Jan. 27 – STORRS – The University of Connecticut Board of Trustees named Radenka Maric as the university’s next interim president at its meeting on Wednesday.

His appointment is effective Tuesday, February 1, and will continue until a permanent chair is appointed by the board.

Andrew Agwunobi, the outgoing interim president, will remain available to support and assist with the formal transition until February 20.

After that, he will start work in private industry.

Maric said she was delighted to start her new position.

“I am honored to serve as interim president of UConn,” she said.

Maric also thanked the board for their support over the years and for entrusting him with the position.

Dan Toscano, Chairman of the Board, noted that Maric is an ideal candidate for the position, as she is a strong advocate for students and faculty.

“She always ends every email with the students first, always UConn,” he said.

Maric, 55, brings a wide variety of backgrounds to his new position.

She is fluent in four languages ​​- Croatian, English, German and Japanese – with a working knowledge of Italian.

She even touches on art, both on the canvas as a painter and musically via the piano. An accomplished seamstress, she also makes and designs many of her own clothes.

Born and raised in what was once Yugoslavia, Maric earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Belgrade in Serbia before moving to Japan, where she earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in materials science and energy from the University of Kyoto.

Since she started working at UConn in 2010, she has set up over $100,000 in scholarship funds through the UConn Foundation to help students.

She has served as UConn’s Vice President for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship since 2017.

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