Marty Meehan is the first undergraduate alumnus to lead the five-campus University of Massachusetts system, a role he assumed in 2015 after eight successful years as UMass Lowell Chancellor. A champion of public higher education, Meehan has called UMass “the most important institution in Massachusetts in social mobility and economic growth.”
Under Meehan, UMass reached record highs for enrollment, research funding, student financial aid and fundraising.
- Enrollment has grown to more than 73,000 students
- Research funding grew to $869 million annually
- UMass-funded student aid increased by 79% to $422 million
- UMass launched a program fully covering tuition for in-state students from households earning $75,000 or less.
- The university has received its five largest private donations in its history, totaling more than $330 million.
- The UMass endowment has reached $1.8 billion
Meehan represented Massachusetts' 5th Congressional District from 1993 to 2007, where he gained national recognition for his leadership on matters related to campaign finance reform and tobacco regulation. A first-generation college student, he graduated cum laude from UMass Lowell, later earning an MPA and a JD from Suffolk University.
Along with the Natixis Board, Meehan sits on the board of Blue Cross BlueShield of Massachusetts.