UMass Lowell President Meehan Donates $1.5M for Student Experiences

Meehan's gift will support internships and career-connected opportunities for students in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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UMass Lowell President Marty Meehan has committed $1.5 million to the university to fund internships and career-connected experiences for students in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. This donation builds on the university's guarantee that all undergraduates will have at least one paid, career-connected experience before graduation. Meehan, a UMass Lowell alumnus, has a long history of supporting the university, having donated over $3.7 million across the UMass system and raising an additional $2.6 million during his inauguration events.

Why it matters

Meehan's gift reflects his commitment to providing transformative educational opportunities for UMass Lowell students, many of whom are first-generation college students like Meehan himself. By ensuring all students have access to career-connected experiences, the university is positioning them for success after graduation.

The details

Meehan's $1.5 million donation will support the university's guarantee that all undergraduates will have at least one paid, career-connected experience before they graduate. This program, launched by Chancellor Julie Chen, is designed to give students real-world experience and help them transition into the workforce. Meehan's gift will specifically benefit students in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

  • Meehan became the 27th president of the UMass system in 2015.
  • In 2023, Chancellor Julie Chen announced the university's guarantee of paid, career-connected experiences for all undergraduates.
  • Meehan's $1.5 million donation was announced in February 2026.
  • A dedication ceremony for the Martin T. Meehan Student Center will be held on May 2, 2026.

The players

Marty Meehan

The president of the University of Massachusetts system and a UMass Lowell alumnus who has donated over $3.7 million to the university system.

Julie Chen

The chancellor of UMass Lowell who launched the university's guarantee of paid, career-connected experiences for all undergraduates.

University of Massachusetts Lowell

A public research university in Lowell, Massachusetts that is part of the University of Massachusetts system.

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What they’re saying

“Starting with this fall's incoming freshmen class, we will guarantee every undergraduate student the opportunity for at least one paid, career-connected experience by the time they graduate. And for those opportunities that don't come with a paycheck, our student success fund will provide it. No student will be left out because they can't afford to work for free.”

— Julie Chen, Chancellor, UMass Lowell (UMass Lowell)

“We're stewards of this place. I am, Julie [Chen] is. We're only here for a temporary and short time, but our job is to leave it better than we found it.”

— Marty Meehan, President, University of Massachusetts (Lowell Sun)

What’s next

A dedication ceremony for the Martin T. Meehan Student Center will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at UMass Lowell.

The takeaway

Meehan's $1.5 million donation to UMass Lowell underscores his lifelong commitment to providing transformative educational opportunities for students, especially those from working-class backgrounds like himself. By ensuring all undergraduates have access to paid, career-connected experiences, the university is setting its students up for success after graduation.