University News

June 8, 2021 | Kristi Henderson, Office of the Provost

UConn Names Interim Director of Stamford Campus

David Souder named interim director of UConn Stamford

David Souder in the School of Business

David Souder named interim Director of UConn Stamford (Nathan Odham/UConn Photo)

The University of Connecticut announced today the appointment of an interim director for UConn Stamford. David Souder, a professor and administrator in the School of Business, will take on this role, beginning Thursday, July 1.

Provost Carl Lejuez shared the news in an email to University faculty and staff.

“David is an experienced leader at UConn who has held a variety of administrative positions. I look forward to working with him to steward the Stamford campus while we prepare for a national search for the next director,” Lejuez said.

Souder’s leadership experience includes serving as the interim dean and the associate dean for graduate programs in the School of Business. Currently he serves as the academic director of the school’s Executive MBA program and the Ph.D. coordinator for the Management Department.

UConn Stamford has grown in recent years, with the addition of new residence halls, new academic programs, and increased enrollment. Souder will join a dedicated and knowledgeable leadership team who have been critical to the campus’s continued development, including longtime Associate Campus Director Terry Reilly. Souder succeeds Terrence Cheng, who was named as president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities. Cheng has been a leading force in Stamford’s growth, as well as strengthening the campus as an integral part of the surrounding communities in Stamford and Fairfield County, and across the state.

“The growth and vibrancy of our Stamford campus has been impressive, and I’m excited to work with our team to keep the momentum going forward,” Souder said.

Souder was recently promoted to the rank of professor in the Management Department, where he has taught courses in strategic management, statistics, and entrepreneurship since 2007. He earned his BS from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, with concentrations in finance and strategic management, and his Ph.D. in strategic management and organization from the University of Minnesota. Souder’s research focuses on corporate short-termism and long-term thinking, and he frequently speaks with media and business groups on related topics.