Georgia college educator Susan Herbst will take the reins as the first female president in the University of Connecticut’s 129-year history.
The school announced late Monday on its homepage the hiring of Herbst, a Georgia chief academic officer for the University System of Georgia, and professor of public policy at Georgia Tech.
She will be the 15th president since the school opened in Storrs in 1881.
UConn trustees met Monday afternoon to select the school’s next president.
University officials say a field of 10 semifinalists — from a list of some 100 candidates — was narrowed last week to three finalists.
“I have long admired the University of Connecticut as a beacon of intellectual excellence and model research institution,.” Herbst said in a statement posted on the school’s Web site. “The opportunity to serve as its president is a tremendous honor. I would like to thank the search committee, the board, Gov.-Elect Malloy, and Gov. Rell for the confidence they have placed in me. I’m excited about getting to know the university community and the state of Connecticut in the coming weeks and months.
Rell and Malloy both hailed the hiring.
“Susan is dynamic and energetic and will be an outstanding leader for the university community for years to come,” Rell said on the Web site. “An accomplished scholar, Susan is also down-to-earth and personable. It’s a new day at UConn and she represents the new face of enthusiasm, energy and excellence. She will bring a new vision and she will lead UConn into the top tier of public research universities.”
Malloy said in the school’s posting, “I’m very pleased with the choice. UConn is one of Connecticut’s best assets and its president needs to be an effective leader, a strategic thinker, and a skilled communicator. It’s clear that we have found that in Susan.
Interim President Philip Austin has been leading UConn since June 11 and will stay on until Herbst starts her tenure.
