Jo Ann Gora Is Inaugurated as Sixth Chancellor on September 27

By Melissa Fassel

Students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members, and business leaders celebrated the beginning of a new era for UMass Boston with the installation of Jo Ann M. Gora as UMass Boston’s sixth chancellor on September 27.

Provost Paul Fonteyn opened the ceremony, naming the campus representatives in attendance and introducing University of Massachusetts President William Bulger. Bulger welcomed the sizeable crowd of more than 500 guests, pointing out Gora’s interest in making the inauguration “a celebration of the entire university, not simply her investiture.”

Representatives from throughout the university community spoke briefly at the installation. Student Trustee Heather Dawood pointed out Gora’s enthusiasm for inviting students to share their experiences with her. On behalf of the undergraduate and graduate student bodies, Dawood pledged to “work with Gora to help bring the campus to new heights.” Classified staff representative Carolyn Dunn charged Gora with maintaining a campus that is accessible and affordable, affirming that “access and excellence go hand in hand, and are not mutually exclusive.”

College of Management Assistant Dean, MBA program director, and alumnus Daniel Robb, said he and the professional staff that he represented look forward to the change and exciting challenges Gora will bring to the campus, reminding the university to “think of things not as they were or as they are, but how they could be.” Faculty Council President and Professor Celia Moore agreed, saying, “We are very fortunate to have you here to lead us in this time of change.”

Colin Ward ’00, representing UMass Boston alumni, spoke of how proud he is to have graduated from Boston’s public university: “We are brought together by an alma mater that helped us spread our wings and a faculty that helped us soar to new heights.”

The City of Boston’s Mayor and alumnus Thomas Menino ’88 emphasized the importance of the day for the entire community: “In turbulent times, universities are often the voice of reason and the voice of fresh perspective. UMass Boston is a civic leader – a place where ideas are born and put into action.” He said that, as an alumnus, he experienced first-hand the commitment that the university has to the highest standard of education and public service, and pledged to the new chancellor, “I will work with you to make sure this city works with UMass Boston.”

Senator Jack Hart brought congratulatory greetings from the Massachusetts legislature, and praised Gora on already making UMass Boston a better institution through her energy and commitment.

In her inaugural speech, the Chancellor focused on the importance of serving both students and the Commonwealth at large. She emphasized the need to develop a greater sense of community internally while enhancing the external visibility of UMass Boston’s research and its impact on the Common-wealth’s public policy.

She affirmed her dedication to the construction of residence halls, acknowledging that, while UMass Boston is a university geared toward the needs of commuter students, it needs to be responsive to the countless applicants who request housing, and the hundreds of students who report that they would not transfer out if a residential college experience were available. Creating this blend of commuters and residents would foster increased social, athletic, and extracurricular activities, Gora posited.

Chancellor Gora thanked “the men and women who labor every day to ensure the best possible educational experiences for our students,” and received extended applause from the faculty and staff in the audience when she digressed in her speech to note her and President Bulger’s support of salary increases, which were vetoed by Acting Governor Jane Swift.

Gora also proposed a computer certification for all graduating students in order to increase their value in the job market, increased student use of the Nantucket Field Station across academic disciplines, and more paid internships and scholarship opportunities.

The university’s sixth chancellor was aptly described by Margaret Miller, former president of the American Association of Higher Education , current editor of Change Magazine, and professor at the University of Virginia, who said, “Above all things, Jo Ann Gora is a problem solver – what you see is what you get. If she says she’s dedicated to the mission of this campus, you can believe it.”

Images (top to bottom):

Chancellor Jo Ann M. Gora smiles as University of Massachusetts Trustee Robert M. Mahoney speaks during the ceremony of investiture.
University of Massachusetts trustee Robert Mahoney, Reverend Ray Hammond, University of Massachusetts President William M. Bulger, Chancellor Jo Ann Gora, Mayor Thomas M. Menino ’88, former trustee Peter Lewenberg, and trustee James Karam.
UMass Boston alumnus Mark Atkins ’71 and Charlie Titus, director of athletics.
Chancellor Gora with friend Joyce Plotkin, president of Massachusetts Software and Internet Council, Inc. (Photos by Harry Brett)

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