Robert V. Antonucci
President, Fitchburg State College
Dr. Robert V. Antonucci has been president of Fitchburg State College since June of 2003.
In the two years since he returned to his home region of North Central Massachusetts, he has become a force in the community. On any given day, he is, in addition to fulfilling his duties at the college, speaking at gatherings, attending civic events, serving on boards, meeting with officials, voicing his opinions on how to revitalize the region, offering advice and counsel to his many friends, and listening intently to the ideas of others. His boundless enthusiasm is a constant source of inspiration to all he comes in contact with.
A 30-year veteran of education, President Antonucci served as the Commonwealth's commissioner of education from 1992 to 1998. He 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. Managing a staff of 470 and a budget of $3.4 billion, he fundamentally reformed the state's education finance system, school governance, curriculum development and charter schools.
He brought that same energy to Fitchburg State, overseeing the drafting of a new strategic plan and setting plans in motion for two major capital projects: a complete renovation of Holmes Dining Commons and reconstruction of the college's outdoor athletic facilities. Despite the scope and importance of the two projects, President Antonucci made it clear that teaching and learning represented the cornerstone of the institution, and he placed new or renovated science facilities at the top of the institutional needs list, along with greater emphasis on technology.
As noted, Antonucci also increased the president's visibility in the local region and in Boston, cementing alliances in the area and increasing the college's visibility with the Board of Higher Education and other state agencies. A new chapter of the Boys and Girls Club was established on campus, and Antonucci was instrumental in establishing the Central Massachusetts Public Higher Education Alliance, a collaborative effort with sister colleges. On campus, he continually encourages pride in the institution and an overall goal of excellence in all that the college community seeks to accomplish.
Before joining Fitchburg State, Antonucci was president of the school group at Cambridge-based Riverdeep-The Learning Company. Riverdeep is a leading provider of electronic educational software offered via the Internet and CD-ROM.
Previously, he was president and chief executive officer with Harcourt Learning Direct and Harcourt Higher Education. He also served as 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.
Earlier in his career, Antonucci was for 12 years superintendent of schools in Falmouth. As superintendent, he served as the chief executive officer of the town's K-12 school system, which included approximately 4,700 students and 650 employees.
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 the Lunenburg schools.
No stranger to Fitchburg State, Antonucci holds two degrees from the institution, and was presented with an honorary doctoral degree. He also 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.
In addition to the honorary degree, President Antonucci has also been presented with the college's Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumnus Award. He also holds honorary degrees from Endicott College and the Mass Maritime Academy. A member of the board of trustees at Eastern Bank, Unitil, and Our Father's House, President Antonucci is 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 United Way of North Central Massachusetts' board of directors. In addition, he is a director of the North Central Massachusetts Boys & Girls Club and Our Father's House. He is a member of the Latino Coalition, the Governor's Intervention Task Force, the Merrimack Education Center Executive Board, and the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce.
His wife, Jeanne, also holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the college. The Antonuccis have a son and daughter-in-law, John and Jennifer Antonucci, and a daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Douglas Karson. They also have five grandchildren-Robbie, Jake and Andrew Antonucci, and Jack and Anthony Karson.
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