Radenka Maric has served as president of the University of Connecticut since 2022, after previously leading research, innovation and entrepreneurship at the university. She oversees the state’s $3.2 billion public flagship university, which enrolls more than 33,500 students across six campuses.
Over the past year, UConn publicly launched its $1.5 billion “Because of UConn” campaign, surpassing $800 million by November 2025. The university also advanced QuantumCT, a joint proposal with Yale that is a finalist for up to $160 million in National Science Foundation funding. Maric said targeted retention efforts helped keep 800 more students enrolled than in prior years.
Looking ahead, she cited volatility in federal research funding, demographic declines in high school graduates and UConn Health’s recent acquisition of Waterbury Hospital as key challenges and opportunities. UConn also is assessing the impact of the House v. NCAA settlement and evolving NIL rules while continuing to align academic programs with workforce needs.
What qualities are most essential for effective leadership today?
The most effective leaders with whom I’ve worked, and whose examples continue to inspire me, are those guided by a strategic vision for their organization’s path forward, and who operate with a spirit of integrity, collaboration and empathy.
Leadership is also about being a change agent: We must always be aware of the trends and factors that will require new approaches and resiliency to keep progress on track. The best leaders also clearly communicate their goals and maintain a sense of self-awareness and humility, so they are always able to listen, learn and adapt for the good of their organization.
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What do you value most about living or doing business in Connecticut?
I value the collaborative nature of business and industry, especially their willingness to support entrepreneurship, internships and other work experience for students. They are true partners with academia in advancing innovation, workforce development and research.
The opportunities created by the state Department of Economic and Community Development and Connecticut Innovations also have such a positive impact, and support Connecticut’s visionary approach to AI, quantum and other technologies. Our highly educated workforce, access to capital and enthusiasm for innovation make Connecticut an ideal place to live, work and grow.
What is one change that would make Connecticut more competitive economically?
I wouldn’t consider this a “change,” but continuing the work to widely communicate our state’s strengths throughout the nation and world is critical. Strong marketing strategies will help us continue to draw visionary entrepreneurs to Connecticut, and to keep us in the forefront of fostering innovation.
What I believe would also help is to create a method through which we can help connect our workforce with companies seeking those specific skills. For instance, if a company wants 1,000 engineers to work in AI-related careers, perhaps a landing page (online) or other method could be developed that shows exactly how many are graduating and ready for work from UConn, from Central, from other institutions so the company knows that our state has exactly the talent they need.
We also benefit from programs that help current workers re-skill to gain the knowledge needed for the jobs of the future; every way in which we can support such programs will be a great benefit to them individually and to our state as a whole.
Book recommendation: “The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times” by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams with Gail Hudson; “Never Stop: Life, Leadership, and What it Takes to be Great” by UConn Men’s Head Basketball Coach Dan Hurley; “My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future” by Indra Nooyi; and “Start Small, Finish Big: Fifteen Key Lessons to Start–and Run–Your Own Successful Business” by Fred DeLuca
Go-to news media outlets: Hartford Business Journal, Hartford Courant, Connecticut Mirror, the Hearst papers, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Washington Post and the Harvard Business Review
Hobby or leisure activity: Cooking, baking, playing the piano, making clothes and working in my garden all bring me a great deal of joy.