Assumption University president to retire

Photo | Matt Wright Francesco Cesareo, president of Assumption University

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By Katherine Hamilton

Assumption University President Francesco Cesareo will retire at the end of this academic year after 15 years in the role, the Worcester college announced Tuesday.

Cesareo, Assumption’s 16th president, will leave on June 30.

Assumption is the eighth largest college in Central Massachusetts, with a fall 2020 enrollment of 2,160 full-time graduate and undergraduate students, according to figures supplied by Assumption to WBJ. Its $83-million endowment is the sixth largest among Central Massachusetts colleges.

During his time as president, Cesareo oversaw the institution's transition from a college to a university, which included the creation of five separate colleges in liberal arts, nursing, business, health professions, and graduate studies. He opened an international campus in Rome, Italy, allowing Assumption students to study abroad there.

Since he assumed the role in 2007, he has helped raise nearly $77 million, according to the retirement announcement. The Tsotsis Family Academic Center and the Richard J. and Sophia Catrambone Health Sciences Center opened under his leadership, as well.

The Assumption Board of Trustees will announce a plan for an interim leader soon, according to the press release, and will commence the presidential search process.

“For 15 years, Assumption University, its students, faculty, staff, alumni, and benefactors and their success have been a priority for me,” Cesareo wrote in a statement. “The last two years have been particularly demanding, but by leveraging the collective efforts of the university community, we successfully – and safely - led the community through the pandemic.”

Cesareo follows a long line of college presidents in Central Massachusetts who have left over the last three years, most recently including President Laurie Leshin at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and President Javier Cevallos at Framingham State University.