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Suresh Garimella at the University of ϲͼ campus
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U of A President Designate Suresh Garimella start date set for October 1

The ϲͼ Board of Regents today approved Dr. Suresh Garimella’s contract to serve as the next University of ϲͼ president. 

Dr. Garimella will join the Wildcat family on October 1.

“The board is proud to welcome Dr. Garimella to ϲͼ,” said ϲͼ Chair Cecilia Mata. “We have high expectations for both the University of ϲͼ and its new president. He is a tireless champion for students, and has the experience, vision and steadfast leadership needed to guide our state’s oldest university into the future.”  

Dr. Garimella has already hit the ground running, meeting with campus and community members while he was on campus earlier this month.

“It is an honor to lead the University of ϲͼ. I believe strongly in the university’s land-grant mission to educate a talented and diverse student body and serve the state of ϲͼ,” said Dr. Garimella. “The U of A’s reputation for world-class research and innovation, academics, athletics and the arts is a result of the incredible work of faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends, and I cannot wait to join the effort. With gratitude to the ϲͼ Board of Regents and Presidential Search Advisory Committee, I am proud to be a Wildcat.”

The board action follows a comprehensive national search fueled by the work of the U of A Presidential Search Advisory Committee and informed by robust community feedback. Over the last five months, the 18-member committee met numerous times to gather feedback from the campus and community and vet all prospects in search of a leader who would match the qualities and experience needed to lead ϲͼ’s land-grant institution.  

“Dr. Garimella's strong emphasis on student success aligns with the University of ϲͼ community's priorities,” said Melanie Hingle, U of A Professor of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness and member of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee.  “As a fellow scholar, our new president possesses the vision, experience and skills to tackle our challenges and lead the U of A to new heights of excellence, access and impact.”

Dr. Garimella succeeds President Robert C. Robbins, who has led the university since 2017. President Robbins will remain in his role until Dr. Garimella begins.  

The ϲͼ Board of Regents is the 12-member governing body that oversees ϲͼ’s public universities — ϲͼ State University, Northern ϲͼ University and the U of A.  Established in 1885, the U of A is a land-grant and Hispanic-Serving Institution. As a leading Research 1 institution, U of A ranks in the top 20 among all public universities with $955 million in annual research expenditures according to the National Science Foundation. It benefits the state of ϲͼ with an estimated economic impact of $4.1 billion annually.

Additional resources: 

  • of Dr. Garimella. Please credit the ϲͼ Board of Regents.
  • Profile of Dr. Garimella. 
  •  from Dr. Garimella to the Wildcat community. 
  • on the selection process.
  • U of A presidential search webpage.

Contact:

abormediarelations@azregents.edu