After nine months, Ed Augustus to step down as Dean College chancellor

Edward Augustus, Dean College chancellor and former Worcester city manager

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By Timothy Doyle

Nine months after he took on the newly created role, former Worcester city manager Edward Augustus will step down as the first-ever chancellor of Dean College in Franklin effective April 14, for what he described as an uncertain future.

Mark Boyce, Dean College’s chair of the board of trustees, announced Augustus’ intentions in Monday message.

“Mr. Augustus’ vast experience in public life and deep knowledge of Dean was of great benefit to the College during a moment of significant and historic transition,” Boyce said in the announcement. “Mr. Augustus brought reassurance to our campus that Dean can and will flourish into the future built around a new vision and fresh thinking.”

Augustus will continue on as special advisor to the chairman of the board until the end of June, according to the statement.

A call to Dean College seeking further information was not immediately returned on Tuesday.

Dean College announced in June that Augustus would become its first chancellor while naming Kenneth Elmore as president of the college. Both Augustus and Elmore, who is Dean’s first Black president, started in their roles on July 5. Augustus stepped down from his position as Worcester city manager in May.

Augustus appears to be stepping down from the role based on his belief a more traditional leadership structure would better serve Dean College, according to an email he sent to the college community on Monday.

"After nearly a year under a new management system, it’s evident that a more traditional format, which Dean has flourished, is a better option," Augustus wrote. "This decision was far from simple and one that included many sleepless nights for me. The relationships I forged between faculty, staff, students, alumni, corporate/foundation partners, and the Franklin community made this move extremely difficult. But it’s with those folks in mind that I’ve come to this decision and want to do what’s best for Dean College, even if that vision no longer includes me."

Augustus' chief of staff, Laura Paladino, will also step down from the college on April 14, according to Augustus' email.

In January, the college adjusted its department structure in order to help it work more efficiently, but after a few months, Augustus said he recognized another change was needed, according to his email.

"I’m not sure where life’s journey will take me next. I am sure of one thing though, wherever I go, I will carry with me The Dean Difference," he wrote.

WBJ Editor Brad Kane contributed to this story.