Moloney Named Woman of the Year

Executive Vice Chancellor Jacqueline F. Moloney was named by Girls Inc. as 2008 Woman of the Year.

email this story

Executive Vice Chancellor Jacqueline F. Moloney has been named 2008 Woman of the Year by Girls Incorporated of Greater Lowell.

The award recognizes women who demonstrate exceptional leadership and commitment; who have a strong work ethic, moral character, and great compassion; and who work with dedication to enhance the quality of life and effect change in the Greater Lowell community.

"I'm touched and surprised. I didn't expect it at all," Moloney said. 

Carol Duncan, Girls Inc. executive director, said Moloney was a fine choice for the award.

"Jacquie's accomplishments -- career, community service, wife, mother -- speak for themselves. But what makes her extra special is the fact that she downplays her own leadership role and gives credit to others. Her selflessness, ability to engage others and make them part of her team is a key reason for her success," Duncan said.

Moloney grew up in Tewksbury, one of seven girls and one boy in Esther and Eddie Fidler's large family. She earned undergraduate and doctoral degrees at the Lowell campus.

When she headed off as the first person in her family to go to college, she says, "My parents had mixed feelings. But when I got my doctorate in 1992, they couldn't have been prouder."

Moloney recalls her professor, Mary Blewett, as a mentor. "I took all her courses and loved history of American women. It was a profound experience to have faculty who were feminists and made me look at the feminist movement."

Former chancellor Bill Hogan nurtured her career, encouraging every effort. And former Dean of Health Professions Jan Stecchi and Nancy Donahue, past Girls Inc. honorees, inspired her as well.  Her husband, attorney Ed Moloney, and daughters Emily Smith, a lawyer, and Margaret Hansberry, a teacher, are great cheerleaders.

Moloney has been president of the House of Hope for two consecutive terms, co-chair of the Development Committee at Girls Incorporated of Greater Lowell and has served on various advisory boards, including Whistler House, Lowell General Hospital and Saints Memorial. She is currently the vice president of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, and has been responsible for establishing numerous scholarship endowments at the University.  In her early career she served as a professional for several non-profits including the Indo-Chinese Mutual Assistance Association and the Lowell Association for Retarded Citizens.

During her tenure at UMass Lowell, Moloney has established a reputation for her leadership in curriculum and instructional development, entrepreneurship, online education and assessment. After founding the Centers for Learning and the Faculty Teaching Center, she went on to transform the University’s traditional continuing education program into a highly entrepreneurial and successful enterprise.

Under her leadership, UMass Lowell’s online programs became internationally recognized and were given two prestigious awards by the Sloan Consortium for Outstanding Faculty Development and Outstanding Institution-wide Programming. Dr. Moloney has received several grants including a $650,000 Sloan Foundation Grant.