Arizona Board of Regents Taps New Visionary Leader for University of Arizona

By Daniel Stefanski |

Arizona’s University of Arizona has named Dr. Suresh Garimella as its 23rd president, an announcement made on Friday by the university and the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR).

Dr. Garimella transitions from his current role as president of the University of Vermont. His prior experience includes serving as Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships at Purdue University.

The decision came with a unanimous vote from ABOR. Expressing his excitement, Dr. Garimella stated, “I am honored to be chosen by the board as the next president of the University of Arizona.” He emphasized U of A’s distinguished reputation in research and health sciences and its diverse student population. Dr. Garimella is eager to collaborate with the U of A community to further the institution’s excellence.

ABOR Chair Cecilia Mata highlighted Dr. Garimella’s student-focused approach and collaborative leadership style, affirming him as the right fit to advance Arizona’s land-grant university.

Dr. Robert C. Robbins, the university’s current president since 2017, announced his intent to step down earlier this year. President Robbins welcomed Dr. Garimella to Tucson, commending his extensive experience and readiness to guide the university.

Dr. Garimella’s academic credentials include a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, an M.S. from The Ohio State University, and a bachelor’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, according to the press release by the Arizona Board of Regents.

Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.