By Anne Baker
Former Northeastern President Richard Freeland was unanimously recommended Friday to be the next Massachusetts state higher education commissioner, a spokesperson for the Board of Higher Education said.
A search committee recommended Freeland to the Board of Higher Education, said Eileen O’Connor, a spokesperson for the Board of Higher Education, and his appointment will be voted on at a Dec. 5 meeting.
The commissioner is the Chief Executive Officer of the Board and is responsible for implementing its policies, according to the Board’s website. The Board sets policy for state’s community colleges, state colleges and universities.
Freeland said his recommendation was just a “step in the [search] process,” and declined to comment further.
Freeland retired in 2006 as president of Northeastern after 10 years, but remains on faculty as a history professor.
During his time as president, Freeland focused on raising the university’s profile while emphasizing research and cooperative education, according to a release from the Board of Higher Education. Northeastern rose from 162 to 98 on the “US News ‘ World Report” rankings during his time as president. The university is currently ranked No. 96.
Freeland has also held administrative positions at the University of Massachusetts Boston and City University of New York, according to the release. Freeland received a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Amherst College and a doctorate in American Civilization from the University of Pennsylvania, according to the release.
O’Connor said that in addition to the board’s approval, Freeland must also be approved by Paul Reville, the state’s education secretary. If appointed, Freeland would replace Patricia Plummer, who stepped down in September after two years as the higher education commissioner, according to local media reports.
Mike Armini, vice president for marketing and communications, declined to comment on the possible appointment, and said any such comment would be inappropriate at this point in the process.
