J. Keith Motley

J. Keith Motley
8th Chancellor of University of Massachusetts Boston
In office
1 July 2007 – 30 June 2017
Preceded by Michael F. Collins
Succeeded by Barry Mills (Interim)
Personal details
Born James Keith Motley
(1956-01-28) January 28, 1956
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Spouse(s) Angela
Children 3
Alma mater Northeastern University (BA) (MA)
Boston College (PhD)


James Keith Motley (born January 28, 1956 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is a leader in higher education and was the eighth chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Personal life and background

Motley was born to Cornelia Motley Williams and John Motley Jr. He attended Peabody High School in Pittsburgh and is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh’s Upward Bound Program.

Motley was first recruited by renowned basketball coach Mike Jarvis to play Division 1 basketball at Northeastern University in 1972 as the first prospect of legendary head coach Jim Calhoun. He earned the team’s “Unsung Hero” award following his final season, among the various accolades he garnered over his college athletic career.[1] He was inducted into the Northeastern University Hall of Fame in 1999 for “his contribution as a player, coach and advocate of the basketball program.”

Motley is a member of Iota Phi Theta fraternity and Sigma Pi Phi fraternity Beta Beta Boulé. In college, he was president of his fraternity and earned the Director's Award from the African American Institute as the Most Outstanding Black Senior.[2]

Motley earned his BA and MA degrees from Northeastern University and a PhD from Boston College and is now married to Angela Motley, with whom he has three children.

Career

Northeastern University

Upon graduation from Northeastern University in 1978, he was hired as an admissions counselor by his mentor, Jack Curry, former Dean of Admissions and Senior Vice President of the university, and Philip McCabe, former Dean of Admissions. Calhoun also hired him as a part-time assistant coach.

Motley went on to become Northeastern’s Assistant Dean of Minority Affairs in 1982, Associate Dean and Director of the African American Institute in 1987, and Dean of Student Services in 1993, a position he held for 10 years prior to moving to University of Massachusetts Boston. He would help coach the basketball program for 20 years, during which time he recruited numerous Pittsburgh players to the university and helped lead the Huskies to seven appearances in the NCAA Tournament as an associate head coach. Following retirement from coaching, he served as president of the university’s Courtside Club.

University of Massachusetts Boston

Motley was first hired by the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMass Boston) in 2003 as Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. In 2004, he was named interim chancellor of the university and became a finalist to become chancellor after Jo Ann Gora became the president of Ball State University. In 2005, University of Massachusetts (UMass) System President Jack Wilson recommended Michael F. Collins, former chief executive of Caritas Christi Health System, for the permanent role, despite the support shown for Motley by many students, staff, faculty, and community leaders, including Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, a UMass Boston alumnus.[3][4]

Motley went on to serve as vice president for business, marketing, and public affairs at the UMass System president’s office, citing his hope that UMass Boston would move forward from the controversy.[5] Less than two years later, Wilson announced a leadership rotation;[6] following the retirement of UMass Medical School Chancellor Aaron Lazare, Collins moved to the Medical School to serve as interim chancellor, and Motley was ultimately named the eighth chancellor of UMass Boston.[7] He is the first African American to serve as the university's chancellor.[8]

Motley became chancellor of the UMass Boston on July 1, 2007, following more than 30 years of experience in higher education administration. As chancellor, he oversaw a strategic planning initiative to enhance the university’s academic offerings and research enterprise, grow enrollment to meet the increasing demand for a well-educated workforce, and build the university as a resource of knowledge and public service.[9] As the first African American chancellor of UMass Boston, which is considered the most diverse public university in New England, Motley highlighted inclusion among its key missions.[10] Motley also oversaw its 25-year master plan to enhance the campus and improve its layout on Columbia Point.[11] The project includes the construction of a new Integrated Sciences Complex,[12]University Hall,[13] and housing for students,[14] as well as the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, which the late senator requested to be located on the UMass Boston campus next to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

He stepped down as chancellor on June 30, 2017.

Community service and honors

Motley is a founder of the Roxbury Preparatory Charter School and chair emeritus of the school’s Board of Trustees. He also is the founder and education chair of Concerned Black Men of Massachusetts, Inc., and the Paul Robeson Institute for Positive Self-Development, an academic and social enrichment program for school-aged children of color. He also serves on numerous boards of community organizations with local, regional, and national reach, including:

Motley also chairs the Boston Committee for the “Do the Write Thing Challenge,” an initiative of the National Campaign to Stop Violence.

He is former chair of the Newbury College Board of Trustees and was appointed as the co-chair of Success Boston, a college-completion initiative founded by former Boston mayor Thomas Menino. On a national level, he has chaired the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and is a mentor for its Millennium Leadership Initiative, a premier leadership development program that provides individuals from underrepresented populations in high-ranking positions in higher education the opportunity to gain a broader understanding of the higher education landscape, develop skills, and build the networks needed to advance to the presidency. He also serves on the boards of the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU) and New England Association of Schools and Colleges. He is a member of the American Council on Education’s Commission on Effective Leadership, past chair of APLU’s Commission on Access, Diversity and Excellence.

Motley was named to the Boston Business Journal's list of area influencers five years in a row.[15] In 2016, he was named to Colette Phillips Communications Get Konnected! 100 list of Boston’s 100 Most Influential People of Color.[16] The Boston Business Journal also selected him to receive its 2014 Leaders in Diversity Awards, which honor companies and businesspeople for their leadership in promoting inclusiveness and economic opportunity.[17] In 2012, he was chosen by the Boston Globe as one of a dozen local leaders who have promoted diversity for its "Diversity Boston" list.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Hall of Fame". GoNU.com. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Ibid". Missing or empty |url= (help)
  3. ↑ Russell, Jenna. "Ex-CEO picked to lead UMass-Boston". Boston.com. Retrieved May 19, 2005.
  4. ↑ Forry, Bill and Patrick McGroarty. "Collins to depart, Motley take helm at UMass-Boston". Dorchester Reporter. Retrieved May 15, 2007.
  5. ↑ Russell, Jenna. "Critics silent as chancellor appointed". Boston.com. Retrieved May 26, 2005.
  6. ↑ Forry, Bill and Patrick McGroarty. "Collins to depart, Motley take helm at UMass-Boston". Dorchester Reporter. Retrieved May 15, 2007.
  7. ↑ Manly, Howard (2007-05-17). "Motley to become first black chancellor at UMass". www.baystate-banner.com. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  8. ↑ Manly, Howard. "Motley to become first black chancellor at UMass". Bay State Banner. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
  9. ↑ "Strategic Planning 2010-2025". University of Massachusetts Boston. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  10. ↑ Keene, Cindy Atoji. "Why I Stayed in Boston". Boston Globe. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
  11. ↑ "25-Year Campus Master Plan". University of Massachusetts Boston. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Integrated Sciences Complex". University of Massachusetts Boston. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  13. ↑ "University Hall". University of Massachusetts Boston. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  14. ↑ Office of Communications. "UMass Boston To Offer Student Housing In 2018". UMass Boston News. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Meet the Boston Business Journal's Power 50". Boston Business Journal. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Meet 100 of Boston's most influential minorities - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
  17. ↑ "BBJ names 2014 Leaders in Diversity for upcoming event - Boston Business Journal". Boston Business Journal. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  18. ↑ Burnett III, James H. "Champions of Diversity J. Keith Motley". Boston.com. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
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