Key player in town-gown relations takes Ohio job
1
Todd Diacon, deputy chancellor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst for the past 18 months, is leaving to take over as senior vice president and provost at Kent State University in Ohio. He will assume his new position June 1.
Diacon said he in looking forward to the job. "I feel like it's a university on the move," Diacon said of Kent State.
At UMass, Diacon's emphasis has been on improving connections between the university and downtown Amherst. He said he is proud of the cooperation that has grown between UMass, town officials and Amherst businesses as a result.
"I've been a part of putting together the Business Improvement District, which I think will benefit both the downtown and the university," Diacon said. "It's been an honor to work with so many talented people."
Diacon came to the university in 2010 at the encouragement of outgoing Chancellor Robert Holub, who is leaving UMass at the end of the semester. Holub has been at the helm of the Amherst campus for three years.
Town Manager John Musante said Diacon has been a source of openness and collaboration.
"He has been very responsive, been very open to consider and act upon new ideas," Musante said. "He has been very helpful on the university side to improve the town-gown relationship."
Diacon has played a major role in planning the Gateway project, a stretch of North Pleasant Street between the campus and Kendrick Park where mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly developments could occur. The concept has drawn considerable concern from neighbors over the possible construction of student housing. Diacon said that while he understands the concerns, he believes Gateway would benefit both Amherst and UMass.
"It's still a terrific project," he said. "I really hope that happens. Amherst is a great community. With a change allowing Gateway, it can be an even better place."
He views the project as one way to recruit and retain faculty. In fact, he said, Kent State has a similar development under way.
Select Board Chairwoman Stephanie O'Keeffe said Diacon has made a big impact in a short amount of time and that she will miss working with him.
"Todd has been so candid and responsive and wholly committed to strengthening the partnership between the town and the university," she said.
Diacon also led several meetings where he listened to concerns from Amherst residents, in particular over student behavioral problems and their impact on neighborhoods. He encouraged Musante to travel to Boulder, Colo., last year for a conference on ways colleges and universities address these issues.
Diacon said he seeks to manage expectations, understanding there will always be some problems, but also sympathizes with frustrations voiced by residents.
"All of us feel we're working hard to come up with programs that will direct student energies and attentions elsewhere," Diacon said.
He said he will look back on his time at UMass with fondness.
"I'm always amazed at the number of extremely accomplished people at UMass and in the Pioneer Valley in general," Diacon said. "People don't always appreciate the depth of talent here."
