Mary K. Grant Appointed as New MCLA President

12:00AM / Thursday, March 14, 2002Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts board of trustees has named Mary K. Grant, a 1983 graduate, as the institution's 11th president.

The appointment is contingent on approval by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education at its April 17 meeting. The announcement of Grant's appointment was made following a special meeting of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Board of Trustees.

She will replace Thomas D. Aceto who will retire on Aug. 31 after 11 years of service to the college. Grant will become the first member of the alumni and only the second woman to serve as president of the public liberal arts institution.

Hailing from the University of Massachusetts, Grant currently serves as the chief academic officer and deputy C.E.O. of UmassOnline. She was appointed to this position within the Office of the President of the University of Massachusetts in October 2000, when she led the Transition Team that launched the system-wide program of professional and distance education.

Grant is also a Senior Fellow at the John W. McCormack Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, where she teaches in, and has served as faculty chair for the Master of Science in Public Affairs Program. From 1994-2000, she was assistant vice chancellor of administration and finance and human resources at UMass Boston. She holds a doctorate from Brandeis University, a master of science in public affairs from UMass-Boston and a bachelor's in sociology from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Experience & commitment

During her on-campus interviews, Grant emphasized her commitment to give back to the institution that has given her so much during her undergraduate career. Citing her experience in working within the public higher education system in the commonwealth, she also expressed interest in improving the institution's state budget allocation, as well as creating new revenue sources for the college.

Throughout her one and a half-day campus visit, she met with faculty, staff, students, senior administrators, North Adams Mayor John Barrett III and members of the board of trustees.

Eugene Leibowitz, chairman of the board of trustees and the Presidential Search Committee, expressed his pleasure with the selection of Grant.

"Dr. Grant brings with her the familiarity and experience with the state's system of public higher education that is necessary to bring the College to the next level of becoming a public liberal arts institution of distinction," he said. "She was the top choice of the campus and surrounding community who had the pleasure of meeting her during her visit. We look forward to working with her in the coming years."

Praise for search process

State Rep. Daniel Bosley lauded the work of the Presidential Search Committee, saying he is pleased a fellow alum has been chosen.

"Mary Grant is an alumna with fresh ideas and the energy and allegiance to make a difference on this campus," he said. "She has the experience as both a teacher and an administrator, making her uniquely qualified for the position. As an alumnus myself, I know that Mary and I both share a great amount of pride in the College and its achievements. I look forward to working with her in making great strides for MCLA."

Selma Botman, vice president of academic affairs at the University of Massachusetts, echoed the comments adding, "As an alum, Mary will be a shining example to students. As an academic with high standards, Mary will appreciate faculty work. As a manager, she will work closely with staff, the community and a variety of constituencies. I applaud the Search Committee and the Board for their choice. A finer, more decent, more able president, the Committee could not have found."

Leadership skills lauded

Associate Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Boston Hubie Jones, who has worked closely with Grant, noted that the selection is a great match for the College saying, "I am thrilled that Mary was selected at this stage in her career because she is ready to provide some extraordinary leadership for an institution, such as Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts."

The presidential search commenced following Aceto's announcement of his retirement during the institution's fall opening breakfast in September. The Search Committee included representatives of the faculty, staff, administration, students, alumni, community and the Board of Trustees. The committee retained Academic Search Consultation Service, a Washington-based national search firm, to assist with the search, which yielded 51 nominees.

The committee then narrowed the field to seven semi-final candidates, which was reduced to four finalists following interviews with each candidate. Finalists included Alan E. Dillingham, provost of St. Mary's College of Maryland; Michael J. Bell, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty at Elmhurst College; and Lawrence Wayne Markert, vice president for academic affairs at Hollins University.

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Letter: Virginia Riehl Would Bring a Thoughtful Voice to City Council

Letter to the Editor05:00PM / Monday, November 02, 2026

To the Wditor:

As the North Adams City Council considers who will fill the vacancy left by Alexa MacDonald's departure, I'd like to express my support for Virginia Riehl.

North Adams is a community I care deeply about, and I try to contribute where I can. For the past three years, I've volunteered at the North Adams Farmers Market through various farms. I also volunteer my photography to support local charities and causes, and make an effort to stay engaged with the issues facing our city.

It's through this involvement that I've come to know Virginia. I frequently see her at farmers markets, community events, and gatherings focused on issues like affordable housing. I've come to appreciate not only her commitment to North Adams, but the thoughtful and collaborative way she approaches the challenges facing our community.

Recently, I attended a NACHO meeting that Virginia organized, and I was struck by her approach to the conversation. Rather than focusing on sweeping changes or searching for a single solution, Virginia emphasized listening, encouraging thoughtful discussion, and making space for ideas of all sizes. She seemed to recognize that even small, modest efforts can grow into something meaningful.

The conversation also touched on NACHO's (North Adams Community Housing Organization) future direction and how it could best serve the community. I appreciated Virginia's willingness to examine the organization's priorities rather than assume the existing approach was necessarily the best. To me, that reflected an important quality in civic leadership: a commitment to the purpose of the work, rather than to any particular structure or way of doing things.

Larger economic, social, and political forces shape the trajectory of a city like North Adams, and many are beyond our immediate control. But there's tremendous value in creating opportunities for people to connect, share ideas, and help one another. Sometimes meaningful change begins not with a grand proposal or formal policy initiative, but with a conversation that encourages someone to act on an idea.

Much of what makes a community strong happens through small, often unremarkable acts of participation. I believe Virginia understands that creating spaces for people to exchange ideas and encouraging others to get involved are themselves important forms of civic leadership.

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