AMHERST — Javier Reyes, the interim chancellor at the University of Illinois Chicago since July, is being recommended as the next chancellor at the flagship campus for the University of Massachusetts.

UMass President Marty Meehan announced Wednesday that he is advising the board of trustees to appoint Reyes as the successor to Kumble Subbaswamy, 71, who is retiring after being in the position since 2012. Trustees will meet virtually Thursday morning to act on the recommendation.

“Javier Reyes has demonstrated uncommon energy and vision throughout his career,” Meehan said in a statement. “A bold and innovative leader, he has inspired students in the classroom, supported initiatives that have unleashed the teaching and research talents of faculty, and connected great public universities to the socio-economic aspirations of their communities.”

Reyes, 49, was born and raised in Mexico and would be the first Hispanic to lead the Amherst campus. He was selected over a second finalist brought forward by a search committee, Paul Tikalsky, dean of the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State University.

An economist, Reyes is considered an expert in distance education, global economic matters and an accomplished researcher who has published articles in leading economics and business journals.

During a listening session on Monday, Reyes told those in attendance that UMass has reached great heights in the past decade and it’s not time to be complacent. He suggested that all will have a voice in the campus.

“I want to come here to be part of the university,” Reyes said. “I want all of us to lead the university.”

Reyes was named to the interim post on July 1 and previously served as UIC’s provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. His academic career has also included stints at West Virginia University, where he was dean of the John Chambers College of Business and Economics and vice president for Startup West Virginia, and the University of Arkansas, beginning as economics faculty in 2003 after earning a doctorate in economics from Texas A&M University.

At UIC, Reyes has overseen a $3.6 billion budget, 13,000 faculty and staff, and 16 academic colleges for a 33,000-student campus that makes it the largest university campus in the city.

Among those offering appreciation for the selection is Gov. Maura Healey.

“Dr. Javier Reyes is an innovative and dynamic leader who will harness the full potential of UMass Amherst,” Healey said. “I’m confident that he will inspire students and faculty alike to continue growing the school’s excellence in education and research.”

In addition, Healey offered best wishes to Subbaswamy in his retirement.

“I am grateful to Chancellor Subbaswamy for his many years of service to the university and for taking it to new heights,” Healey said.

Shayan Raza, president of the Student Government Association who served on the search committee, endorsed the choice of Reyes.

“I am deeply impressed by his steadfast commitment to students and keen understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion,” Raza said.

“He recognizes that diversity is not just about numbers, but about creating a community where all individuals feel valued and respected,” Raza added, also noting that Reyes offers an approachable and empathetic demeanor similar to that of Subbaswamy, who became known for being in selfies with students, faculty, staff and parents and visitors.

The hiring of an Hispanic chancellor is also a milestone, said Amanda Fernandez, the CEO and founder of Latinos for Education.

“Seeing Latino leadership at the highest levels of education is an important signal to not only the Latino community, but to an ever-diverse student body that representation matters,” Fernandez said.

Barbara Krauthamer, dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts and member of the search committee, said Reyes can help elevate research and teaching across the campus, while Laura Haas, dean of the UMass Amherst Manning College of Computer and Information Science who vice chaired the search committee, said Reyes offers a vision of a great public university where there is potential for global impact and serving students of all backgrounds.

Steven A. Tolman, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and a UMass trustees, observes that Reyes is a distinguished academic who understands that universities exist to expand the boundaries of human knowledge.

“At the same time, Dr. Reyes is passionate about our institutions needing to be agents for economic mobility for students and communities,” Tolman said.

Reyes becomes the sixth chancellor hired by Meehan since he became president of the system in July 2015. The others are Jacquie Moloney at UMass Lowell, Robert Johnson at UMass Dartmouth, Marcelo Suarez-Orozco at UMass Boston, Mark Fuller at UMass Dartmouth and Julie Chen at UMass Lowell.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.]]>