Robert Laurent Caret (born October 7, 1947) is an American academic and the former chancellor of the
University System of Maryland
The University System of Maryland (USM) is a public higher education system in the United States, U.S. state of Maryland. The system is composed of the eleven campuses at College Park, Maryland, College Park, Baltimore County, Maryland, Baltimor ...
. He became chancellor on July 1, 2015. Caret, a native of
New England
New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian provinces ...
, became chancellor of the University System of Maryland after completing presidencies at
San Jose State University
San José State University (San Jose State or SJSU) is a public university in San Jose, California. Established in 1857, SJSU is the oldest public university on the West Coast and the founding campus of the California State University (CSU) sys ...
,
Towson University
Towson University (TU or Towson) is a public university in Towson, Maryland. Founded in 1866 as Maryland's first training school for teachers, Towson University is a part of the University System of Maryland. Since its founding, the university h ...
and the
University of Massachusetts
The University of Massachusetts is the five-campus public university system and the only public research system in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The university system includes five campuses (Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell, and a medica ...
.
Education
Born in
Biddeford, Maine
Biddeford is a city in York County, Maine, United States. It is the principal commercial center of York County. Its population was 22,552 at the 2020 census. The twin cities of Saco and Biddeford include the resort communities of Biddeford Poo ...
to a restaurant owner, Caret was the first in his family to attend college.
Caret received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire (UNH) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Durham, New Hampshire. It was founded and incorporated in 1866 as a land grant college in Hanover in connection with Dartmouth College, mo ...
in 1974 and his bachelor's degree in chemistry and mathematics from
Suffolk University
Suffolk University is a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. With 7,560 students (includes all campuses, 7,379 at the Boston location alone), it is the eighth-largest university in metropolitan Boston. It was founded as a l ...
in 1969. His honorary degrees include a Doctor of Humane Letters from
Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Saint Joseph's College of Maine is a private Catholic college in Standish, Maine. It is the only Catholic college in Maine.
Saint Joseph's was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1912. The college, run by a lay and religious Board of Trustees, ...
and
Westfield State University
Westfield State University (Westfield State) is a public university in Westfield, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1839 by Horace Mann as the first public co-educational college in America without barrier to race, gender, or economic class.
Ran ...
(2012) San Jose University (2004) and
National Hispanic University (1997) and a Doctor of Science degree from
Suffolk University
Suffolk University is a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. With 7,560 students (includes all campuses, 7,379 at the Boston location alone), it is the eighth-largest university in metropolitan Boston. It was founded as a l ...
(1996).
Career
Caret became president of
San Jose State University
San José State University (San Jose State or SJSU) is a public university in San Jose, California. Established in 1857, SJSU is the oldest public university on the West Coast and the founding campus of the California State University (CSU) sys ...
in February 1995.
From 2003 to 2011, Caret was president of
Towson University
Towson University (TU or Towson) is a public university in Towson, Maryland. Founded in 1866 as Maryland's first training school for teachers, Towson University is a part of the University System of Maryland. Since its founding, the university h ...
where he had previously served as a faculty member, dean, executive vice president and provost during his 29-year tenure. From Towson University, he moved to the University of Massachusetts System, where he served as president of UMass and its five campuses. On December 17, 2014, it was announced that Caret would be the next chancellor of the
University System of Maryland
The University System of Maryland (USM) is a public higher education system in the United States, U.S. state of Maryland. The system is composed of the eleven campuses at College Park, Maryland, College Park, Baltimore County, Maryland, Baltimor ...
, replacing
William English Kirwan
William English "Brit" Kirwan (born April 14, 1938) is an American university administrator and mathematician who is chancellor emeritus of the University System of Maryland (USM) and professor emeritus of mathematics at the University of Maryla ...
who announced in May 2014 that he would retire upon the appointment and start date of his successor.
He was inaugurated as the system's fourth chancellor on November 19, 2015. As USM chancellor, Caret continued to focus on areas that have earned him national respect for his success in such areas helping to ensure college affordability, academic excellence, and the efficient use of resources. In addition, he is credited with emphasizing university partnerships to enhance students' experiences and to impact regional progress in economic and workforce development.
Early in his tenure, he led a four-day "Statewide Listening Tour" throughout all regions of Maryland to meet with leaders in business, economic development, and community engagement. The 900-mile bus tour provided the basis for policy initiatives that have helped the university system work with political leaders and engaged citizens to help advance the state.
