Prior to becoming Chancellor of the University of Maine System in 2019, Malloy served two terms as Governor of Connecticut, where he abolished the death penalty
MADRID, Spain — In recognition of his leadership promoting civil and human rights, the University of Maine System’s Chancellor has been named to the prestigious International Commission against the Death Penalty (External Site) (ICDP).
Malloy’s appointment (External Site) as one of the ICDP’s high-profile Commissioners (External Site) acknowledges his abolishment of the death penalty during the first of his two terms as Governor of the State of Connecticut (2011-2019). Following his action, that state’s Supreme Court commuted the sentences of 11 individuals still on death row to life in prison without parole.
Also as Governor, he was awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for welcoming refugees, including children who were fleeing the horrors of war and had been legally granted asylum in the United States.
Malloy’s commitment to the dignity of all people and a fair and equitable system of justice dates back to his time as an Assistant District Attorney in New York, and his 14 years as Mayor of Stamford, Connecticut.
“My position on the death penalty evolved through my experiences in the courtroom as a prosecutor and my conversations as Governor with the loved ones of those lost to the most horrific of crimes. Not only did I come to see capital punishment as cruel and inhumane, but I learned that the legal realities of the process meant the family members of murder victims were denied justice and the opportunity to begin to heal and rebuild their own lives for decades,” said Malloy. “I am incredibly honored to join the Commission and to continue to promote our most fundamental human rights, first among them the inherent right to life.”
The ICDP, headquartered in Madrid, Spain, promotes the abolition of capital punishment with support from its 24 member countries, including the U.S. Other recent appointments to the Commission include former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and President of Chile Michelle Bachelete and former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland Enda Kenny.
Malloy’s service on the Commission will not interfere with his work as Chancellor, and the Commission or Malloy personally will cover all costs associated with his ICDP duties.
Contact: Samantha Warren, University of Maine System Director of External Affairs, 207-632-0389, samantha.warren@maine.edu
About the University of Maine System
Established in 1968, the University of Maine System (UMS) unites seven Maine’s distinctive public universities, comprising 10 campuses and numerous centers, in the common purpose of providing quality higher education while delivering on its traditional tripartite mission of teaching, research, and public service.
In 2020 UMS became the first and only statewide enterprise of public higher education in the country to transition to a unified accreditation for the system. Much different than a merger or consolidation, unified accreditation is a new operating model for the University of Maine System that removes the primary barrier to inter-institutional collaboration.
A comprehensive public institution of higher education, UMS serves more than 30,000 students annually and is supported by the efforts of more than 2,000 full-time and part-time faculty, more than 3,000 regular full-time and part-time staff, and a complement of part-time temporary (adjunct) faculty.
Reaching more than 500,000 people annually through educational and cultural offerings, the University of Maine System also benefits from more than two-thirds of its alumni population residing within the state; more than 123,000 individuals.
The System consists of seven main campuses: The University of Maine (UMaine), including its regional campus the University of Maine at Machias (UMaine Machias); the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA); the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF); the University of Maine at Fort Kent (UMFK), the University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI); and the University of Southern Maine (USM). The System also includes a UMA campus in Bangor, USM campuses in Gorham and Lewiston-Auburn, the University of Maine School of Law, and the University of Maine Graduate and Professional Center.