McDonald Confirmed as Mass. Maritime President
A vote by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (BHE) has confirmed Francis X. McDonald has been selected as the 38th president of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. McDonald, a 1985 graduate of the school, has worked on campus since 1994. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President of the nation's oldest continuously operating maritime academy and has earned degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Northeastern University. McDonald topped an impressive field of five that included Coast Guard Captain Melissa Bert, retired Coast Guard Captain Kurt Colella and retired Navy Admirals Michael Nowakowski and Ann Rondeau.
Mass. Maritime Taps McDonald as New President
EVP Fran McDonald tops a field of five; choice still must be approved by Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. Pending a confirmation vote by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (BHE), Francis X. McDonald has been selected as the 38th president of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. McDonald, a 1985 graduate of the school, has worked on campus since 1994. Currently, he serves as Executive Vice President of the nation's oldest continuously operating maritime academy and has earned degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Northeastern University. McDonald topped an impressive field of five that included Coast Guard Captain Melissa Bert, retired Coast Guard Captain Kurt Colella and retired Navy Admirals Michael Nowakowski and Ann Rondeau.
Mass. Overturns Firing of School Leader
According to the AP the Mass. state Board of Higher Education reversed the firing of the president of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, who was fired by the school's trustees earlier this month with little explanation. The panel roundly criticized the Dec. 4 firing of Admiral Richard Gurnon before voting unanimously to undo it. It was the first time the state board had used its power to reverse the firing of a state college president. Gurnon, a 27-year veteran of the Buzzards Bay academy, had served two years as acting president and six months as president when he was dismissed in a 9-1 vote. Gurnon said he was given an ultimatum — resign or be fired — but never an explanation for his ouster. Trustees said they fired Gurnon because he had a combative relationship with them.
