Mary K. Grant

Dr. Mary K. Grant currently serves as President of Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt), having been approved in May 2021 and officially beginning in summer 2021. A dedicated advocate for public colleges and universities, Grant brings a clear vision, deep care, and lifelong belief in the power of creativity and education. She has built a diverse leadership team, reactivated the campus in the wake of the pandemic, and achieved robust return to full enrollment.

Grant's career in public higher education spans nearly 30 years. She is a first-generation college graduate who earned a B.A. in Sociology from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, her alma mater. Grant earned an M.S. in Public Affairs from University of Massachusetts Boston and a Ph.D. from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University.

Career History

• President, Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt), 2021-present
• Senior Administrative Fellow for Civics and Social Justice, Bridgewater State University, leading the Martin Richard Institute, prior to 2021
• President and CEO, Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate
• Chancellor, University of North Carolina Asheville
• President, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), 2002-2014
• Chief Academic Officer and Deputy CEO of UMass Online; Director of the Center for Social Policy with the McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston, 1992-2002

During her twelve-year tenure as President of MCLA, Grant dramatically raised the profile of the institution while strengthening ties between the College and the City of North Adams. She led the establishment of MCLA Gallery 51, a collaboration of MCLA, MASS MoCa, North Adams, and community leaders, serving as a creative hub and incubator of innovation. She spearheaded fundraising campaigns, including $54 million in state capital bond funding to build the Center for Science and Innovation. At UNC Asheville, Grant led strategic and institutional growth with a five-year strategic plan focused on equity and inclusion, academic rigor, student success, and community engagement.

What Dr. Mary K. Grant could bring to her role at MassArt: Drawing on her extensive track record of institutional transformation at MCLA and UNC Asheville, Dr. Grant's leadership emphasizes civic engagement, community partnerships, and strategic fundraising. Her experience leading arts-adjacent initiatives (MCLA Gallery 51, STEAM studio development) positions her to elevate MassArt's profile and strengthen connections between the college and Boston's corporate and creative communities. Her focus on equity, inclusion, and social justice aligns with contemporary institutional priorities in higher education.

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