President Joseph C. Hartman, Ph.D., P.E.
Seventh President of Western New England University
Joseph C. Hartman, Ph.D., P.E., serves as the seventh president of Western New England University, bringing more than three decades of leadership in higher education, engineering, research, and workforce innovation. A nationally respected academic leader, Hartman has built a career advancing student success, strengthening industry partnerships, and positioning universities as engines of opportunity and regional economic growth.
Before joining Western New England University, Hartman served as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs at University of Massachusetts Lowell, where he led academic and student affairs strategy for one of the nation’s leading public research universities. During his tenure, UMass Lowell achieved its highest national rankings in university history, expanded research activity to Carnegie R1 status, increased graduation rates, strengthened student support systems, and advanced initiatives focused on experiential learning, equity, innovation, and workforce alignment.
Hartman previously served as Dean of the Francis College of Engineering at UMass Lowell, where he led significant growth in enrollment, research expenditures, faculty hiring, and industry-sponsored partnerships. Under his leadership, the college launched new academic programs in biomedical engineering, environmental engineering, and engineering management while expanding corporate collaborations and hands-on learning opportunities for students.
Earlier in his career, Hartman held leadership and faculty roles at University of Florida and Lehigh University, where he earned recognition for excellence in teaching, research, and academic administration. His scholarly work in engineering economy, operations research, and decision analysis has resulted in numerous publications, funded research projects, and national professional honors.
An accomplished educator and thought leader, Hartman is a Fellow and past president of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers and has received multiple national awards recognizing his contributions to engineering education, leadership, and service.
Hartman earned a Ph.D. and M.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a B.S. in General Engineering with honors from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is also a registered Professional Engineer.
As president of Western New England University, Hartman is focused on strengthening the University’s tradition of learning by doing, expanding opportunities for students, deepening community and industry partnerships, and preparing graduates to lead in a rapidly evolving world.
He and his wife Karen have three grown children and reside in East Longmeadow, MA.