News
2007-03-15
Marty Meehan
selected as U.Mass. chancellor
University of
Massachusetts trustees unanimously approved U.S.
Representative Martin Meehan to become chancellor of the
system's
University of
Massachusetts trustees unanimously approved U.S.
Representative Martin Meehan to become chancellor of the
system's Lowell campus Wednesday.
The Democrat, who
built a national reputation as a campaign finance
reformer while also being a prolific fund-raiser, expects to
leave Congress in July to take the post leading his
alma mater. His departure sets up a furious race for a
rare open seat in the House.
University of
Massachusetts president Jack Wilson informed Meehan on
Tuesday that he was the top pick for the job that is
expected to have total yearly compensation between
$200,000 and $300,000, a boost from Meehan's current
salary of $165,000.
''He is a leader,
an innovator, and has a demonstrated passion for higher
education in general and U.Mass.-Lowell in particular,''
Wilson said.
Meehan beat out
two academics for the hometown post on the strength of
his local knowledge and support, the promise of an energetic
pursuit of state and federal funding, and the belief
he could help translate intellectual theory into
tangible economic products.
“We can
build a first-rate cutting-edge university that can drive
the economic and social development in the region that
I love and where I grew up for the next 50 to 100
years,'' Meehan said.
Meehan, 50,
carved a national profile by pushing campaign finance
legislation, accusing the tobacco industry of collusion in
promoting smoking, and pushing to repeal the
military's current ''don't ask, don't tell'' policy on
gay soldiers.
Gov. Deval
Patrick said in a statement that Meehan has ''the vision and
commitment to bring U.Mass.-Lowell to a new level.''
U.Mass.-Lowell is
replacing William Hogan, who has retired. The other
finalists were David C. Chang, chancellor of Polytechnic
University in New York City, and Nabil A. Ibrahim,
vice chancellor of academic affairs at Purdue
University–Calumet. (AP)
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