Dr. Andrew Agwunobi, chief executive officer of UConn Health and interim president of UConn, announced that he is resigning his position in an email to the UConn community earlier this morning.
“I am sad to let you know that after more than seven wonderful years here at UConn Health and UConn, I will be stepping down as interim president of the university and CEO of UConn Health next month to assume a leadership position at Humana, a private sector healthcare company,” Agwunobi wrote in the letter.
Agwunobi stepped up to serve as interim-president of UConn following the brief tenure of Thomas Katsouleas, who resigned in May of 2021.
“While I am excited about this new opportunity, the decision to leave UConn and UConn Health was extremely difficult,” Agwunobi wrote. “This is an amazing university and a special place. It has truly been an honor to serve as a leader and to work with all of you.”
Agwunobi was among some of the highest paid state employees, taking in $812,790 in 2021 as president and CEO of UConn Health.
In a press statement, Gov. Ned Lamont thanked Agwunobi for his service to the state and wished him well in his new role.
“Dr. Agwunobi has helped steer UConn and UConn Health through unprecedented times, all while overseeing significant growth in research and enrollment,” Lamont said. “I have immense confidence in the UConn Board of Trustees and Chairman Dan Toscano as they search for a permanent replacement to lead UConn into the future.”
Following the resignation of Katsouleas, Connecticut Public Radio reported that emails between the UConn president and the Board of Trustees showed growing tension related to scholarships for low-income students — called the Connecticut Commitment — along with issues related to COVID protocols, tuitions hikes and the school’s fiscal woes during the pandemic.
According to UConn Today, the Board of Trustees will begin a search for a new university president and, Radenka Maric, vice-president for research, innovation and entrepreneurship, will take the position of interim president as Agwunobi transitions to the private sector.
“Our Huskies will remain in good hands,” Lamont said.
**This article was updated to include Gov. Lamont’s statement, salary details and Connecticut Public Radio’s report**
