| Robert L. Caret | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 7, 1947 Biddeford, Maine |
| Occupation | President, University of Massachusetts |
Robert L. Caret (born October 7, 1947)[1] is the former president of Towson University. He became the 12th president of TU on July 1, 2003. As a former faculty member, dean, executive vice president and provost at Towson, Caret served at Towson for 21 years before assuming the presidency of San José State University of the California State University System in 1995. Caret was named next president of the University of Massachusetts in January 2011 and assumed the office in July of the same year.
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Born in Biddeford, Maine to a restaurant owner, Caret was the first in his family to attend college.[2] Caret received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of New Hampshire in 1974 and his bachelor's degree in chemistry and mathematics from Suffolk University in 1969. He received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from San Jose University in 2004 and the National Hispanic University in 1997. He also received an honorary doctor of science degree from Suffolk University in 1996. On January 13, 2011, Caret was selected to be the 26th president of the University of Massachusetts.
Caret became president of San Jose State University in February 1995.[2]
Named as one of Silicon Valley's 100 power brokers by San Jose Magazine in its May 2003 issue, Caret has been credited with raising the profile of one of the largest universities in California and developing strong community partnerships. Upon returning to Maryland, President Caret has become a founding member of the Maryland Business Council in 2004 and serves as a member of the board of directors of the CollegeBound Foundation. He was elected for a three-year term to the Board of Directors of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and will also serve as the AASCU representative to the American Council on Education Board during the same time period.
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 four textbooks in the fields of organic chemistry and allied health chemistry. His awards and recognitions include the State of Maryland Governor's Employee Incentive Award, the San José Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce Leadership in Excellence Award (1999), the Italian American Heritage Foundation Achievement Award (2001) and the Outstanding College President Award from the All-American Football Foundation (2001). He is also listed in several editions of "Who's Who in America".
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 ever university and city joint library in the United States. Additionally the library is the largest west of the Mississippi, boasting 8 stories plus a mezzanine and serves over 1 million people every year. Caret and Hammer's vision has been praised all over the world and now looked at as a model for interactions between universities and cities to meet each other's needs.
| Preceded by Mark L. Perkins |
Towson University president July, 2003-June, 2011 |
Succeeded by Marcia G. Welsh |
| Preceded by Jack M. Wilson |
University of Massachusetts president July, 2003-June, 2011 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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