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University of Arizona selects Suresh Garimella as President

The IIT Madras graduate currently serves as the 27th president of the University of Vermont.

Suresh Garimella. / University of Arizona

The University of Arizona Board of Regents selected Indian American mechanical engineer and university administrator Suresh Garimella as the 23rd president of the university on Aug. 9. He will succeed Robert C. Robbins, who has led the university since 2017, a statrt date is yet to be determined by the board.

Garimella currently serves as the 27th president of the University of Vermont. Prior to this role, he was the executive vice president for research and partnerships at Purdue University. Known for his extensive research and contributions to academia, he has played a pivotal role in expanding and enhancing the research capabilities at both the University of Vermont and Purdue University.

"I am honored to be chosen by the board as the next president of the University of Arizona. I have long admired the U of A and its stature in the state of Arizona and far beyond. The institution demonstrates the best qualities of a land-grant university with exceptional leadership in research and health sciences, highly acclaimed faculty and staff, and a diverse student population comprised of the best and brightest from around the world,” Garimella said.

“There are tremendous opportunities in front of us, and I look forward to collaborating with U of A students, faculty, staff and alumni to build upon our strengths as an institution and continue to lead in excellence here in Tucson and around the world,” he added.

During his tenure as president of the University of Vermont, Garimella stabilized tuition rates and launched a scholarship program akin to the Arizona Promise Program, which offers a tuition-free education to lower-income students from Vermont. He worked to diversify funding sources without raising tuition and used his experience in financial management to help both institutions expand online education offerings.

His leadership extends beyond academia; he is a member of the National Science Board and has served with the U.S. Department of State as a Jefferson Science Fellow and a Senior Fellow in the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas.

"Dr. Garimella is student-focused and considers himself first and foremost a faculty member. With a 35-year career in higher education, Suresh is engaging, a great listener and a collaborative leader," said Arizona Board of Regents chair Cecilia Mata. "Wildcats are part of our state's DNA, and Dr. Garimella has shown he is the right leader at the right time to heal and grow Arizona's land-grant university."

Garimella earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, his master’s degree from The Ohio State University, and his bachelor’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.

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