DARTMOUTH – Mark Fuller’s tenure in leading the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth will now be permanent.
The university announced Monday that Fuller, who had been serving as the university’s interim chancellor since January, has officially been named chancellor. Fuller had been leading UMass Dartmouth on an interim basis for seven months after Robert E. Johnson resigned as chancellor in September 2020.
UMass Dartmouth said its chancellor search committee had held 10 forums since April in seeking a permanent leader. National search firm Greenwood/Asher communicated with 370 prospective candidates for the university’s chancellor position, interviewed 95 of them and received 69 formal applications, UMass Dartmouth said.
In the end, Fuller, who was the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s vice chancellor for advancement and former dean of the university’s Isenberg School of Management before coming to UMass Dartmouth, was selected to continue leading the state university.
“Over the last seven months I have been inspired by the students, faculty, and staff of UMass Dartmouth and by the people and civic leadership of the South Coast. I’m excited about the spirit of collaboration, inclusion, perseverance, and innovation that I have found in confronting the challenges posed by the pandemic and in creating new cultural and economic opportunity across the region,” Fuller said in a statement. “These are qualities that are critical to sustaining an environment of learning and discovery. I look forward to making the South Coast my home and accelerating the work we have started for our students and the community.”
UMass President Marty Meehan said in a statement that Fuller had proven himself to be a good listener, a collaborator and a strategic common-sense decision maker when recommending Fuller to the UMass board of trustees. “He has been tested by the pandemic and all of the challenges it has created. He has responded with focus and grace, always keeping the well-being of students, staff, and faculty front and center,” Meehan said. “As a first-generation college student who worked his way through school, he understands the challenges today’s students face and is tireless in helping them succeed. I look forward to working with Mark to advance the UMass Dartmouth mission.”
James Bessette is the PBN special projects editor, and also covers the nonprofit and education sectors. You may reach him at Bessette@PBN.com. You may also follow him on Twitter at @James_Bessette.
