Committee to pick new president of UConn

STORRS — The University of Connecticut Board of Trustees on Wednesday named a 44-member Advisory Search Committee to help pick the next University of Connecticut president.

Thomas Kruger, the board’s chairman, will lead the search committee for UConn’s 16th president.

“Our goal was to ensure that the advisory committee is as broad-based and diverse as possible, reflecting UConn Nation’s many stakeholders and constituencies,” Kruger said in a written statement. “The views of every member will be considered as each brings their own unique perspective and experiences to the table. Leadership matters a great deal at an institution of this size and complexity and the president we name will have an enormous impact on the university and its future.”

UConn President Susan Herbst announced shortly after commencement in May she will be leaving the job at the end of June 2019.

A recent Chronicle of Higher Education report said Herbst was the 21st highest paid public research university president in the nation. In 2016-17, she is said to have earned $823,907, which included a base pay of $627,716, a $40,000 bonus and other compensation.

The committee will use Isaacson, Miller Inc., an

executive-search firm, to support the search process. It is expected to spend the summer and early fall building a pool of candidates. The firm will also hold forums for faculty, staff, and students in September.

In early August, the university will launch a website dedicated to the search that will include contact information for the search firm for questions, nominations and applications.

The advisory committee will meet shortly to discuss the proposed search timeline and the ideal qualifications, qualities and experience of candidates. It will begin interviewing candidates in the fall. The ultimate pick will be made by the Board of Trustees in consultation with the outgoing and incoming governors.

Kruger said the goal would be to name the next president in late 2018 or early 2019.

Other trustees on the advisory committee include Lawrence McHugh, chairman emeritus of the board, as well as head of the Middlesex

Chamber of Commerce. He is also a Middletown Press columnist.

He will be joined by Andy Bessette, Thomas Ritter, Denis Nayden, Andrea Dennis-LaVigne, Sanford Cloud and Shari Cantor.

Alumni representatives include Daniel Toscano, foundation board chairman, and Mark Shenkman, former foundation board chairman.

University deans will be represented by Gladis Kersaint of the Neag School of Education, Kent Holsinger of the graduate school, Kazem Kazerounian of the School of Engineering, and Bruce Liang of the School of Medicine

Staff include Hartford Regional Campus Director Mark Overmyer-Velazquez, General Counsel Nicole Gelston, Athletics Director David Benedict, Assistant Vice Provost Maria Martinez and Joanne Lombardo of governmental relations.

Faculty include Mark Boyer, Micki McElya, David Yalof, Michael Bradford, Rajesh Lalla, Juan Salazar, Brenton Graveley, Cathy Schlund-Vials, Angela Rola, Sulin Ba, Mei Wei, Kevin Claffey, Carol Polifroni, William Garrity, Hedley Freake,

Carol Atkinson Palombo, Pam Bramble, Nancy Bull, Gary English, Jaci Van Heest, Debra Kendall and Veronica Makowsky.

Students on the committee include undergraduate Student

President Ama Appiah, and graduate student Mary Bugbee.

Also appointed to the group is Mansfield Town Manager Derrik Kennedy, a UConn alumni.