01/07/2026
By Sarah Corbett
In a press release, Western New England trustees cited Hartman’s experience and commitment to academic innovation and student success as aligned with their mission to prepare graduates to lead and have impact in a quickly changing world. He will be the university’s seventh president.
Hartman has served as UMass Lowell’s provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs since 2019. He previously led the Francis College of Engineering as dean for six years. In November the university announced Hartman would take leadership of the UMass Lowell Applied Research Corporation in the new year as president and CEO. He will serve in that role until June 1.
Kennedy College of Sciences Dean Noureddine Melikechi is serving as UMass Lowell’s interim provost pending a search for Hartman’s successor.
In today’s press release, Elena Gervino, chair of the Western New England board of trustees, welcomed Hartman to that university’s community.
“Joe Hartman brings the experience, judgment and collaborative leadership needed to lead Western New England University at this pivotal moment,” Gervino said. “After a comprehensive national search, the board is confident in his ability to advance academic excellence, strengthen experiential learning and build on the university’s strong momentum as our seventh president.”
Hartman said he is honored to join the Western New England community. “WNE’s commitment to student achievement, academic excellence and professional preparation deeply resonates with my own values. I am eager to work with the trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners to build on the university’s strong foundation and shape its future success,” he said.
At UMass Lowell, Hartman worked to better integrate academic and student affairs, expand career-connected learning opportunities and enhance student success and well-being. He also advanced faculty development efforts, supported the creation of new academic programs and contributed to the university’s efforts to attain R1 research status.
While Francis College dean, he oversaw creation of programs in Biomedical, Environmental and Industrial Engineering, as well as Engineering Management. He also led creation of the UML Applied Research Corp.
Previously Hartman was professor and chair of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Florida and held faculty and leadership positions at Lehigh University.
An industrial and systems engineer whose research has focused on engineering economic decision analysis and applied optimization, Hartman earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and his master’s and doctoral degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
He is a native of the Chicago area. He and his wife, Karen, have three adult children.
A private university in Springfield, Massachusetts, Western New England offers programs focused on experiential learning, professional preparation and community engagement through its colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering, Pharmacy and Health Sciences, as well as its School of Law.