The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system has appointed an interim president for Connecticut State Community College (CT State), the largest community college in New England.
CSCU Interim Chancellor O. John Maduko, Ph.D., said Monday that Christina Royal, Ph.D., has been appointed interim president of CT State. She will begin her term on Aug. 1 and serve through June 30, 2026.
Royal previously served as president of Holyoke Community College, retiring after the 2022-23 academic year. She was selected as a 2024-25 Judith Block McLaughlin President-in-Residence in the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has more than 25 years of leadership experience in higher education.
“Dr. Royal embodies CT State’s values: she is mission-driven, leads with a deep commitment to equity and inclusivity, and places student success and access at the heart of her work,” Maduko said.
As CT State’s interim president, Royal hopes to build on the college’s progress in student access and success, workforce development, and economic impact.
In fiscal year 2023, CT State contributed $3 billion to Connecticut’s economy and supported 30,000 jobs statewide. During the 2024-25 academic year, nearly 20,000 CT State students benefited from debt-free tuition through the Mary Ann Handley Award.
CT State also awarded 6,084 associate degrees and certificates to more than 5,200 graduates.
“CT State has made significant strides in its first two years as one, unified institution,” Royal said. “I am honored to join this talented community and am committed to collaborating with our campus presidents, external partners, and state, municipal and community leaders to chart a path forward that is rooted in student success and equity.”
During her presidency at Holyoke Community College, Royal championed initiatives to break cycles of generational poverty; secured one of the largest individual philanthropic gifts to a U.S. community college; led the development of the college’s first strategic plan; oversaw the creation of a new Life Sciences Center to enhance academic and workforce programs; and launched a childcare program to support student-parents.
Royal holds a Ph.D. in education from Capella University, an Masters in educational psychology, and a bachelor’s in mathematics from Marist University.
