Julie Chen, a recognized leader in research, STEM and economic development in higher education, is the fourth chancellor of UMass Lowell. Chen was named chancellor after leading the university’s growing research franchise into a nearly $95 million annual operation. She was unanimously appointed by the UMass trustees in May 2022 and assumed her role as just the second woman to lead the university of more than 17,000 students on July 1. In her first year as Chancellor, Chen led the development of a new five-year strategic plan, focused on four strategic priorities: 1.) Enrollment and Student Success, 2.) A Diverse, Welcoming and Inclusive Campus, 3.) Research Excellence and 4.) Partnering with Our Community for Mutual Benefit. In the past year the university has experienced increases in undergraduate enrollment, retention, six-year graduation rates and philanthropic gifts, which hit a new one-year record of $37.4 million. Forty-eight percent of 2023 first-year students identify as students of color. Research funding has continued to increase in the last year – reaching $111 million – and UMass Lowell sits on the precipice of Research 1 status, the highest tier of research university in the country. The designation will further accelerate UMass Lowell’s growth in research, external partnerships with industry, non-profits and government agencies. It will also provide additional opportunities for students, faculty and alumni seeking internships, research collaborations and jobs. Chen previously served as vice chancellor for research and economic development, a role that included managing industry partnerships, technology transfer, startups and innovation, core research facilities and economic development programs. As UMass Lowell’s chief research officer, she facilitated numerous innovative models that brought together industry, government and academia. Chen joined the UMass Lowell faculty in 1997 after six years as an assistant professor at Boston University. From 2002 to 2004 she was director of the Materials Processing and Manufacturing as well as the Nanomanufacturing programs at the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C. Chen was appointed UMass Lowell’s vice provost for research in 2009, and she was promoted to vice chancellor in 2016 with an added external and outreach focus. Chen has served on many editorial boards, advisory committees and review panels for journals and federal agencies including the National Science Foundation; the National Institutes of Health; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine; the U.S. Department of Energy; and the U.S. Department of Defense. She serves on boards of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and MassTech Collaborative, as well as the Massachusetts Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative and the Massachusetts Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force. An advocate for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, she served as co-lead for UMass Lowell’s Council on Social Justice and Inclusion. Additionally, she was a co-principal investigator on a $3.5 million National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation grant to support and elevate women faculty in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. Chen received her Ph.D., Master of Science, and Bachelor of Science degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in mechanical engineering, where she was an Academic All-American in softball and field hockey. In 2019 she was awarded an honorary degree from Queens University Belfast. She is a recipient of the U.S. Army Public Service Commendation Medal – the Army’s fourth-highest civilian honor – for her leadership in developing the innovation ecosystem. Chen and her spouse, Susu Wong, reside in Wilmington.

Growing up in the West Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Ed Coppinger was the fifth of eight children and son to a former state representative. Ed graduated from Catholic Memorial in 1990 and went on to get a degree in accounting from Bryant University. As a lifelong resident of West Roxbury, Ed remained active in the community, eventually establishing a news website for local parents to find information about sports leagues and upcoming events. Ed ran for office for the first time in 2010, defeating five other candidates and earning nearly 40% of the vote to become State Representative of the 10th Suffolk District. Ed is now married with four daughters and serving his sixth term for the 10th Suffolk District, which includes the towns of West Roxbury, Roslindale, and Brookline. He currently serves as Chair to the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses, overseeing legislation concerning business establishments, economic districts and local planning commissions, urban renewal, and other such matters. Ed was diagnosed 20 years ago with chronic kidney disease during a routine physical. Doctors at Brigham and Women’s Hospital monitored Ed closely for 15 years. In early 2015, he was notified that he would need a kidney transplant. Months later, Ed would receive his new kidney, with the donor being one of his sisters. The Medical and Biotech Industries have played a key role in Ed’s life, and he is always willing to offer his assistance when needed.

Dr. Richard DeCristofaro, appointed as the President of Quincy College in June of 2020, served the City of Quincy as the Superintendent/ Assistant Superintendent of Quincy Public Schools for 27 years. Dr. DeCristofaro grew up in the city and has worked in Quincy his entire career. Prior to assuming the role of Assistant Superintendent for Quincy Public Schools in 1993, Dr. DeCristofaro was Principal at Snug Harbor Community School and Assistant Principal at Point Webster Middle School. Dr. DeCristofaro also has many years of teaching experience at the elementary, middle and high school levels, up to teaching college courses at Quincy College, Bridgewater State College and Eastern Nazarene College. Dr. DeCristofaro holds a Doctorate in Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, a master’s degree in both Special Education and Elementary Education from Suffolk University and a bachelor’s degree in Education from North Adams State College.

