Regents Recommend Three Candidates for President to Governor

The Board of Regents for Higher Education, which governs the 17 Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (ConnSCU), today voted to recommend three candidates for president of the board to Governor Dannel P. Malloy for review, selection and appointment. Under current state statute, the Board of Regents recommends to the Governor who is the appointing authority. The three candidates were chosen after a nationwide search process that began in November and included input from a Systemwide Advisory Committee, composed of students, faculty, staff, union representatives, and representation from the business and industry community, as well as other stakeholders.

The search profile was advertised in national higher education publications to solicit interest from candidates across the country, and sent to trade organizations and private industry to attract a broad pool of talent. Last month, each of the three final candidates met with the Regents Search Committee, the Systemwide Advisory Committee, university and community college presidents and system office executive staff. The three candidates also participated in an open session where members of the higher education community, the public and press were invited to ask questions.

“The job of recommending the next president was one that we all approached with the utmost care,” said Lewis J. Robinson, Chairman of the Board of Regents and of the Regents Search Committee. “This was a robust, nationwide and thoughtful search for a president whom we expect to take a key role shaping the ConnSCU system into one of the leading organizations in the country. It is vital that this person will be a 'driver' of student success, and we expect the next president to thrive in an environment in which smart choices, bold actions and intelligent change are valued and sustained."

Robinson also noted that the next president will be expected to familiarize himself quickly with business and community leaders, legislators and other local elected representatives, and to become an outspoken advocate for the needs of the combined system, its faculty, staff, presidents and students.

“The entire board recognizes the many challenges and opportunities that our students face, so in our interviews we made sure that all candidates would be formidable advocates for students, both now and in the future,” said Robinson.

The three candidates who were recommended to the Governor today are (in alphabetical order):

• Dr. Gregory Gray, Chancellor, Riverside Community College District
• Dr. Jay Kahn, Interim President, Keene State College
• Dr. Jack R. Warner, Chief Executive Officer, South Dakota Board of Regents

It is expected that the new president will begin his tenure at the Board of Regents during the summer.