Robert E. Johnson, president of Becker College since 2010, was named Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth by a unanimous vote of the UMass Board of Trustees.
Johnson was recommended for the UMass Dartmouth chancellorship by UMass President Marty Meehan.
“Robert Johnson is an accomplished, visionary leader with an entrepreneurial spirit and a proven commitment to student success,” said Meehan. “He has developed innovative strategies that have revitalized institutions and transformed lives, and I am confident he will help UMass Dartmouth reach new levels of excellence.”
Under Johnson’s leadership, Becker College was named one of the “best institutions for undergraduate education” by The Princeton Review for five consecutive years. He is credited with increasing enrollment to record levels, improving student success and elevating the reputation of the college.
Johnson, who will be the first African American to lead UMass Dartmouth, is a member of the state Board of Higher Education, vice chairman of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Board and chair of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.
“We were impressed by his obvious passion for higher education, his consistent record of achievement and his ability to accomplish key objectives — from growing revenues to increasing graduation rates — all while keeping his pulse on the day-to-day student experience,” said R. Norman Peters, trustee and chair of the UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Search Committee.
Johnson holds a doctorate in higher education administration from Touro University International, a master’s degree in education administration from the University of Cincinnati and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Morehouse College. Prior to becoming Becker College’s president, he served as senior vice president of Sinclair Community College, vice president of enrollment management at the University of Dayton, vice provost at Oakland University and executive director of enrollment management at Central State University.
