Grossman Thanks Campus for Support, Highlights Accomplishments

UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Divina Grossman will be stepping down in two weeks, but her time spent leading the campus was celebrated by friends and colleagues Tuesday evening.

During the send-off reception, Grossman took the chance to thank everyone for their support in light of recent events over the past few weeks.

"With my world turned upside-down in an instatnt, I felt ensconced in the shelter of your kindness, your caring and support. That part was unexpected," said Grossman.

She went on to highlight some of her major accomplishments over the past three and a half years, including an increase in freshmen retention rates, strides in research programs and the nationally recognized handling of the media fallout after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.

Grossman will step down December 24 and an interim chancellor is expected to be named by UMass President Marty Meehan by the end of the year.