Newly-minted UConn President Radenka Maric has ambitious goals and plans related to climate change, business partnerships, research and fundraising as she leads the state’s flagship university into 2023.
Maric’s first full year as president follows a period of instability within UConn’s top ranks.
Former President Thomas Katsouleas resigned suddenly from the post in the summer of 2021, after less than three years on the job. His interim replacement Andrew Agwunobi left the school about seven months later for an executive role with health insurance company Humana.
Competition among U.S. colleges to win an increasing share of the billions of dollars in federal and private research funding available annually has reached a fever pitch in recent years, as schools look to boost their reputation, recruit top talent and use the money to spur economic development, including potential startup companies.
UConn has put itself squarely in the middle of that battle, and has seemingly doubled down on efforts to raise its profile as a research university by recently naming Radenka Maric interim president.
Dr. Andrew Agwunobi has led UConn since July 2021 and UConn Health since 2014. He began overseeing both simultaneously after former UConn President Thomas Katsouleas resigned last year.