Aisha Francis, Ph.D., was recently named the President and Chief Executive Officer of Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology after initially serving as Chief of Staff. She is pleased to advance the mission of this minority-serving, non-profit technical college based in Boston, MA. This role is an exciting return to higher education administration for Dr. Francis, who began her career as a college lecturer and adjunct professor after completing her terminal degree in English Literature from Vanderbilt University. The entirety of her professional career has centered on increasing access to higher education although she worked across various fields and populations over the past 20 years. Aisha is an educator at heart with broad-based experience in philanthropy, marketing, and communications. She believes in the collective ability of healthy organizations and well-supported individuals to transform underserved communities. Leadership roles in board relations and governance, strategic planning, and resource development have underscored her ability to develop trusted relationships and implement programs with significant impact.

Kendalle Burlin O’Connell is a seasoned and effective executive who has received wide acclaim for her leadership of MassBio, the world’s largest biopharma membership organization, where she drives the strategy to grow the industry and support member companies as CEO and president. To better serve the entire life cycle of biopharma companies, Kendalle has expanded MassBio’s innovation offerings to include partnering and investor events, an entrepreneurial accelerator, and a network for founders and chief executives. As part of MassBio’s commitment to realizing a more diverse and equitable life sciences industry, Kendalle was the driving force behind the organization’s launch of the non-profit Bioversity and the opening of its first workforce training center in Dorchester where graduates are prepared for rewarding entry-level careers at local life sciences companies. Kendalle has been an outspoken advocate for the industry in policy debates about state government support for the expansion of the life sciences in Massachusetts, the federal government’s intervention into biopharma innovation, and efforts to improve the affordability and accessibility of life-changing medicines, just to name a few. Kendalle has earned numerous accolades for her leadership, including top recognitions from Boston Magazine and the Boston Business Journal, and serves on the Boards of The Boston Foundation and the American Cancer Society, where she is Chair for the Eastern New England region, among others.

Cory Siddons is the Senior Director of Manufacturing & QC for Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and is site head for Alnylam's manufacturing sites in Cambridge and Norton. In that role, he is responsible for cross functional plant activities and operations including manufacturing, process sciences, validation, engineering, facilities, EH&S, and materials management. Cory was previously Director of Engineering at Alnylam, responsible for process engineering, plant engineering, and automation. Prior to joining Alnylam, he also spent more than 10 years in engineering consulting, supporting clients in the US and Europe.

Melisa Tintocalis is a planning and public administration professional with expertise in economic development, real estate analysis, land use analysis, and public sector management. She is an experienced project manager who specializes in complex public policy initiatives that require creative problem solving and consensus building. Melisa is recognized for her people skills and her enthusiastic team-oriented approach. She has a proven track record of effectively managing staff and believes in getting results through a collaborative approach. Melisa is passionate about smart growth, promoting meaningful social connections and facilitating civic engagement - these are the guiding principles of her work. In 2020, Melisa was offered a position with the Town of Burlington to build a framework for the Town’s long-term economic development strategy. In her new role, Melisa oversees various initiatives focused on retrofitting suburbia, placemaking, workforce development, and shop local efforts. Her work integrates urban planning policy, real estate economics, and economic development. Prior to joining the Town of Burlington, Melisa was the Economic Development Director for Lexington, MA leading a team on development and tourism initiatives, bringing to fruition the development of Lexington's new Visitor Center. Previously, Melisa worked as the Principal Economic Development Planner for the City of Somerville, where she worked on a variety of economic development initiatives to support local businesses and encourage new commercial investment in targeted areas in preparation for the Green Line Extension. Over the course of her experience, Melisa has specifically enjoyed real estate development attending real estate finance courses and working with a local business partner on the renovation of a small-scale residential project - she worked to secure the permitting, develop the design, and worked with multiple contractors. The home sold in Spring, 2019.

Kenneth Turner is President & CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC), an economic development and investment agency dedicated to supporting the growth and development of the life sciences in Massachusetts. He directs and oversees the center's operations, investment strategy, programs, and partnerships. Prior to joining the MLSC, Mr. Turner serves as Director of Diversity & Inclusion/Compliance with Massport. He oversaw and managed the Authority's multiple diversity programs, including business and supplier diversity, workforce diversity, and airport concessions, as well as compliance initiatives with Massport's Disadvantaged/Minority/Women Business Enterprise programs. Previously, Mr. Turner serves as Deputy Secretary for Administration & Finance for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services. He has over 20-years of general management and executive experience in various Fortune 100 media and package good companies including having served as Senior Vice President of Emerging Markets at AOL Time Warner as well a having held various positions at Hallmark Cards and Hasbro Toys. A retired U.S Navy Captain and submarine nuclear weapons system officer with 26-years of service. Mr. Turner holds a B.S degree in Liberal Arts from Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA.