Suresh Garimella Appointed as New University of Arizona President

Suresh Garimella is set to become the new president of the University of Arizona, as announced by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) on Friday morning.

Garimella, currently the president of the University of Vermont (UVM), will assume his role as the University of Arizona’s (UA) 23rd president. His appointment follows an extensive search by an 18-person committee to replace the outgoing UA President Robert C. Robbins, who announced his departure in April.

Robbins, who will leave his post by the end of his contract in 2026 or sooner if the regents replace him, faced significant controversies related to UA’s budget and governance. State leaders, including Gov. Katie Hobbs, and university faculty and staff criticized his tenure.

ABOR’s decision to appoint Garimella was unanimous. “I am honored to be chosen by the board as the next president of the University of Arizona,” Garimella said, expressing admiration for UofA’s leadership in research and health sciences, diverse student body, and acclaimed faculty.

ABOR Chair Cecilia Mata praised Garimella as a student-focused, collaborative leader with a 35-year career in higher education. Dr. Cindy Rankin, associate professor of physiology and a search committee member, highlighted Garimella’s ability to unify the campus and build on the university’s strengths.

Months of vetting led to Garimella being the sole interviewee on Friday. The special virtual meeting by ABOR concluded with a vote to move ahead with contract negotiations. ABOR noted Garimella’s achievement at UVM, including guiding the institution to admit the largest first-year class in its history and significantly boosting research funding.

Garimella’s academic and professional journey includes earning his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and leading the University of Vermont through the COVID-19 pandemic while enhancing the institution’s research profile.

Under his leadership, UVM saw a doubling of research efforts and improved state and community relationships. Before UVM, he was the executive vice president of research and partnerships at Purdue University.

Despite focusing on his bold vision and financial discipline at UVM, Garimella now prepares for his next challenge at the UA, an institution currently grappling with a substantial budget deficit and campus-wide discontent under Robbins’ administration.

Thursday’s announcement of Garimella as the sole candidate raised questions about the transparency of ABOR’s selection process. However, the board emphasized the extensive involvement of the community and campus members in shaping the search criteria.

The UA faced a “financial crisis” under Robbins, with significant budget deficits leading to necessary fiscal constraints and leadership changes. His tenure was further marred by controversies, including mishandling campus threats that culminated in the tragic death of Prof. Thomas Meixner.

Garimella’s leadership may bring a new era of financial stability and academic excellence to UA, but he inherits a complex legacy that necessitates careful navigation and strategic vision.

As Garimella prepares to transition from UVM to UA, the university community anticipates his approach to addressing the financial and governance challenges left by his predecessor. The goal remains clear: to elevate the University of Arizona into its next chapter of excellence.