Dannel Malloy, chancellor of the University of Maine System, will stay in his role through June 2028, after the system’s board of trustees voted this week to extend his contract by another year.

Malloy, 70, became the system’s 11th chancellor when he was hired in 2019. Before that he served two terms as governor of Connecticut. With this final one-year extension, he will become the second-longest serving chancellor in its history, the system announced Thursday.

The vote authorizes the board chair to begin negotiations with Malloy, system spokesperson Samantha Warren said, and salary details will not be available until then. Under his current contract, Malloy’s salary is $421,975.

In his role as chancellor, Malloy leads a system of about 25,000 students across the state’s seven public universities.

This week’s vote to extend his contract reflects the board’s “continued confidence in the direction of Maine’s largest educational and economic development enterprise under Chancellor Malloy,” the announcement said, as he has led the system through the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of online learning and a changing federal funding and policy landscape.

His tenure hasn’t always been smooth, though.

Four years ago, Malloy survived votes of no confidence by faculty at several system universities. Their concerns were related to faculty cuts, the loss of autonomy at individual universities, leadership turnover, a botched presidential search at one school and transparency, among other things.

The board responded by granting him a single-year contract and instructed him to improve communication and transparency. The following year, Malloy was awarded a new two-year contract.

Roger Katz, the new chair of the system’s board of trustees, said in an announcement that the system has been navigating challenges with demographics, finances and political pressures.

“The Board believes continuity of leadership is important as the System leverages our innovative unified accreditation to welcome more new learners, further advance the goals of our comprehensive 2023-2028 strategic plan, navigate the changing higher education and funding landscape, and build on the incredible momentum created in recent years,” he said.

This week, the UMaine System highlighted Malloy’s work growing enrollment, improving the financial outlook and moving to unified accreditation for all of the system’s universities. Malloy said he was grateful for the support, and was, “deeply honored to continue serving alongside the talented faculty and staff who make this System strong.”