The University System of NH (USNH) Board of Trustees named Catherine Provencher as chancellor, effective July 1. She has served as vice chancellor of financial affairs and treasurer of USNH for the past 10 years and served as NH state treasurer ofr seven years.
As chancellor, Provencher will serve as the University System’s primary liaison to the USNH Board of Trustees, elected officials, and state government, business, and nonprofit leaders. Provencher will lead the coordination of key efforts across the University of New Hampshire (UNH), Plymouth State University, and Keene State College, the three public institutions that comprise USNH. She will represent USNH on a multitude of state and national boards and commissions. Overseeing a staff of approximately 90, Provencher will lead the delivery of a breadth of centralized services to USNH institutions, including legal, human resources, procurement, treasury, budgeting, accounting, and internal audit. As chancellor, Provencher is eager to champion continued efforts with the Community College System of New Hampshire to expand the reach and accessibility of public higher educational opportunities to all students across the state.
“Cathy has proven to be a tremendous asset to the University System of NH during the past ten years. The board is highly confident she will provide conscientious and clear-minded leadership during a period of transition with a new president at UNH and unparalleled changes in higher education,” says Alex Walker, chairman of the USNH board of trustees.
“I am privileged to continue my career of public service to the Granite State as the next chancellor of our State’s University System and am humbled by the trust and confidence placed in me by the Board of Trustees. I look forward to the work ahead as USNH continues delivering on the mission of meeting NH’s public higher education needs,” Provencher says.
With Provencher’s move to chancellor, the board promoted Karen Benincasa to vice chancellor of financial affairs and treasurer of USNH. She has worked for USNH for a decade.