Connecticut State Colleges & Universities
The 17 Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (ConnSCU) provide affordable, innovative and rigorous programs that permit students to achieve their personal and career goals, as well as contribute to the economic growth of Connecticut. The ConnSCU System encompasses four state universities – Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic and Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven – as well as 12 community colleges and the online institution Charter Oak State College.
Until the state’s higher education reorganization of 2011, Western was a member of the former Connecticut State University System that also encompassed Central, Eastern and Southern Connecticut state universities. With origins in normal schools for teacher education founded in the 19th and early 20th centuries, these institutions evolved into diversified state universities whose graduates have pursued careers in the professions, business, education, public service, the arts and other fields. Graduates of Western and other state universities contribute to all aspects of Connecticut economic, social and cultural life.
In April 2011, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the Connecticut legislature unveiled a plan to consolidate the management of higher education. Specifically, they created a Board of Regents for Higher Education which replaced the governance structures for the Connecticut State University System (CSUS), the Connecticut Community Colleges, Charter Oak State College and the Board of Governors for Higher Education. The transition from the CSUS Board of Trustees to the Board of Regents occurred between July 1 and December 31, 2011.
Governance of the CSCU System is the responsibility of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, which comprises 20 appointments: nine by the governor (including the selection of one of his appointees as the chair), four by legislative leaders, two student representatives, and five ex-officio, non-voting members (commissioners of the departments of Economic and Community Development, Public Health, Education and Labor and the chair of the Faculty Advisory Committee).
CSCU leadership team works with the campus leaders, faculty and staff to help increase the educational attainment of Connecticut’s adult population. All 17 college and university presidents report directly to the Board of Regents president, who reports to the Board of Regents for Higher Education. CSCU senior staff provide additional support and guidance for both the board and member institutions.
Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education
JoAnn Ryan, Vice Chair, Torrington
Richard J. Balducci, Deep River
Ira Bloom, Cos Cob
Felice Gray-Kemp, Hamden
Holly Howery, Windsor
Juanita James, Stamford
James McCarthy, Clinton
Richard J. Porth, West Hartford
Ari Santiago, West Hartford
Elease E. Wright, Hartford
SAC Chair, Student Regent*
SAC Vice Chair Student Regent*
David Blitz (ex-officio), Professor of Philosophy, CCSU
Danté Bartolomeo (ex-officio), Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Labor
Manisha Juthani (ex-officio), Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Health
David Lehman (ex-officio), Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development
Charlene Russell-Tucker, (ex-officio), Commissioner, Connecticut State Department of Education
Colena Sesanker (ex-officio), Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Gateway CC
Kelli-Marie Vallieres, Chief Workforce Officer, Office of Workforce Strategy
* Voted in by SAC in Fall 2022
CSCU Leadership
Terrence Cheng, President, Connecticut State Colleges & Universities
Elsa Núñez, Vice President for State Universities
John Maduko, President, Connecticut State Community College
Leigh Appleby, Director of Communications
Benjamin Barnes, Chief Financial Officer, Interim Vice President for Human Resources
Sean Bradbury, Senior Director of Government Relations & External Affairs
Jan Kiehne, Interim Associate Vice President of Research & System Effectiveness
Pam Heleen, Associate Director of Board Affairs
Rai Kathuria, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs
Alice Pritchard, Chief of Staff, Chief Operating Officer, Secretary to the BOR
James Vasquez, Chief Information Officer
Ernestine Y. Weaver, CSCU General Counsel
Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education
39 Woodland Street • Hartford, Connecticut 06105