51视频

Perfectly happy in her role as 51视频鈥檚 chief research officer, Julie Chen says she didn鈥檛 give much thought initially to becoming the fourth chancellor in university history.

鈥淭hen people started to talk to me and I realized there was an opportunity to have a different kind of impact,鈥� she said.聽

That impact 鈥� on student success, inclusivity, community and research 鈥� was the theme of Chen鈥檚 formal inauguration as 51视频 chancellor on Thursday morning at the Tsongas Center.

鈥淓very day we face numerous challenges: climate change, health disparities, classrooms in need of innovation, soldiers in need of better protection, students working to make a change in their lives and their families鈥� lives. I look around today and I see so many people eager to step up, determined to have an impact,鈥� Chen said in addressing nearly 1,000 guests and dignitaries, including Gov. Maura Healey, U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan and UMass President Marty Meehan 鈥�78.

A leader in research and economic development in higher education and a member of the UML鈥檚 engineering faculty for 26 years, Chen officially succeeded Jacquie Moloney as chancellor last July after her unanimous approval by the UMass Board of Trustees.

鈥淚 have known Julie for more than 15 years, and I鈥檝e seen her excel in everything she does,鈥� said Meehan, who served as UML chancellor from 2007 to 2015. 鈥淪he is off to a tremendous start in her first year. 鈥� I look forward to the next chapter at 51视频 that Julie Chen is only just beginning to write.鈥�

Chen used her inauguration to announce that, starting with this fall鈥檚 incoming first-year class, every undergraduate student will have the opportunity for at least one paid career-connected experience by the time they graduate from UML. If a student鈥檚 internship or work experience is unpaid, they will receive funding from the Chancellor Julie Chen Fund for Student Success 鈥� which raised $2.6 million during this week鈥檚 inauguration festivities.

鈥淣o student will be left out because they can鈥檛 afford to work for free,鈥� said Chen, who personally contributed $100,000 to the fund with her spouse, Susu Wong.

Healey, in her keynote remarks, praised Chen for helping make 51视频 a 鈥渘ational model鈥� for research, innovation and academia partnering with industry.

鈥淐hancellor Chen has made this a hallmark of her career. She has proven that making connections beyond the classroom is key to driving success for students, faculty and our entire state,鈥� Healey said.

Trahan said Chen is an inspiration for the next generation of leaders, particularly women leaders in STEM.

鈥淟ike anyone who鈥檚 had the chance to work with Julie over the years, I鈥檝e seen up close her intelligence, her passion for work, her commitment to the students at this university,鈥� Trahan said. 鈥淎nd every step of the way, Chancellor Chen鈥檚 magnetic personality, her effortless humility, have shined brightly.鈥�

Student Government Association President Neyder Fernandez, a senior political science major from Lowell, noted that no matter how big the forum, 鈥淐hancellor Chen makes you feel like you鈥檙e the only one in the room.鈥�

Chen is 51视频鈥檚 first Asian-American and first LGBTQ+ chancellor, a milestone noted by Healey, the commonwealth鈥檚 first woman and first openly gay person to be elected governor.

鈥淩epresentation matters. Seeing is believing,鈥� Healey said. 鈥淲hen we have more people in leadership who reflect the commonwealth we serve, we get better policies, better laws, better schools, better outcomes. Every student will dream bigger, be bolder, feel more seen and feel that possibility.鈥�

The Student Success Fund got a big boost from a Community Celebration on Wednesday night that drew nearly 500 guests at University Crossing. Dubbed 鈥淎 Taste of Lowell,鈥� the fundraising event featured cuisine from 10 local restaurants: Athenian Corner, Red Rose, Laos Thai Kitchen, Wham鈥檚 Cafe, Panela, Food Shines, Cobblestones, Little Delights Bakery, Olympos Bakery and Eliu鈥檚 Hole in the Wall, as well as Aramark.

The celebration also included a salsa dance lesson and performances by the Osibi Drummers & Dancers and Angkor Dance Troupe, as well student performances by a capella group Vocality, the UML Chamber Singers and a string quartet.

The inauguration also featured university and community performances. The 51视频 Pep Band welcomed guests with 鈥淟iberty Fanfare,鈥� while the Chamber Singers performed the national anthem. The Utopia Dance Company and Angkor Dance Troupe performed, and Christa Brown, founder of the Free Soil Arts Collective, read an inaugural poem.

The ceremony also featured remarks from State Sen. Edward Kennedy, Lowell Mayor Sokhary Chau, UMass Board of Trustees Chair Stephen Karam, UMass Building Authority Chair Mary Burns 鈥�84, UML Faculty Senate President Kevin Petersen and Massachusetts Life Sciences Center CEO and President Kenn Turner.

鈥淚 am proud of what we鈥檝e built together in the 26 years I鈥檝e been here,鈥� said Chen, who was accompanied to the inauguration stage by Spot, a bright-yellow robotic dog that is housed at 51视频鈥檚 New England Robotics Validation and Experimentation Center. 鈥淎nd I am excited about what we can create in the next chapter of 51视频鈥檚 history.鈥