President Robert V. Antonucci

Dr. Robert V. Antonucci has been president of Fitchburg State University since June of 2003.

Since that time, the former state commissioner of education and Fitchburg State graduate has enhanced his reputation for leadership and innovation. In addition to fulfilling his duties on campus, he speaks at civic events, serves on local, regional and national boards, meets with officials at all levels of government, works to revitalize the region, and is a leading spokesperson for public schools and colleges.

His record of success at Fitchburg State includes the drafting of a new strategic plan, structural reorganization, launching of a successful fundraising campaign, and completion of a host of capital projects: renovation of the dining commons, conversion of the university's aging outdoor athletic facilities into a new professional-level stadium, and construction of a new Faculty Teaching Center in the library. He also embarked on an ambitious series of technology initiatives, including establishment of a “wireless” campus, a total upgrade of the computer laboratories, and the creation of dozens of new classrooms that allow faculty access to the latest technologies.

Early on, President Antonucci made a commitment to strengthen the university’s commitment to the city of Fitchburg. The multi-year effort to create an attractive boulevard connecting the university’s central artery, North Street, with the city’s Main Street has been accelerated with the purchase of several distressed properties, construction of a new campus police station, relocation of the Center for Professional Studies to Main St., and completion of the final phase of streetscaping. A new exercise and sport science facility was recently completed in the corridor.

At the city’s request, the university also assumed control of the Wallace Civic Center and renovated the aging arena into one of the best such facilities in the region.

A major renovation of the university’s Campus Center is also underway, as is a project closing much of a former public street and converting it to a tree-lined plaza. In an effort to provide additional academic space, President Antonucci worked with the university’s foundation to purchase an off-campus building that now houses many of the institution’s auxiliary services.

From the earliest days of his presidency, he placed new science facilities at the top of the university’s needs list, and worked with agencies and individuals throughout the state to advance that goal. Success was realized when a state bond bill included construction of a new science center on the university’s main quadrangle and complete renovation of the aging former facilities.  Construction is currently underway on the $60 million building, which is expected to be completed in 2013.

President Antonucci has significantly increased the university’s visibility in Boston as well as the local region, meeting frequently with elected officials, and members of the Department of Higher Education and other state agencies. Governor Deval Patrick appointed him to co-chair the Higher Education Task Force and to serve as a member of the Pre-K through 12 Task Force. Subsequently he was appointed by the governor to chair the University of Massachusetts and Public Higher Education subcommittee of the Readiness Project Leadership Council, and to serve as a member of the Workforce Standards and Performance Accountability Task Force.

As education commissioner in the 1990s, Antonucci played a key role in the passage and enactment of the state's historic Education Reform Act of 1993, a landmark law now seen as a national model.

Antonucci is former president of the school group at Cambridge-based Riverdeep—The Learning Company, a leading provider of electronic educational software. He has also held the positions of president and chief executive officer with Harcourt Learning Direct and Harcourt Higher Education, and chief executive officer of Harcourt eLearning and the California College for Health Sciences. Harcourt was the first online college in Massachusetts granted authority to award bachelor and associate degrees.

Antonucci was for 12 years superintendent of schools in Falmouth, serving as the chief executive officer of the town's K-12 system. From 1974 to 1980, Antonucci served as assistant superintendent of the Leominster Public Schools. He began his career in education in 1967 as a teacher and administrator in Lunenburg.

A member the NCAA Division III Chancellors/Presidents Council, he serves NCAA’s Infractions Appeals Committee.

President Antonucci is a trustee or director at Eastern Bank, Unitil, Fallon Clinic and Our Father's House, as well as a corporator at Cape Cod Healthcare and the Greater Worcester Community Foundation. He is an elected town meeting member in Falmouth and a member of the board of directors of the United Way of North Central Massachusetts', and the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce.

President Antonucci has also chaired the New England Association of Schools and Colleges strategic planning initiative and the State University System of Massachusetts Council of Presidents.

He is a former member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ (AASCU) Committee on Economic and Workforce Development. In addition, he served on the Christa McAuliffe Presidential Selection Committee, which annually presents awards for outstanding programs in teacher education at AASCU institutions.

Antonucci holds two degrees from Fitchburg State, and was presented with an honorary doctoral degree as well as the university’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. He holds a doctorate in education from Boston University, where he served as an adjunct faculty member from 1994 to 1998, teaching graduate courses on state and local politics and education. He also holds honorary degrees from Endicott College and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

His wife, Jeanne, also holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Fitchburg State. The Antonuccis have a son, a daughter, and five grandchildren.