On April 20, 2016, the university announced that U.S. Representative Seth Moulton from Massachusetts's 6th congressional district would give the commencement address at the 2016 graduation ceremony, which he did on May 27, 2016. On September 13, 2016, "U.S. News & World Report" ranked UMass Boston within the first tier of national universities on its Best Colleges Ranking for the first time in the university's history, tied at number 220, and the following year, "U.S. News & World Report" elevated the university's ranking to a tie at number 202. On October 19, 2016, Vice President Biden returned to the university to speak at the EMK Institute. On May 7, 2017, President Obama returned to the university to receive the Profile in Courage Award at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. On March 3, 2017, former Bowdoin College president Barry Mills was appointed the university's deputy chancellor and chief operating officer. In this role, he oversaw the academic and research program and campus operations. On April 5, 2017, university officials announced that Chancellor J. Keith Motley would resign at the end of the academic calendar year on June 30, take a one-year sabbatical, and return as a tenured faculty member. University of Massachusetts President Marty Meehan stated Deputy Chancellor Mills would serve as interim chancellor "until [university] finances are stabilized and the university is positioned to attract a world-class chancellor through a global search", specifically to address the university's 2017 operating budget deficit of $30 million. Mills became interim chancellor on July 1 after Motley's resignation. On April 24, 2017, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced that the state government capital budget for fiscal year 2018 would include $78 million towards repairs for fixing the campus parking garage. According to UMass President Marty Meehan, Baker's commitment of funds were "the most significant investment made by any administration in the 40 years since construction flaws in the substructure became known." In January 2018, the UMass System put the university's Bayside Expo Center property up for sale. Two years before, the school had conducted a phased demolition of the building, with the intention of expanding the parking area, building new pedestrian walkways connecting Mount Vernon Street with the Dorchester Shores Reservation and the Boston HarborWalk, and improving the lighting, landscaping, bike racks, and security devices. Initial estimates indicated that the university could receive $200 million or more from such a sale. In May 2018, the U.S. Treasury Department approved a request submitted by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker that the Columbia Point census tract, which includes the Bayside Expo Center, be designated as an opportunity zone under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.