Good afternoon … and welcome to the 20/23 State of the University Address.  

This year, I join you from the campus of UMass Boston, the urban jewel of our system, one of the most diverse research universities in the U.S., and a multicultural community - welcoming students from more than 135 countries.  

BOSTON – UMass President Marty Meehan says he will discuss with state government leaders the establishment of a "cost certainty” program under which new in-state undergraduate students would pay the same locked-in tuition rate throughout their four years of education at the university’s Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, and Lowell campuses.

Pointing to his record of innovative leadership and embrace of public higher education’s historic mission, the UMass Board of Trustees, acting on President Marty Meehan’s recommendation, today selected Dr. Javier Reyes to be the next chancellor of UMass Amherst. 

Governor Maura Healey
“Javier Reyes is an innovative and dynamic leader who will harness the full potential of UMass Amherst. I’m confident that he will inspire students and faculty alike to continue growing the school’s excellence in education and research. I congratulate Dr. Reyes, President Meehan and the UMass Board of Trustees on this historic appointment. I am grateful to Chancellor Subbaswamy for his many years of service to the university and for taking it to new heights. I wish him the very best in his future endeavors.” 

Candidates will visit campus soon

Following a comprehensive screening process that was launched on July 15, 2022, the UMass Amherst Chancellor Search Committee voted unanimously today to forward the following finalists for the position to UMass President Marty Meehan and the UMass Board of Trustees for their consideration:

Javier Reyes 
Interim Chancellor 
University of Illinois Chicago

Paul Tikalsky 
Dean, The College of Engineering, Architecture & Technology 
Oklahoma State University

The University of Massachusetts continued its ascent as one of the top colleges and universities in the nation in the 2023 Times Higher Education (THE)’s World University Rankings released on Oct. 25. Rising two spots over THE’s 2022 rankings, UMass is now 56th among U.S. higher ed institutions and ranks 28th among all U.S. public universities.