Former CT Gov. Dan Malloy Hired To Lead University Of Maine

ORONO, MAINE — Former two-term Democratic Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has been named the next Chancellor of the University of Maine System. The University of Maine System Board of Trustees unanimously voted to appoint Malloy the next Chancellor of the University of Maine System.

Malloy will begin his new post on July 1. “Dan Malloy is an executive leader and public servant committed to taking on complex change initiatives and getting the job done,” said James Erwin, Chair of the UMS Board of Trustees, in a prepared statement. “As governor he delivered reforms and structural changes to state government that were not always popular, and certainly not expedient, but that advanced the long term interest of his state and its citizens.

Erwin said under Malloy's "leadership we will help lead Maine’s response to our workforce shortage and skills gap by connecting more of what we teach directly to a job, by reaching more adult learners and other Mainers underserved by higher education and lifting their Maine-career aspirations, and by continuously including new approaches to what we teach and how we teach it to meet the competitive challenges of today’s higher education marketplace.”

Malloy said while his time in "electoral politics is over .... I am still passionate about providing public service leadership that matters."

“I want to thank the Board for this opportunity to serve and Chancellor (Jim) Page for providing a vision for public higher education in Maine and for his gracious offer of support during our transition,” Malloy said in a statement.

Malloy will soon travel to meet with leaders from the Maine Community College System, the business community, and the State House.

Charles Hewett, Ph.D., Executive Director, Institute for Digital Engineering and Life Sciences and former Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Jackson Laboratory, said “Dan Malloy understands what higher education means for the future of a state and its people and is willing to put himself on the line to ensure that that future is bright."

Malloy's Record of 'Leadership and Public Service' Highlighted by University of Maine Officials

"Malloy brings 22-years of public service and executive leadership to the University of Maine System including eight years as Governor of the State of Connecticut and 14-years of service as the Mayor of Stamford, Connecticut," officials said.

University of Maine Officials cited these as Malloy's biggest accomplishments in CT.

• creation of 124,000 private sector jobs and prioritizing the state’s long-term fiscal health through structural reform.
• The Malloy administration achieved a 13% reduction in the size of the state government workforce, secured agreements with the state bargaining unit resulting in $40 billion in savings to taxpayers, replenished the state rainy day fund to more than $2 billion, and fully funded the actuarially required state pension payment every year.

Sam Collins, Trustee and Chair of the Search Committee, said “The Board unanimously endorsed Dan’s appointment because he understands what is at stake for Maine. We also agreed that while a chancellorship is a nonpartisan appointment, many of the leadership attributes that contributed to Dan’s success in elected office will be important to his work in the University of Maine System.”

Malloy A Strong Supporter of Public Higher Education Reform, University of Maine Officials

"As governor, Dan Malloy was a strong supporter of public higher education reform and innovations that improved affordability and outcomes for students and created stronger links to workforce opportunities in Connecticut.

Accomplishments made during the Malloy administration include:

• Creation of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, bringing 17 community colleges and state universities into Connecticut State Colleges and Universities;

• Student-focused advancements like simplification of the credit transfer process and the launch of a “Guided Pathways” initiative to help students efficiently earn credentials, transfer, and attain jobs;

• Two major expansion efforts at the University of Connecticut that invested more than $2.3 billion in the state’s flagship institution to support the development of the state’s bioscience industry and to increase enrollment in engineering and STEM fields;

• The creation of seven advanced manufacturing centers that tripled the capacity of the advanced manufacturing center program helping to provide skilled workers for the state’s manufacturing sector; and,

• Through the Connecticut Department of Labor, the Malloy administration expanded the state’s apprentice program by approximately 40% and into several new sectors of the economy including nursing, healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing, and insurance. At the end of his second term 6,343 apprentices were getting an opportunity to earn a portable credential through on-the-job and classroom training."