Past Presidents and Chancellors, 1895-Current

New Bedford Textile School / New Bedford Textile Institute / New Bedford Institute of Textiles and Technology  / New Bedford Institute of Technology

Until 1949 the title of President refers to the President of the Board of Trustees. Before 1949 the individual in charge of administration of the school was referred to as either the Principal or the Managing Director. After 1949 the President served as both the head of the school and the head of the Board of Trustees.

Christopher P. Brooks Managing Director of New Bedford Textile School, 1899-1904

He resigned as managing director as of March 31, 1904 per Jan. 15, 1904 Executive committee minutes

Henry W. Nichols Superintendent of New Bedford Textile School, 1904-1912

This change in roles is not mentioned in the trustee records nor is the resignation of Mr. Nichols as superintendent; Nichols becomes head of Designing and Mathematics and then the next year, Chief of Instruction.

William E. Hatch President and Managing Director of New Bedford Textile School, 1912-1922

Based on a letter regarding his retirement date, attached to May 9, 1922 BOT meeting minutes).  Since 1904, Hatch had been president of the trustees, from which there was no official resignation.

William Smith Principal of New Bedford Textile School, 1922-1934

Based on a letter regarding his retirement date attached to July 16, 1934 BOT meeting minutes.

Joseph H. Handford Principal of New Bedford Textile School, 1934-1936

There was a vote to elect him at the July 16, 1934 BOT meeting; and there was a vote to dismiss him at the Sept 17, 1936 BOT meeting.

George Walker Principal of New Bedford Textile School, 1936-1949  and President of New Bedford Textile Institute, 1949-1952

There was a vote to elect him at the Sept. 17, 1936 BOT meeting; then there was a vote on Feb. 7, 1949 to “reallocate” George Walker from principal to president in order for the Institute to function at a college level.

John E. Foster President of New Bedford Textile Institute, New Bedford Institute of Textiles and Technology, and New Bedford Institute of Technology, 1952-1964

There was a vote to elect him at the Sept. 29, 1952 BOT meeting.  At the time of the merger in 1964, he was appointed Dean of the School of Engineering and Chancellor of Southeastern Massachusetts Technological Institute (SMTI). He is credited with the successful expansion of the school in the form of the new Engineering and Science Building erected in 1956 across the street from the original textile school building on Purchase Street. In this photo you can see a sketch and blueprint of the new building. In 1972 the administrative building on the Dartmouth campus was named in honor of Foster, who died in 1970.

Bradford Durfee Textile School / Bradford Durfee Technical Institute / Bradford Durfee College of Technology

Joseph W. Bailey Principal of Bradford Durfee Textile School, 1903-1910

The BOT voted to elect him at the June 9, 1903 meeting.

Fenwick Umpleby Principal of Bradford Durfee Textile School, 1910-1913

Voted to elect him at the Sept. 26, 1910 meeting, effective August 18, 1910.  Umpleby died suddenly in office on Oct. 13, 1913.

Everett B. Durfee Principal of Bradford Durfee Textile School,1913-1916

Appointed “temporarily in charge of the school office until further action by the Board of Directors” at a special meeting called by phone, October 14, 1913.  They voted to elect him Principal on Nov. 8, 1913.

William Hopewell Acting Principal of Bradford Durfee Textile School, 1916-1917

Elected to act as principal during a leave of absence by Everett Durfee – see Dec. 21, 1916 meeting.

Henry W. Nichols  Principal of Bradford Durfee Textile School, 1917 or 1918-1942.  He was also Superintendent of New Bedford Textile School in 1904-1912.  Appointed principal sometime between Feb. 1917 and July 1918 – records are missing. Nichols retired in 1942.

Edward V. Carroll Principal of Bradford Durfee Textile School, 1942-1944

Died in office, 1944.

Leslie B. Coombs Principal of Bradford Durfee Textile School, 1944-1949 and President of Bradford Durfee Technical Institute, 1949-1958 and  President Emeritus 1958.

The Education Committee voted to recommend his appointment July 11, 1944; the trustees voted to appoint him on July 13, 1944. As of July 1, 1949 the position of principal was re-classified as president to implement “our transition to collegiate standing.”

William J. Holland President of Bradford Durfee Technical Institute, then Bradford Durfee College of Technology, 1958-1964 Appointed Dean of the School of Business and Industry and Provost of SMTI in 1964.

Vote to elect at the May 26, 1958 BOT meeting.

Southeastern Massachusetts Technological Institute / Southeastern Massachusetts University / University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Joseph L. Driscoll President of Southeastern Massachusetts Technological Institute, then Southeastern Massachusetts University, 1962-1971

Voted to offer him the position of president at the Sept. 14, 1962 meeting. Forced to resign effective 12/31/71 per the 1/13/72 meeting.

Inventory for his administrative records, URC 008.

Donald E. Walker President of Southeastern Massachusetts University, 1972-1983

Effective 8/1/72 per the 4/20/72 BOT meeting.  His final day was 9/1/83 per the 6/23/83 meeting.

Inventory for his administrative records, URC 007.

William C. Wild, Jr. President of Southeastern Massachusetts University, 1983-1984

Voted president 9/1/83 to 8/31/84 per the 6/23/83 BOT meeting.

Inventory for his administrative records, URC 011.

John R. Brazil President of Southeastern Massachusetts University, 1984-1991 and Chancellor of UMass Dartmouth, 1991-1992

Effective 9/1/84 per the 3/28/84 BOT meeting.  He became a chancellor when SMU joined the 5-campus UMass system as the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

Inventory for his administrative records, URC 010.

Joseph C. Deck Interim Chancellor of UMass Dartmouth, 1992-1993

Inventory for his administrative records, URC 009.

Peter H. Cressy Chancellor of UMass Dartmouth, 1993-1999

Inventory for his administrative records, URC 006.

Jean MacCormack Interim Chancellor of UMass Dartmouth, 1999-2001 and then Chancellor, 2001-2012

Inventory for her administrative records, URC 097.

Divina Grossman Chancellor of UMass Dartmouth, 2012-2015

Peyton Randolph (Randy) Helm Interim Chancellor of UMass Dartmouth, 2016-2017

Robert E. Johnson Chancellor of UMass Dartmouth, July 2017-July 2020.

Mark Preble, Chief Operating Officer and Acting Chancellor of UMass Dartmouth, August 1, 2020-January 18, 2021.

Mark Fuller, Interim Chancellor, January 19, 2021-August 2021; appointed Chancellor August 9, 2021. Official inauguration on October 14, 2022.

Compiled by Judy Farrar, Archives and Special Collections Librarian