Gov. Lamont announces interim chair for Board of Regents

Gov. Ned Lamont announced a new interim chair of the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education.

Lamont selected Ari Santiago of West Hartford, who was appointed by the governor as a member of the board since 2020. Santiago serves as the vice chair of the board’s finance and infrastructure committee and as a member of the technology committee.

The selection comes days after Marty Guay, the former chair, announced on Monday that he submitted his resignation. Guay’s announcement came three days after the Board of Regents released documents that revealed John Maduko, interim chancellor of Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, resigned last month amid a sexual harassment investigation.

Santiago addressed the investigation on Friday.

“I am accepting this role with clear eyes. The events of recent weeks have been troubling, and the public, and especially our students, deserve better,” said Santiago. “Let me be direct: the independent investigation being started must proceed with full transparency and without interference and, following it, any necessary changes will be made. That work will not wait. At the same time, this board cannot be defined solely by what has gone wrong. CSCU educates the next generation of Connecticut’s citizens and workforce, and I intend to make sure we are doing that job at the highest possible level. I am honored to accept this role and ready to get to work.”

The Board of Regents consists of 15 voting members, nine of whom are appointed by the governor, four of whom are appointed by legislative leaders, and two of whom are students chosen by their peers. All the members are volunteers and are not compensated for their service. The governor must select one person from among its members to serve as chair, and the board is responsible for electing a vice chair and other officers from among its membership.

Then-Gov. Dannel P. Malloy (D) combined the state’s four regional universities and community colleges into the CSCU system in 2011, with the regents overseeing operations.

“The top mission of our CSCU schools must be to provide students with the innovative, forward-thinking skills needed to obtain long-lasting careers in good-paying jobs,” Lamont said. “And I want to ensure that our public colleges and universities are partnering with the business community and creating the workforce needed to grow economic success. Looking forward, it is my expectation that the Board of Regents will take concrete steps within this next week to move ahead on the appointment of an interim chancellor to lead this important system.”