Dear Colleagues,

I write to share some important news: Anne D’Alleva, who has been our Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs since November 2022, has announced her decision to accept the position of President of Binghamton University, which is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system.

Today, SUNY’s board of trustees and the system Chancellor are meeting to formally confirm her appointment. Anne’s final day at UConn will be Oct. 3.

First and foremost, I want to congratulate Anne on this well-deserved appointment, which signifies not only an honor but also an exciting new chapter in her distinguished career in higher education. I would also like to express my gratitude for her exceptional service to UConn; she has been instrumental in her role as Provost and has very positively impacted our community since she became Dean of the School of Fine Arts in 2015. Anne’s journey at UConn began over 25 years ago, when she joined us as a faculty member in the fall of 1999, with joint appointments in Art History and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

Binghamton is fortunate to have Anne stepping in as their leader. While we celebrate her accomplishments, it’s undeniably hard to see such a remarkable colleague and outstanding leader leave our institution. Throughout her tenure at UConn, Anne’s competence, thoughtfulness, and effectiveness have distinguished her leadership, characterized by vision, practicality, tenacity, and the highest degree of collegiality.

Over the past three years, Anne has been pivotal in shaping and implementing our strategic plan, all while making meaningful contributions to ensure a fiscally sustainable future for UConn. She has spearheaded critical initiatives aimed at enhancing student success, promoting faculty excellence, and increasing our institutional impact. Her collaborative efforts, including partnerships with Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Dr. Pamir Alpay, led to new initiatives and multidisciplinary collaborations in AI and Quantum. She collaborated with the state’s tribal nations and has expanded our academic offerings across our four regional campuses – these efforts have helped to define excellence at those campuses.

In her work on student success, Anne advocated for a holistic approach, recognizing the connection between social and emotional wellness and academic achievement. She took steps to align personnel by establishing the Vice Provost for Student Success position, enhancing innovative academic support for our students and breaking down barriers to success. One notable initiative was her partnership with Foodshare CT to combat food insecurity on our campuses.

In addition to leading the academic enterprise, Anne also oversaw the Dean of Students Office, the Center for Students with Disabilities, Student Activities, and our cultural centers, ensuring that these areas were well-connected to our academic mission following a reorganization.

I also want to take a moment to acknowledge the strong team Anne has built within the Provost’s office during her time here. This includes Vice Provost Dr. Gladis Kersaint, who is currently leading several key initiatives, including our reaccreditation process; Vice Provost Dr. Amy Gorin, responsible for centers and institutes, regional campuses, and collaboration with the Office of the Vice President for Research; Vice Provost Dr. Dan Schwartz, who is committed to enhancing our institutional effectiveness; Vice Provost Dr. Tadarrayl Starke, who leads student success initiatives; and Vice Provost for Graduate Education Dr. Leslie Shor, who leads our Graduate School, among many other dedicated staff members.

Again, please join me in thanking Anne for her dedicated service to UConn and wishing her all the best in her new role.

Anne also had a very productive collaboration with Nathan Fuerst, the Vice President for Student Life and Enrollment, focused on enhancing student success and the overall student experiences at UConn.

After Anne’s departure, I will appoint Dr. Pamir Alpay, the Vice President for Research, as the interim Provost. Since becoming the department head in Materials Science in 2012, Pamir has demonstrated exceptional leadership across all facets of the academic enterprise. He has effectively overseen our partnerships as the Executive Director of the Innovation Partnership Building, served as the Associate Dean of the College of Engineering, and most recently as VPR since 2022.

With an impressive record of research, scholarship, and grant funding, Pamir’s leadership has been crucial in enhancing UConn’s reputation as a distinguished research institution. He is well-equipped to work closely with our deans during this transition, which is vital for our continued success.

I appreciate Pamir’s willingness to step into this critical role temporarily. We will initiate a national search for the next Provost in early 2026, approximately six months from now, inviting both internal and external candidates to express their interest.

Finally, as we look forward to the start of the fall semester in just a couple of weeks, we anticipate welcoming our largest incoming class in our history of 7,500 first year and transfer students. We will kick off this new academic year with the same optimism and excitement that our students will feel upon their arrival, maintaining our focus on our top priority: ensuring their success at UConn.

Sincerely,

Radenka
UConn President