Caret to Return to Maryland as USM Chancellor
He brings 20 years of successful higher
education leadership
Dec. 17, 2014 (Adelphi, Md.) -- After a successful tenure as
president of the five-campus University
of Massachusetts system, Robert L. Caret will return to Maryland as
chancellor of the University System of Maryland. James L. Shea, chairman of the
USM Board of Regents, today announced the board's appointment of Caret,
effective July 1, 2015. Caret served as president of Towson University, one of
USM's 12 institutions, from 2003 to 2011.
"The Board of Regents is
very pleased that Bob Caret will take the helm as USM's fourth chancellor,"
said Shea. "He brings years of experience as the outstanding leader of two
public universities and a public system of higher education. He is adept at
building partnerships that benefit institutions and the surrounding
communities. And he is very familiar with USM and the state of Maryland.
"We are confident that he
will provide the visionary and innovative leadership the University System of
Maryland needs to continue to enhance opportunities for our students and our
state."
Details follow at the end
of this news release regarding an introductory news conference in Baltimore at
2:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 19.
As president of the
University of Massachusetts (UMass) since July 2011, Caret has become a major
spokesperson on the pressing issues of college affordability and student debt. Throughout
his UMass tenure, he has emphasized efficiency, rolling out several cost-saving
initiatives, and established productive working relationships with Massachusetts
government and business leaders. His successful pursuit of a 50-50 funding
formula for UMass resulted in the state and students contributing equally to
the university's general education program and a 22 percent increase in the
base budget for two years. He also secured additional state funding, allowing
UMass to freeze tuition and mandatory fees for in-state undergraduate students
for two consecutive years.
Before joining UMass,
Caret was president of Towson University (TU) for eight years, where he also
served as a faculty member, dean, executive vice president and provost during
his more than 25-year tenure there. At Towson, he created partnerships with regional
business, non-profit and civic organizations; raised student graduation rates;
and undertook a capital fundraising and building campaign to support campus
infrastructure improvements. He oversaw an increase in the university's online
courses and expanded the availability of TU courses at regional higher
education centers. He was instrumental in establishing Towson University in
Northeastern Maryland, which offers transfer students the flexibility to pursue
a four-year degree after completing an associate's degree at a community
college. The facility is located on the grounds of Harford Community
College.
From 1995 to 2003, Caret
served as president of San Jose State University (SJSU), part of the California
State University System. He is credited with bringing a vision for SJSU as the
metropolitan university of Silicon Valley.
"I am excited and energized to return to Maryland and the University
System of Maryland," said Caret. "I have dedicated 29 years of my professional
career to the system and the state and to two primary goals: to ensure we
provide high-quality, affordable education and that we continue to build a
research-based economic engine. I look forward to working to ensure those
two goals remain central to all that we do."
Active in the national
higher education community, Caret serves on the National Association of System
Heads and American Council on Education boards. He also is a member of the
National Security Higher Education Advisory Board and the Government University
Industry Research Roundtable.
In Massachusetts, Caret has
served on the boards of several organizations, including the Governor's STEM
Advisory Council, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Massachusetts Technology
Collaborative, and Edward M. Kennedy Institute.
Caret holds a Ph.D. in
organic chemistry from the University of New Hampshire and a bachelor's degree
in chemistry from Suffolk University in Boston.
When Caret joins the USM next
year, he will succeed William E. Kirwan, who in May announced his plans to step
down from the chancellor's position after a career of more than 50 years in
public higher education. Kirwan will remain in the position until Caret is on
board.
"I've known Bob Caret for
several years," said Kirwan. "He has had significant positive impact on each
institution he has led. The University System of Maryland and the state will
benefit greatly from his leadership in the years ahead."
Caret's appointment
follows a six-month, extensive national search led by Rick Berndt, chair of the
search-and-screening committee; managing partner of Gallagher Evelius &
Jones LLP, a Baltimore law firm; and a former USM regent.
"We deeply appreciate the
diligent work of the search committee," said Chairman Shea on behalf of the USM
Board of Regents. "Under Rick Berndt's excellent leadership, the committee
carefully reviewed the applicants and nominees, and forwarded highly qualified
finalists to the board for consideration."
The University System of
Maryland comprises 12 institutions:
Bowie State University; Coppin State University; Frostburg State
University; Salisbury University; Towson University; University of Baltimore;
University of Maryland, Baltimore; University of Maryland, Baltimore County;
University of Maryland, College Park; University of Maryland Eastern Shore;
University of Maryland University College; and the University of Maryland
Center for Environmental Studies. USM also includes two regional centers: Universities at Shady Grove and University
System of Maryland at Hagerstown, at which USM universities offer
upper-division (undergraduate junior- and senior-levels) and graduate courses.
Systemwide, student
enrollment exceeds 162,000. USM and its institutions compete successfully for
more than $1 billion in external grants and contracts annually. USM
institutions and programs are among the nation's best in quality and value
according to several national rankings. To learn more about the University
System of Maryland, visit www.usmd.edu.
WHAT: James L. Shea, chair of the USM Board of Regents, will
introduce Robert L. Caret
WHEN: 2:30 p.m., Friday, December 19, 2014
WHERE: Christopher Columbus Center, 701 E. Pratt
St., Baltimore, MD, in the Multi-Purpose Room. (Members of the Columbus Center
building staff are available to indicate location.)
WHO: Chairman Shea; Chancellor Kirwan; and other distinguished
leaders of the University System of Maryland. Parking is available in a number
of public garages near the Center, all visible from Pratt Street.
-USM-
Mike Lurie
301.445.2719
mlurie@usmd.edu
Contact: Anne Moultrie
Phone: 301.445.2722
Email: amoultrie@usmd.edu