MEMORANDUM
FROM: J. Keith Motley, Chancellor
TO: Members of the Campus Community
DATE: April 1, 2008
SUBJECT: Interim and Permanent Provost
I know that many of you have been waiting for this communication from me, because I had promised to get back to you concerning the process by which I will go about finding interim and permanent replacements for Provost Paul Fonteyn, who will be leaving us in July.
Here is what I plan to do in the coming months. First, I will name an interim provost no later than the first week of May 2008. In the meantime, I will be consulting broadly with all levels of the campus and university community about whom I might select. Already, some of you have made your sentiments known to me. Second, I will be conducting a national search for a permanent provost, and will be constituting, with the advice of faculty, staff, and other members of the campus community, a committee that will help in that search process. Whether there will be a search firm to help us in the process is something I will determine later. Third, because—in my view—the best searches are conducted when all affected constituencies are involved, I will work with the search committee to ensure that the campus is involved in all phases of the search process. Fourth, my present inclination is not to consider the interim provost for the permanent position. Fifth, my goal at this point is to name a permanent provost by May 2009.
Thank you for your support and for the advice you have thus far given me respecting whom I might appoint as interim provost.
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TO: University Community
FROM: J. Keith Motley, Chancellor
SUBJ: Appointment of Provost Fonteyn as President of Green Mountain College
I have been informed today by Dr. Paul Fonteyn, our provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, that he will accept an appointment to become the seventh president of Green Mountain College in Poultney, Vermont. The appointment of Dr. Fonteyn was announced earlier today by the Board of Trustees of the college. I congratulate Paul on a job well done here at the university, and I wish him all the best as he engages in exciting challenges as the new leader of Green Mountain College.
It is bittersweet when a colleague and friend moves on to his next professional role. This is a tremendous opportunity for him and his family, and a fitting recognition of his outstanding career achievements. I am excited for Paul, and I am proud of his accomplishments here as our provost. Green Mountain College is a prestigious institution, and he has all of the skills necessary to be a great leader. We will miss the energy and skill that he has brought to our institution.
As you all know, Dr. Fonteyn served as provost at the University of Massachusetts Boston for six years. His accomplishments during his tenure include directing the university’s re-accreditation process, establishing the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies (the university’s first new college in two decades), and leading the development of a proposal for science teaching that was funded through a $12.5 million grant awarded to the university by the National Science Foundation. This grant was the largest single award in the university’s history to date.
Dr. Fonteyn came to the University of Massachusetts Boston from San Francisco State University. While there, he served as dean of graduate studies, associate vice president for research and sponsored programs, and interim director of development. He also served as associate vice president for research and sponsored programs and professor of biology at Southwest Texas State University. He is a graduate of the University of San Francisco and earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
I thank Dr. Fonteyn for his tireless service to the students and faculty here at the University of Massachusetts Boston. His commitment and accomplishments on this campus will felt by students and faculty for years to come. Dr. Fonteyn will assume his new position on July 5.