michael Rutherford, chief human resources officer, Human Resources (ex-officio)
Search timeline:
- December 2025: Launch of the search, including campus input
- January-March 2026: Development of the candidate pool
- Late March 2026: Committee conducts first-round interviews
- April 2026: On-campus finalist interviews
- Late spring/early summer: Final selection and hire
Thank you for your participation, insights and support throughout this process.