Here We Go Again at UConn: Search, Select, Short Stay, Repeat

Just over a decade ago, in May 2010, the New York Times headline said succinctly, “Quick Exit by President of UConn.”  The story went on to describe the circumstances surrounding “when the University of Connecticut’s president, Michael J. Hogan, abruptly packed his bags” and departed, less than three years into his tenure.

As the Times noted, the state’s Governor at the time showed her displeasure.

“’Mike Hogan has done a solid job during his brief tenure at UConn,’ Gov. M. Jodi Rell said in a frosty statement. She added: ‘We had assumed President Hogan’s commitment to UConn was a long-term one; it should have been.’”

Dr. Hogan had replaced Phillip E. Austin, who had served 11 years as president, in September 2007. His tenure as president of UConn was said to be the shortest for a president there since 1930.  Not for long.

Fast forward to 2021.  Another president, another unanticipated rapid departure.  Deju vu all over again, only faster. The headline on The UConn Blog on May 13:  “UConn President Thomas Katsouleas resigns abruptly.”

Katsouleas had succeeded Susan Herbst in leading the University less than two years prior, in August 2019.  His resignation letter, written in March 2021, became effective on June 30.  Sources told the CT Mirror that his relationship with UConn’s Board of Trustees had deteriorated.

“It wasn’t a perfect fit with the board there. That’s all,” Governor Ned Lamont told the Hartford Courant. “It wasn’t a perfect fit, but that’s OK.”

Hogan left the state for a leadership position at the University of Illinois. (It should be noted that he lasted only 20 months in that position.)  Katsouleas opted to use a clause in his contract that allows him to remain at UConn.  He is to be a tenured faculty member and join the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.  His predecessor, Herbst, did much the same, and has been teaching at UConn’s Stamford campus as a Professor of Political Science, after her nearly nine years as UConn’s president, nearly quadruple the tenure of her successor.

“I look forward to working with the Board of Trustees to find a suitable replacement who shares their vision of growth, and building on its reputation as one of the top public institutions of higher learning in the country,” Lamont said when Katsouleas’ departure from the presidency was announced this Spring.

Subsequently, the Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Andrew Agwunobi, UConn Health’s CEO, as interim university president, effective July 1.  Agwunobi has said that he plans to work two days a week each in Farmington and Storrs, with the fifth day in Stamford.

Plans for a search for UConn’s next president have not yet been announced.  In 2018, a 44-member Advisory Search Committee for President was formed, a search firm was hired, and the months-long process ended with the selection of Katsouleas.