Dear Colleagues,
As we navigate leadership transitions with Provost D’Alleva departing to become President of Binghamton University and our Vice President for Research, Pamir Alpay, stepping in as interim Provost, Michelle Williams, Chief of Staff in the President’s office, has offered to return to the Office of the Vice President for Research as Associate Vice President. In this role, she will work with the Provost’s Office and OVPR to ensure a coordinated and integrated approach to achieving our student success and excellence in research, innovation, and engagement goals.
Michelle will bring her years as faculty in the CLAS’s Department of Psychological Sciences with a joint appointment in Africana Studies and as a senior administrator in the OVPR, to bridge the academic and research administration functions. Michelle’s administration experience includes supporting CLAS as head of the clinical psychology program and an associate dean, and subsequently as an Associate Vice President and Executive Director in the OVPR.
When I became the VPR, I quickly recognized Michelle’s dedication to our institution and her willingness to collaborate with others to advance our mission. I am truly grateful to Michelle for her service as my Chief of Staff for the past three years. Michelle will assume her new role on Oct. 3.
Following Michelle’s departure, Phil Hunt, who has served as Deputy Chief of Staff since July 2024, will be appointed Chief of Staff in the President’s office. Phil has been an outstanding addition to my office and our leadership team and will excel in this new role owing to his strategic thinking and approach to institutional issues, exceptional organizational and management abilities, and sincere collegiality.
Phil earned his undergraduate degree and a master’s in education from UConn, and has more than two decades of experience in education administration. Before coming to UConn in 2024, he served as University Registrar and Special Assistant to the President of North Dakota State University, Registrar of the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, and Director of Access & Diversity/FOIA Compliance Officer at George Mason University prior to that, among other roles.
He earned his juris doctorate from the University of New Hampshire and a Master of Laws in Higher Education Law and Compliance from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.
As Chief of Staff, Phil will continue to advance UConn’s priorities through collaboration with campus leadership, facilitating the integration of initiatives with academic, administrative, and student success objectives as well as lead the development and implementation of university-wide strategic, operational, and policy initiatives.
Please join me in congratulating and thanking Phil for his willingness to step up. We do not plan to back-fill his current role at this time.
Finally, as you know, Pamir will assume the role of interim Provost in early October. In advance of that change, we plan to announce the appointment of an interim Vice President for Research. In addition, during this interim period, the OVPR will report to the Provost’s Office.
Sincerely,
Radenka Maric
UConn President
