The Arizona Board of Regents has selected the University of Arizona’s next president after interviewing only one candidate.
Suresh Garimella will serve as UA’s 23rd president. He is currently the president of the University of Vermont.
In a written statement, ABOR said he has a strong financial management background and has worked to diversify funding sources at other schools without increasing tuition.
In a video message to the Wildcat community, Garimella said he has long admired the UA from afar and is thrilled to call Tucson his new home.
“There will be challenges ahead, but I’m ready to ‘Bear Down’ and work alongside you, to build upon this university’s long history of creating transformational change for our students and our state," he said."
Garimella interviewed with the board Friday morning after a five-month search. The announcement comes as the university deals with its worst fiscal year in over a decade.
“I have committed to fostering an environment here in the Sonoran Desert, where students, no matter their background can learn, explore and thrive," Garimella said.
Current president Robert Robbins will remain in his role until Garimella begins, which will likely be later this fall.
-
Lattie Coor was ASU’s 15th president, serving between 1990 and 2002. During his tenure, Coor helped launch Barrett, The Honors College and expanded ASU into a multicampus institution. -
The Peoria Unified School District has named a new principal for Centennial High School. It comes amid an ongoing police investigation into alleged sexual abuse by two former employees. -
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled a measure that would ban transgender students from using preferred bathrooms can stay on the ballot. -
The Roosevelt School District in south Phoenix has renamed Cesar Chavez Community School to Rio Vista Community School. It’s the latest in a slew of name changes across the state in the wake of sexual abuse allegations against the late civil rights activist. -
Public school advocates are suing over descriptions of two separate ballot measures related to Arizona’s school voucher program approved last week by state lawmakers.
