About Dr. Mary Grant, Incoming President of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute

At the University of North Carolina at Asheville, Grant is credited for making innovation a guiding value of the university’s new strategic plan. Under her leadership, the university was ranked #1 for “Making an Impact” by the Princeton review in 2016, recognizing schools with the best community service opportunities and student engagement. Grant has lead the University’s efforts to secure support for $67 million in new construction and renovations, has built and deepened partnerships with the Asheville community, and has worked successfully with foundations including the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation, resulting in support for innovation, research, and engagement. While leading the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), Grant oversaw growth in enrollment, emphasized community engagement, and secured $100 million in new public and private support for the college through its first comprehensive capital campaign.

Grant previously served as the chief academic officer and deputy CEO of UMassOnline, and was a senior fellow at the John W. McCormack Institute of Public Affairs at University of Massachusetts (UMass) Boston where she led the McCormack Institute’s master’s program in public affairs and served as director of the Center for Social Policy. In addition, Grant served as assistant vice chancellor for administration and finance and human resources at UMass Boston.

Grant currently serves as vice chair of the board for National Campus Compact and a trustee of the Norman Rockwell Museum. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from MCLA, a master’s degree in public affairs from UMass Boston, a Ph.D. in social policy from The Heller School at Brandeis University, and an honorary degree from Williams College.