October 1, 2026 — UMass Dartmouth announced that Kevin D. E. Stokesbury, Dean of the School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) and Commonwealth Professor, has been named the inaugural Donna M. and Robert J. Manning Dean of the School for Marine Science and Technology.
The endowed deanship was established through the generosity of Donna and Robert Manning as part of their historic $50 million gift to the University of Massachusetts system announced in 2021. A $2 million gift supporting the deanship has been matched with an additional $1 million, providing enduring support for the leadership of SMAST and its research, teaching, and contributions to a healthier and more sustainable marine environment.
“Under Dean Stokesbury’s leadership, the School for Marine Science and Technology at UMass Dartmouth is the premier institution—in New England and beyond—for marine and applied sciences,” said Rob Manning, who serves as Chair of the Board of Directors at the UMass Foundation. “From attracting a world-class research faculty to building strong, trusted relationships across government, advocacy, and fisheries, Dean Stokesbury has positioned SMAST at the forefront of scientific discovery, and Donna and I are proud to support and advance his work.”