Kentucky Provost Chosen To Lead UMass Amherst

A physicist who's the provost at the University of Kentucky has been chosen as the new chancellor of the University of Massachusetts flagship Amherst campus.

UMass trustees voted unanimously Monday night for Kumble Subbaswamy, the choice of system president Robert Caret.

Subbaswamy has promoted life sciences-related economic development both at Kentucky and Indiana University, where he was dean of arts and sciences from 2000 to 2006. He also reformed the general curriculum at Kentucky, where he became provost in 2006.

Caret said Subbaswamy, a native of India, will be a "great and knowledgeable leader" for students in an increasingly global environment.

"Whether it's from an economic development perspective or what I like to call a social well-being perspective, I think you'll see him very active in the community," Caret said, "reaching out to businesses, government and nonprofit groups, looking to make the community richer and better."

Subbaswamy said he looks forward to working "shoulder to shoulder with our very talented students, faculty and staff."

He was one of four finalists recommended by a UMass search committee.

With reporting by The Associated Press and the WBUR Newsroom.