Grant Named Chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Asheville

CHAPEL HILL, NC – Mary K. Grant, president of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts since 2002, has been elected chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Asheville by the Board of Governors of the 17-campus University of North Carolina. UNC President Tom Ross placed Grant’s name in nomination during the board’s August 2014 meeting.

Grant, 53, will assume her new duties January 5, 2015, succeeding Anne Ponder, who announced in January that she would retire this summer after nine years in the post.

Ross also announced that Doug Orr, president emeritus of Warren Wilson College, will serve as interim chancellor of UNC Asheville beginning September 1, serving until Grant’s arrival.

In recommending Grant to the Board of Governors, Ross said: “Mary Grant brings to UNC Asheville almost 25 years of academic and leadership experience at two highly respected public universities, a solid reputation as an energetic and creative problem solver, and a passionate belief in the enduring value of liberal arts education.

“Throughout her career, she also has made community involvement a key priority and proven herself to be an engaged and effective leader who promotes openness, collaboration, and strategic thinking. We are most fortunate to gain a leader with this wealth of talent, enthusiasm, and commitment.”

A Massachusetts native, Grant is one of six children and the first in her family to complete a four-year degree. After graduating from North Adams State College (now MCLA) in 1983 with an undergraduate degree in sociology, she earned a master’s degree in public affairs from the McCormack Institute of Public Affairs (now the McCormack Graduate School of Public Policy) at the University of Massachusetts, Boston (1986) and a doctorate in social policy from the Heller School for Advanced Studies in Social Welfare at Brandeis University (2000).

Grant began her higher education career in 1990 as a research associate at UMass Boston. Over the next decade, she taught graduate-level courses in the McCormack Institute and held several key administrative positions, including Director of the Center for Social Policy (1992-94) and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance and Human Resources (1994-2000).

In 2000, she served as chair of the Institute’s faculty. That same year, Grant was recruited to serve as Deputy CEO and Chief Academic Officer for the team charged with launching UMassOnline, a new system-wide program of professional and online education. In those roles, she led the selection of the first learning management platform, coordinated system campus involvement, and developed strategies for addressing programmatic and policy issues that would impact the development and delivery of online programs.

She remained in those posts until 2002, when she was named President of MCLA. As MCLA President, Grant has led the college through a sustained period of growth and advancement.

During her 12-year tenure, she is credited with increasing student enrollment, developing new academic programs responsive to regional needs, investing in undergraduate research, significantly increasing private giving, and improving campus facilities.

Under her leadership, MCLA also has intentionally become a more integral part of the surrounding community and expanded service learning opportunities for students. To that end, she established the Berkshire Compact for Education, a county-wide initiative that serves as a model for regional collaboration.

Grant is married to Jim Canavan, a management consultant and nonprofit leader. He is a visiting associate professor at MCLA teaching public policy and financial management for nonprofits.

Following her election, Grant told the Board of Governors: “I am honored to have been elected to serve as the next Chancellor of UNC Asheville. It is a particularly distinct honor to build upon the strong foundation and vision of Chancellor Ponder.

“Over the last several weeks Jim and I have met so many committed, passionate, and talented individuals who care deeply about public higher education, the Asheville campus, the incredible community we will soon call home, and most importantly the students.

“To serve as the next Chancellor of this important, leading public liberal arts university is a privilege. My service as president of MCLA has been rich and rewarding and I am gratified that there are national ties through the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, headquartered at UNC Asheville.

“I look forward to working with the Trustees, faculty, staff, students and members of the community and to the important work ahead with President Ross, the Board of Governors, and my fellow UNC chancellors.”