by Brandon Arcari, Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont announced Monday a finalist candidate to replace Tom Sullivan as its president. Sullivan, who plans to step down in Summer of 2019, is likely to be replaced by Suresh Garimella, who currently serves as Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships at Purdue University. He is also a PhD in mechanical engineering.
Garimella is the only finalist for the position.
Dr Suresh Garimella, Purdue University photo.
Garimella will be at UVM February 13-15, for a series of meetings and open-forum interactions with constituency groups across the university, according to a memo sent to the UVM community by UVM Board Chair David Daigle.
“Dr Garimella emerged clearly as a compelling candidate whose accomplishments align with our collective vision for the presidential leader who will best serve, and continue to advance, our University in the years to come,” Daigle said in the release.
In Garimella’s cover letter, published on the University's website for the search, he highlights his “breadth of experience as an active faculty researcher and educator — in senior university administration, in government service, and through [his] service on non-profit and private sector boards,” as a foundation for work at UVM.
“I believe in effective, consistent and timely communication with all internal stakeholders as being vitally important to building trust and morale,” he wrote. “Communications with legislators, alumni, parents, thinktanks, federal agencies and other influencers need different skills and modes, but each constituency is important in its own way.”
A criticism levied at the outgoing President Sullivan by student groups at UVM was a perceived lack of focus on diversity and inclusion, culminating in a list of demands, protests and marches, that had students blocking Main Street and occupying the Waterman building on UVM’s campus.
Garimella addressed diversity and inclusion in his cover letter, writing that “no organization can reach its true potential without nurturing diversity in an inclusive environment.”
He discussed focus on enriching hiring pools and consistently sending the message from the top-down about a commitment to diversity and inclusion on a college campus.
“If the Board authorizes UVM to enter into an agreement with Dr Garimella, that would be done in open session, although there may be an executive session discussion prior to any vote,” Daigle said in an email exchange with Vermont Business Magazine.
“As to the specific date an authorizing resolution would be adopted, we would expect it to be no earlier than the conclusion of his visit on February 15, and potentially up to a week or two after that, as we coordinate scheduling.”
Daigle declined to speculate about what would happen should the Board not approve an authorizing resolution, but said that the Board would remain committed to finding the best possible 27th president of UVM they could find.
Garimella received his PhD from the University of California at Berkeley, an MS from The Ohio State University, and a bachelor's degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras.
Board of Trustees |
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February 4, 2019 |
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From: David A. Daigle, Chair Board of Trustees To: University of Vermont Community Re: Presidential Search Update
I write to share exciting news. Our search for a new president has identified an exceptional sole finalist who will be coming to campus on February 13-15, 2019, for a series of meetings and open-forum interactions with constituency groups across the University. Dr. Suresh Garimella is Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships and the Goodson Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University. Previous administrative experience at Purdue University includes appointments as the Chief Global Affairs Officer and as the Associate Vice President for Engagement. In 2010, the U.S. Department of State appointed Dr. Garimella as a Jefferson Science Fellow to serve as a Science Advisor in the International Energy Office. He also served for six years as a Senior Fellow in the State Department’s Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas, and as the State Department delegate to the International Energy Agency. Dr. Garimella has a long list of honors and awards, including appointment as a member of the National Science Board. He is co-author of over 500 publications and 13 patents. Dr. Garimella earned his Ph.D. at the University of California Berkeley, his M.S. from the Ohio State University, and a bachelor’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. The leadership profile that our academic community helped shape states that UVM’s next president “should have a demonstrated record of advancing academic excellence in all respects, and of implementing a compelling and inspiring intellectual vision for the University.” The president should “have a history of organizational leadership, the ability to build and cultivate financial support for the University and its programs, and a demonstration of accomplishment in creating and supporting a climate of openness, understanding, and mutual respect.” Dr. Garimella emerged clearly as a compelling candidate whose accomplishments align with our collective vision for the presidential leader who will best serve, and continue to advance, our University in the years to come. Today’s announcement represents an important step in our search process. Following the campus visit, the Board will decide if it has the confidence that Dr. Garimella will succeed in leading our University. If so, the Board will vote to authorize his appointment. I am grateful for the engaged community representation and participation in the candidate vetting process. I am indebted to the faculty, students, staff, Foundation and alumni representatives, and trustees who agreed to serve on the search committee. I wish to thank as well the hundreds of University community members who participated in the process by helping shape the leadership profile document with their invaluable input. Lastly, I value greatly the role that faculty members, administrative and academic leaders, and trustees played by interviewing candidates in the most recent vetting stage. We had over 90 outstanding individuals apply for our presidency. The search committee personally interviewed 10 of the most highly qualified candidates in this exceptional pool. Candidate confidentiality requirements necessitate that we not identify publicly the entire group of outstanding finalists. More detailed information about the schedule for finalist meetings and open forums will be sent to the entire University community and posted on the search website shortly. I hope as many people as possible will be able to meet Dr. Garimella and share their input with the Board of Trustees. For additional information about Dr. Garimella, please see his biographical information on his website at Purdue University, and his application materials on the Presidential Search website. |
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OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES |