New chancellor to join campus July 1
Dr. Kumble R. Subbaswamy assumes the Amherst chancellorship on July 1, 2012 as the campus prepares to celebrate its 150th anniversary next year. Dr. Subbaswamy, a distinguished scholar and respected academic leader, most recently held the position of Provost at the University of Kentucky.
The Chancellor-designate, who was recently on the Amherst campus meeting with students, faculty and administrators, said he will work collaboratively with the other UMass campuses, industry and the local community. He also will focus on increasing student success, increasing social capital, and serving the Commonwealth and beyond in the tradition of the land-grant universities.
Dr. Subbaswamy is dedicated to ambitiously moving the campus forward on its current successful path. “There will be no loss of momentum as we build upon the considerable success that has been achieved at UMass Amherst,” he said. “Whether in the laboratory, the studio, the classroom or the community, we’re committed to be among the best public research universities in the nation.” In terms of a specific strategic plan, the Chancellor-designate notes that, “The Framework for Excellence remains a powerful guide to propel the campus on its current trajectory of success. As we go forward, as with any strategic plan, we’ll continually assess our progress and look for new and innovative ways to achieve greatness.” Dr. Subbaswamy also reaffirmed the Framework goal of elevating the campus to AAU standards. “Whether or not UMass Amherst is invited into the AAU at some point in the future,” he said, “the important thing to keep in mind is that we remain fully committed to achieving the quality and excellence that the AAU represents.”
Despite a challenging budgetary environment, UMass Amherst had over $181 million in research expenditures last year (FY ’11), an 8% increase over the previous year. “I’m committed to continue growing our research activities across the board with an emphasis on expanding R&D in the life sciences and promoting research-based innovation that translates basic research into practical applications,” said Dr. Subbaswamy. “Continued growth in research will lead to greater opportunities for our students, enhanced economic development and more robust industry partnerships.”
Dr. Subbaswamy is also supportive of the recent elevation of UMass football to the FBS, which he sees as consistent with the role of UMass Amherst as the flagship campus of the Commonwealth. “As chancellor,” he said, “I’ll do everything in my power to ensure that the transition of Minutemen football to the FBS is a resounding success. UMass Amherst is the largest public research university in New England, with an expansive alumni base. Playing in the FBS is a more accurate reflection of our presence in Massachusetts, New England and the nation.”
A Career Committed to Higher Education
Dr. Subbaswamy was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Miami from 1997 to 2000, when he left to become Dean of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University in Bloomington, serving until 2006. He has been active in promoting life sciences-related economic development efforts in Indiana and Kentucky. He is active in academia nationally and internationally, serving on a number of panels, including the American Council on Education and the German-American Fulbright Commission. Dr. Subbaswamy holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Bangalore University, a Master of Science in Physics from Delhi University, and a Ph.D. in Physics from Indiana University. He was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 1989. His primary research area as a physicist was the optical properties of novel materials and nonlinear excitations.