08/04/2026
By Julie Chen
Lynne Cossman officially begins her role as UMass Lowell’s provost and vice chancellor for academic and student affairs this week. I am delighted to welcome Lynne to our community and look forward to working with her as we advance our strategic plan for enrollment and student success, academic and research excellence, the wellbeing of our community and the growth of our external partnerships.
Lynne already has begun getting to know UMass Lowell. During a weeklong visit in June, she participated in our Executive Team retreat, met with members of the Senior Cabinet and joined university colleagues at a Lowell Spinners game. Since returning to campus in early July, she has jumped right into meetings with Provost’s Office staff, the deans and other university leaders.
She also is beginning to make Lowell home, settling into a rental while she and her husband finalize their house search. Last week, her husband made the 2,000-mile drive from Texas with their two dogs.
Lynne joins UMass Lowell from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she served as the founding dean of the College for Health, Community and Policy. In that role, she led the development of the college’s academic and research infrastructure, expanded interdisciplinary programs and strengthened relationships with community and institutional partners. A medical sociologist and demographer, she brings extensive experience supporting students, faculty and research at large public universities.
“I am honored to officially begin my work at UMass Lowell and grateful for the warm welcome I have already received,” Lynne said. “My time on campus this summer gave me an early sense of the university’s strong community, its commitment to students and the tremendous opportunities ahead. I look forward to listening, learning and working with faculty, staff, students and partners across the university to build on UMass Lowell’s momentum.”
I want to express my sincere gratitude to Noureddine Melikechi for his steady and thoughtful leadership as interim provost over the past seven months. He took on this critical university-wide responsibility and helped ensure continuity across academic and student affairs during an important period of transition.
My thanks as well to Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Paul Bryce for stepping in to lead the Kennedy College of Sciences during this time. His leadership provided important stability and support for the college while Noureddine served as interim provost.
Please join me in welcoming Lynne to UMass Lowell and in thanking Noureddine and Paul for their leadership and service.