News 2022: UMass Dartmouth announces appointment of new Provost

Dr. Hanchen Huang chosen as the next Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, effective July 18

UMass Dartmouth announced the appointment of Dr. Hanchen Huang as the University’s next Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs following a highly competitive national search. Huang, who most recently served as the Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of North Texas, brings dynamic academic leadership and demonstrated experience in growing enrollments, programs and research activity to the SouthCoast’s only research university.

“Dr. Huang is not only an extremely accomplished researcher and educator, he is also deeply committed to providing opportunities to students from all backgrounds,” said Chancellor Mark A. Fuller. “He has made a tremendous impact on the institutions where he served as a dean and department chair, and I am excited for him to join UMass Dartmouth as we continue to enhance the university’s national reputation and societal impact.”

As Dean of the College of Engineering and Lupe Murchison Foundation Chair Professor at the University of North Texas, Huang significantly increased the College’s enrollment, grew the number of full-time faculty positions, improved the College’s national rankings, led successful fundraising campaigns, and expanded research activity. Huang is also returning to the Commonwealth, having served as a faculty member and Department Chair of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering at Northeastern University in Boston, where he was instrumental in substantially growing enrollment, launching new, high-demand degree programs, while strengthening industry partnerships to enhance student outcomes through more experiential learning opportunities. In addition to academic leadership roles, Huang, an engineer, is a distinguished researcher and faculty member.

“I am honored and excited to join a research university with such a strong trajectory of success, which also serves a diverse student population,” said Huang. “I look forward to working with UMass Dartmouth’s exceptional faculty, staff and students in the months ahead.”

A first-generation college student himself, Huang has been committed to expanding educational opportunities to benefit students throughout his career. At the University of North Texas, Huang led the development of a Diversity Awareness Committee for faculty and staff and the Diversity and Excellence in Engineering Network for students of color to access the support of industry leaders. He has been recognized for his successful efforts to expand diversity and inclusion by his students while at Northeastern University and the American Society for Engineering Education while at the University of North Texas.

Huang earned his Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from UCLA, a BS in Physics from Hebei Normal University and an MS in Theoretical Nuclear Physics from the Institute of Atomic Energy/Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, China. Huang was a post-doctoral fellow in computational mechanics and materials at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Huang will join UMass Dartmouth on July 18, 2022.