About
Celebrating Past, Present, Future, and Community
Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst, the commonwealth’s flagship campus, is a world-class research university with a revolutionary spirit that inspires our students to challenge convention, rethink expectations, and work tirelessly to change the world.
Our leaders have included farmers, librarians, teachers, scientists, lawyers, and historians. All members of this diverse cohort have in common an unwavering commitment to the greater good and deep UMass pride.
For over 160 years, these visionaries guided our campus from its beginnings as a land-grant agricultural college to its status today as the No. 1 public research university in New England.
With the inauguration of UMass Amherst’s 31st leader, Chancellor Javier Reyes, UMass Amherst ushered in a new era of leadership—one focused on student-centric learning, establishing new partnerships and pathways toward innovation, and growing UMass Amherst’s role as a premier land-grant university and powerful economic engine.
It also marked the historic appointment of UMass Amherst’s first Hispanic chancellor. Born and raised in Mexico, Chancellor Reyes’s experiences as an immigrant and international student inform his deep commitment to representation, access, and belonging in higher education.
The inauguration of Chancellor Reyes coincided with UMass Founders Day and the 150th anniversary of the UMass Amherst Alumni Association. Over three days, we welcomed all members of the community and offered many opportunities to come together to celebrate a new chapter in UMass Amherst history.
