UMass Boston

Dr. Hazel Sive Ph.D. joins UMass Boston as Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics. She is an eminent researcher, award-winning educator and innovator in the higher education space. Dr. Sive was Dean of the College of Science at Northeastern University from 2020-2025. For twenty-nine years prior, she was Professor of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research. A native of South Africa, Dr. Sive received the B.Sc. from the University of Witwatersrand (Wits), Johannesburg, South Africa and the Ph.D. from Rockefeller University, New York.

Dr. Sive’s groundbreaking research focuses on neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as fundamental processes underlying brain and craniofacial development. She is a distinguished educator, a MacVicar Faculty Fellow, MIT’s highest teaching accolade and twice winner of the prestigious School of Science Teaching Award. An accomplished leader, Dr. Sive was Associate Dean for the MIT School of Science; Founding Director of the MIT Jameel World Higher Education Lab; and Founding Director of the MIT-Africa Initiative. At Northeastern, Dr. Sive was Chair of the new Africa Global Initiative. Among other accolades, Dr. Sive was elected a Fellow of the American Association for Advancement of Science.

As Dean of Science at Northeastern University, Dr. Sive built excellence through innovation in research and education, amidst an overarching culture of belonging and respect. She promoted the Good Power of Science framework that commits to responsible research and to communicating the outstanding contributions of science research. Dr. Sive is a collaborative leader, with impressive outcomes in all goals proposed.

Dr. Sive has had a long-term commitment to public higher education, tracing back to her educational roots at Wits University, South Africa. She is honored and excited to join the outstanding University of Massachusetts system, and UMass Boston as Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics.

College of Science and Mathematics

McCormack, 3rd floor, Suite 625.

100 Morrisey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125-3393

P: 617.287.5777
F: 617.287. 6511
csm@umb.edu