Radenka Maric, who has served as interim president of the University of 海角换妻 since February, was named the 17th president of the state鈥檚 flagship institution on Wednesday.
The unanimous decision to appoint Maric 鈥� formerly UConn鈥檚 vice president for research, innovation and entrepreneurship 鈥� came during the school鈥檚 Board of Trustees meeting. Maric is the second woman to be president of the university, following Susan Herbst, who stepped down in 2019.
Maric鈥檚 appointment is a move toward stability for the university, as two former presidents stepped down from their roles in the last two years.
Former interim president Andrew Agwunobi announced in January that he was leaving UConn for a job with a private sector healthcare company. Before that, Thomas C. Katsouleas resigned after less than two years at the helm, citing 鈥渞easons we have discussed over time鈥� as grounds for his decision. Reporting by 海角换妻 Radio later revealed that Katsouleas, who still teaches at UConn, often butted heads with the school鈥檚 governing board 鈥� notably on a coronavirus mask mandate, graduation plans and tuition hikes.
Board of Trustees President Dan Toscano on Wednesday called Maric 鈥渁 force of nature鈥� who has distinguished herself as an effective leader determined to get results.
鈥淒r. Maric has her work cut out for her,鈥� Toscano said. 鈥淲e as a Board have the utmost confidence in her to advance our priorities and achieve our highest aspirations.鈥�
Maric, born and raised in the former Yugoslavia, joined UConn in 2010 and worked as a faculty member in the Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering departments. She occupied her role as vice president of research, innovation and entrepreneurship for five years. Her three children also hold degrees from UConn.
鈥淪he understands that making 海角换妻 the most innovative state in the nation requires collaboration between the world鈥檚 leading businesses and our higher education institutions,鈥� Lamont said in a
Maric was among more than 150 applicants for the position, according to the university.