Education consortium names Holy Cross president as next chair

Photo | Courtesy of HECCMA MCPHS President Richard Lessard passes the HECCMA gavel to Vincent Rougeau, president of The College of the Holy Cross

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By Timothy Doyle

The Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts (HECCMA) board has selected Vincent Rougeau, president of The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester as its next board chair, effective July 1.

The organization held the passing of the gavel ceremony at its board meeting on June 6, celebrating the organization's 10th year. Rougeau accepted the gavel from MCPHS President Richard Lessard, who served as chair during fiscal year 2023.

“As president of Holy Cross, President Rougeau promotes a spirit of service, solidarity, and kinship; a tribute to the Jesuit tradition of his institution. These values are sure to serve HECCMA and its member institutions well in the coming year,” HECCMA Executive Director Jeanine Went said in a Thursday press release.

Rougeau recently spoke up in defense of the use of affirmative action in college admission policies in a May 29 op-ed in The Boston Globe, pointing out that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas benefited from affirmative action when he was accepted to Holy Cross. Thomas will likely vote to strike down the use of the policy in the weeks to come, according to the op-ed.

Rougeau was inaugurated as Holy Cross’ first Black president and first non-clergy member to serve in the role. Previously, he was the dean of the Boston College Law School, and is the first director of the Boston College Forum on Racial Justice in America.

Worcester-based HECCMA is a nonprofit consortium comprised of Anna Maria College in Paxton, Assumption University in Worcester, Clark University in Worcester, College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in North Grafton, MCPHS, Nichols College in Dudley, Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Worcester State University. Its mission is to work cooperatively to further the missions of individual member institutions.