History

Seventeen individuals have held the title of President of the University of Connecticut since 1893. In the University’s first dozen years, as the Storrs Agricultural School, its chief administrator held the title of Principal.

Benjamin F. Koons was Principal until 1893, when the title was changed to President, and the Storrs Agricultural School became Storrs Agricultural College. Solomon Meade was Principal from the founding of SAS from 1881 to 1882. Henry P. Armsby served as acting Principal in 1882, while Koons was acting Principal from 1882 to 1883.

Radenka Maric

Radenka Maric
2022 - President

Thomas Katsouleas

Thomas Katsouleas
2019 - 2021

Susan Herbst

Susan Herbst
2011 - 2019

Michael J. Hogan

Michael J. Hogan
2007 - 2010

Philip E. Austin

Philip E. Austin
1996 - 2007

Harry J. Hartley

Harry J. Hartley
1990 - 1996

John T. Casteen III

John T. Casteen III
1985 - 1990

John A. DiBiaggio

John A. DiBiaggio
1979 - 1985

Glenn W. Ferguson

Glenn W. Ferguson
1973 - 1978

Homer Babbidge, Jr.

Homer Babbidge, Jr.
1962 - 1972

Albert N. Jorgensen


Albert N. Jorgensen
1935 - 1962

Charles McCracken

Charles McCracken
1930 - 1935

George A. Works

George A. Works
1929 - 1930

Charles L. Beach

Charles L. Beach
1908 - 1928

Rufus W. Stimson

Rufus W. Stimson
1901 - 1908

George W. Flint

George W. Flint
1898 - 1901

Benjamin F. Koons

Benjamin F. Koons
1883 - 1898*

Solomon Mead

Solomon Mead
1881 - 1882*

* Although Solomon Mead was the first institutional leader of what would become the University of Connecticut, he never actually held the title “president.” A New Haven farmer, Mead was appointed principal of the school in 1881 and retired a year later. His successor, Benjamin Koons, also held the title “principal” until 1893, when Storrs Agricultural School became Storrs Agricultural College, at which point Koons was formally given the title “president.”

Acting Presidents

Edwin O. Smith
April – September 1908

Charles B. Gentry
1928 – 1929; May – October 1935

Edward V. Gant
July – October 1969; 1972 – 73; 1978 – 79

Harry J. Hartley
July 1987; July – December 1990

Philip E. Austin
June 2010 – May 2011

Presidents Emeritus

Benjamin F. Koons

Charles L. Beach

Albert N. Jorgensen

Harry J. Hartley

Philip E. Austin