Worcester Business Journal

4 Worcester Business Journal | April 17, 2023 | wbjournal.com C E N T R A L M A S S I N B R I E F V E R B AT I M Garden fundraising "It's an exciting time, and we are immensely grateful to all who have invested in the garden's future with donations to the Growing Boldly campaign. The tremendous support we've received enables our garden to do and be more for our visitors and our community." Grace Elton, CEO of New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill in Boylston, about the garden closing in on its $28-million fundraising goal Downtown directors "I am excited to work with the Board, staff, and community partners to help promote economic growth and development in Downtown Worcester, and to support the businesses and organizations that make our community such a special place." Kate McEvoy, vice president for corporate relations for UMass Memorial Health, who was named to the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District board of directors, along with Joffrey Smith, CEO of Joffrey Smith Financial Group $41 million for cancer detector "A simple, inexpensive blood- based screening test could be a vital new tool to significantly increase patient engagement in lung cancer screening, creating the opportunity to save lives through early detection." Dawn Mattoon, CEO of Mercy BioAnalytics Inc. in Natick, said on April 4 after Mercy announced it raised $41 million to develop its cancer-detecting liquid BY TIMOTHY DOYLE WBJ Staff Writer N ine months aer he took on the newly created role, former Worcester city manager Edward Augus- tus will step down as the first-ever chancellor of Dean College in Franklin effective April 14, for what he described as an uncertain future. Mark Boyce, Dean College's chair of the board of trustees, announced Au- gustus' intentions in an April 3 message. "Mr. Augustus' vast experience in public life and deep knowledge of Dean was of great benefit to the College during a moment of significant and historic transition," Boyce said in the announcement. "Mr. Augustus brought reassurance to our campus that Dean can and will flourish into the future built around a new vision and fresh thinking." Augustus will continue on as special advisor to the chairman of the board until the end of June, according to the statement. A call to Dean College seeking fur- ther information was not immediately returned on April 4. Dean College announced in June that Augustus would become its first chan- cellor while naming Kenneth Elmore as president of the college. Both Augustus and Elmore, who is Dean's first Black president, started in their roles on July 5. Augustus stepped down as Worcester city manager in May. Augustus appears to be stepping down from the role based on his belief a more traditional leadership struc- ture would better serve Dean College, according to an email he sent to the college community on April 3. "Aer nearly a year under a new management system, it's evident that a more traditional format, which Dean has flourished, is a better option," Augustus wrote. "is decision was far from simple and one that included many sleepless nights for me. e rela- tionships I forged between faculty, staff, students, alumni, corporate/foundation partners, and the Franklin community made this move extremely difficult. But it's with those folks in mind that I've come to this decision and want to do what's best for Dean College, even if that vision no longer includes me." Augustus' chief of staff, Laura Paladi- no, will also step down from the college on April 14, according to Augustus' email. In January, the college adjusted its department structure in order to help it work more efficiently, but aer a few months, Augustus said he recognized another change was needed, according to his email. "I'm not sure where life's journey will take me next. I am sure of one thing though, wherever I go, I will carry with me e Dean Difference," he wrote. WBJ Editor Brad Kane contributed to this story. After nine months, Ed Augustus to step down as Dean College chancellor PHOTO | WBJ FILE W Edward Augustus hosts a 2020 press conference at Worcester's DCU Center back when he was city manager.

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