Javier Reyes

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Javier Reyes
Reyes in 2024
12th Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Amherst
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 1, 2023
Preceded byKumble R. Subbaswamy
Chancellor of University of Illinois, Chicago
Interim
In office
July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023
Preceded byMichael Amiridis
Succeeded byMarie Lynn Miranda
Personal details
Born
Javier Arturo Reyes Altamirano

Mexico
EducationMonterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (BA)
Texas A&M University (MA, PhD)

Javier Reyes is an American economist who is the 12th and current chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Amherst,[1][2] as well as Professor of Finance at Isenberg School of Management.[3] Reyes is an economist and the first Hispanic to serve as the chancellor of UMass Amherst.

He was provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Illinois Chicago and was later interim chancellor. Reyes also previously served as dean of the John Chambers College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University and as vice president for the state's economic development program Startup West Virginia.[2]

Career

Reyes was born and raised in Mexico. He attended Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico City, where he earned his bachelor's degree in economics. He earned a Ph.D. in economics from Texas A&M University.[2]

He joined the economics faculty of the University of Arkansas in 2003.[4] At Arkansas, Reyes would rise to multiple high-level administrative positions at the university.[5]

Reyes was later dean of the John Chambers College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University. He was provost at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and later the interim chancellor starting in July 2022. On February 16, 2023, Reyes was appointed as chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Amherst; he began serving in the role in July 2023.[2]

Following his decision to deploy Massachusetts State Police to remove an unauthorized encampment built by students participating in a protest against Israel's military invasion and occupation of Gaza, the UMass Amherst Student Government Association issued a "no confidence" vote against Chancellor Reyes on May 8, 2024. [6] Over 130 students, faculty members and people unaffiliated with UMass were arrested the night before. This came after arresting 57 UMass students occupying the Whitmore administration building on October 25, 2023. [7] On May 20, 2024, at the first general faculty meeting in 15 years, the faculty voted no confidence in Chancellor Reyes.[8]

Personal life

Javier Reyes is married to Maritza, and they have two sons Javi and Diego.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Biography of Chancellor Reyes" (PDF).
  2. ^ a b c d "DR. JAVIER REYES APPOINTED CHANCELLOR OF UMASS AMHERST".
  3. ^ "Chancellor Javier A. Reyes - Isenberg School of Management". Isenberg School of Management. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Javier Reyes voted next chancellor of UMass Amherst campus". 16 February 2023.
  5. ^ "U. of Illinois Chicago's Dr. Javier Reyes recommended to lead UMass Amherst". 15 February 2023.
  6. ^ "UMass Student Group Declares No Confidence in Chancellor". 9 May 2024.
  7. ^ "57 protesters arrested at Whitmore sit-in". Massachusetts Daily Collegian. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  8. ^ "UMass Faculty votes no confidence in Chancellor Reyes". Massachusetts Daily Collegian. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  9. ^ "Meet the Chancellor Javier A. Reyes". University of Massachusetts Amherst. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
Academic offices
Preceded by 12th Chancellor of University of Massachusetts Amherst
2023–present 		Incumbent