High-Profile Provost Pays Hefty Fine in Conflict of Interest Scandal

In a significant development underscoring the strict ethical standards governing public officials, the former Provost of UMass Amherst, Katherine Newman, has agreed to pay a substantial $10,000 civil penalty. This settlement, approved by the State Ethics Commission, addresses multiple violations of the state's conflict of interest law during her tenure, primarily involving her actions to benefit her daughter.

The core of the issue dates back to 2018 when Newman, then a high-ranking official, allegedly leveraged her position to secure an unposted program coordinator role within the Office of Undergraduate Research and Studies (OURS) for her daughter.

As Provost, Newman held direct oversight of OURS, making her involvement in the hiring process for a department under her purview a clear ethical breach. The commission found that the standard competitive hiring procedures were bypassed, allowing her daughter to secure the position without fair competition.

Further compounding the issue, Newman reportedly failed to disclose her daughter's employment in her annual financial interest report to the UMass president.

State regulations explicitly require public employees to report all individuals related by blood or marriage who are employed within their agency, a critical transparency measure that was overlooked in this instance.

The ethics violations didn't stop there. In 2021, when her daughter applied to medical school, Newman provided a letter of recommendation.

At this time, her daughter was still employed in OURS, and Newman continued to exercise supervisory authority over the department. The State Ethics Commission deemed this action an additional conflict, emphasizing that public employees must not use their official position to obtain unwarranted privileges or exemptions for themselves or others, directly or indirectly.

The disposition agreement, a formal resolution between Newman and the commission, explicitly states that Section 23(b)(2) of the conflict of interest law prohibits state employees from using their position to secure privileges for individuals.

This case serves as a potent reminder that even highly respected public figures are held to stringent accountability when it comes to upholding the integrity of public service.

Newman resigned from UMass Amherst in 2021 and currently serves as the president of the University of Maine at Farmington.

The State Ethics Commission acknowledged her full cooperation throughout their investigation, leading to this resolution. This case reaffirms the commitment to transparency and ethical governance within public institutions across the Commonwealth.