Caret told regents he would not seek a renewal of his contract and that he would step down in the summer of 2020. Once his successor was named, Caret offered to step down earlier and was succeeded by Jay Perman on Jan. 6, 2020. Officials said he would go on sabbatical and return to the Towson faculty following the sabbatical. He instead joined the Florida executive recruitment firm Greenwood/Asher & Associates, where he is vice president of executive search. Greenwood/Asher is the same firm that assisted UMass in recruiting to fill its presidential vacancy in 2010.
Before joining USM as chancellor, Caret was president of the University of Massachusetts System (UMass) from 2011 until 2015. Throughout his UMass tenure, he has emphasized efficiency, cost-saving initiatives, and productive working relationships with Massachusetts government and business leaders. His successful pursuit of a 50-50 funding formula for UMass resulted in the state and students contributing equally to the university's general education program and a 22 percent increase in the base budget for two years. He also secured additional state funding, allowing UMass to freeze tuition and mandatory fees for in-state undergraduate students for two consecutive years.
As president of Towson University, he created partnerships with regional business, non-profit and civic organizations; raised student graduation rates; and undertook a capital fundraising and building campaign to support campus infrastructure improvements. He oversaw an increase in the university's online courses and expanded the availability of TU courses at regional higher education centers. He was instrumental in establishing Towson University in Northeastern Maryland, which offers transfer students the flexibility to pursue a four-year degree after completing an associate degree at a community college. During more than 25 years collectively at Towson University, Caret served as a faculty member, dean, executive vice president and provost.
Between 1995 and 2003, he left Towson to assume the presidency of San Jose State University. Caret took an active role in campaigning for a joint city/university effort to build the
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library in
San Jose, California
San Jose, officially San José (; ; ), is a major city in the U.S. state of California that is the cultural, financial, and political center of Silicon Valley and largest city in Northern California by both population and area. With a 2020 popul ...
.
Awards and recognition
Caret serves and has served on a number of national boards, including the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (Chair 2017-2018); the Southern Regional Higher Education Board; the National Association of System Heads (Chair 2017-2018);
the Business-Higher Education Forum Board; the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges President's Council; the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (2004-2008); and the American Council on Education (2005-2008)
His service on boards in the state of Maryland includes the Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs, Greater Baltimore Committee, Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, University of Maryland Medical System, Institute of Human Virology, College Savings Plans of Maryland, World Trade Center Institute, Maryland Council on Economic Education, BioHealth Innovation, Inc., and the Maryland Economic Development Corporation. Additionally, he serves on The Center Club Strategic Planning Advisory Committee.
During his years in Massachusetts, he served on the Massachusetts Economic Development Planning Council, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Board, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Board, the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center Board, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Board, the
Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate Board, the New England Council Board, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Board, and as a member of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable.
Caret has made numerous presentations and published professionally in the fields of chemistry, chemical education and higher education. He has authored chapters in two monographs on the mission and role of institutions, and has co-authored and published several textbooks in the fields of organic chemistry and allied health chemistry.
His awards and recognitions include: The Daily Record Icon Honors Award (2017); The Daily Record Influential Marylander Award (2016);
Towson University's Hillel Gesher Award (2010); Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Hall of Fame Award (2006); Maryland Chapter of the American Chemical Society George L. Braude Award (2005); Boston Business Journal Power 50 (multiple years); Silicon Valley's "100 Power Brokers, San Jose Magazine (2003); the Italian American Heritage Foundation Achievement Award (2001); Outstanding College President Award from the All-American Football Foundation (2001); Silicon Valley's Top 40 Most Powerful Individuals, San Jose Mercury News (2000); National Hispanic University, Tomas Rivera Leadership Award (1999);
Silicon Valley Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Leadership Award (1999); Award of Excellence, Suffolk University General Alumni Association (1986); and the D.C. Institute of Chemists Teacher Award (1981). He is also listed in several editions of "Who's Who in America".
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
In 1997 Caret and former San José Mayor
Susan Hammer discussed the idea of creating a joint library to benefit the city of San Jose and San Jose State University. The resulting Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library opened in August 2003 and became the first university and city joint library in the United States. Additionally the library is the largest west of the Mississippi, with 8 stories plus a mezzanine and serves over 1 million people every year.
References
http://www.usmd.edu/usm/chancellor/Caret/bio/
External links
University of Maryland Systembiography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Caret, Robert
Presidents of Towson University
Towson University faculty
Suffolk University alumni
University of New Hampshire alumni
Presidents of San Jose State University
Chancellors of the University System of Maryland
1947 births
Living people
People from Biddeford, Maine
Presidents of the University of Massachusetts system
Academics from Maine