John Maduko became the state’s first-ever president of the Connecticut State Community College system in April 2022.
The 41-year-old Los Angeles native is a former medical doctor who most recently served as vice president of academic and student affairs for Minnesota State Community and Technical College, a member of the 37-institution Minnesota State Colleges and University system.
He’s currently overseeing the pending merger of Connecticut’s 12 community colleges into one system, which is expected to be completed this summer.
Once complete, the single, merged community college will have 12 campuses, 4,600 employees and 60,000 students in both credit and non-credit programs.
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In a recent interview with the Hartford Business Journal, Maduko said the merger’s goal is to create cost savings to ensure the community college system, which has faced budget pressures and declining enrollment, is financially sustainable long term, and to put savings into programs that improve the student experience and boost graduation rates.
Maduko said he hopes to increase enrollment by better marketing community colleges and providing a broader curriculum that focuses on in-demand industries and careers in health care, manufacturing and IT.
He relocated to Connecticut with his wife Amanda and their three children.