9/1/20
NORTH ADAMS, MA—Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts announces that Mohan Boodram, Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid at the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, will chair the College’s Board of Trustees.
Boodram, who has served on MCLA’s Board of Trustees since 2012, has chaired the board’s Enrollment Management Committee since 2013, and co-chaired the the College’s 2016 Presidential Search Committee with former trustee Susan Gold. Born of Trinidadian and Grenadian parents, Mr. Boodram grew up on Long Island, N.Y. He will be the first openly gay, person of color to chair MCLA’s Board of Trustees.
“I'm honored to have been chosen by my fellow board members to serve in this important role, building on the achievements of my predecessors. Our goal is to ensure that MCLA is a place where are all members of the community feel that they are valued and that their perspectives will be heard,” said Boodram. “I hope that my service as board chair can serve as a reminder of that commitment as all of us at MCLA work together to carry out our mission of preparing graduates to be practical problem solvers and engaged, resilient global citizens.”
Boodram has held administrative positions in graduate admissions and financial aid since 1988. In his current role, he oversees the admissions process for 17,000 applicants to 56 graduate programs, and the distribution of over $200M in financial aid to 4,500+ graduate students each year. He has previously served as Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Harvard Medical School, and Associate Dean for Enrollment and Student Services at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Dean Boodram holds a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Yale University and a master’s in Statistics from Harvard.
“I am excited to work with Mohan as the Chair of the Board of Trustees. MCLA is at a moment in history when we must actively work against racism and exclusion in our community, and having a gay person of color who is a higher education leader serving in this role will strengthen our efforts tremendously,” remarked MCLA President James F. Birge. “Mohan will be a great partner in our work.”
“I'm delighted to see Mohan Boodram step into the role of Board chair at MCLA,” said Carlos E. Santiago, Massachusetts Commissioner of Higher Education. “Mohan has demonstrated enormous commitment to the College and its mission. His experience in higher education and deep knowledge of admissions policies, academic programs and financial aid administration will be of great value, especially now when our public institutions face significant challenges.”
Chair Boodram began his term on July 1, 2020.
