Southern Connecticut State University announces the search for its Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and invites expressions of interest, nominations, and applications from employees of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (“CSCU”) system.
Southern seeks as its Provost a seasoned academic leader and administrator with strong faculty credentials and a broad and thoughtful understanding of higher education. The successful candidate will be strongly committed to Southern’s mission of “academic excellence, access, social justice, and service for the public good” as well as to the success of the students it serves. The new Provost will work with Dr. Sandra Bulmer, who has served as a faculty member for fifteen years, the Dean of the College of Health and Human Services for eleven years, and currently serves as Interim President in her twenty-seventh year at the institution. Southern expects the new Provost to provide creative, visionary, and collegial leadership grounded in a deep commitment to the academic enterprise and growth as a Research 2 university.
Current Approximate Timeline
| Date | Milestone / Task |
|---|---|
| Early March 2026 | Interviews with internal semi-finalist candidates. |
| Mid-March 2026 | Committee discusses finalist interviews. |
| Late March | Finalist interviews on campus. |
Following semi-finalist interviews, the search may be expanded to include external applicants, in which case the above may be modified. The university community will be informed through this website and the university email once dates are confirmed. Further information regarding Search Committee activities will be posted below under “Updates.”
Committee Members
Elliott Horch, Chair of Commitee, CSU Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Physics
Kauther Badr, Professor, Management
LaKecia Freeman, University Human Resources Administrator
Nick Gleifert, Associate Director of Admissions, Marketing, and Events
Amy Jansen, Associate Librarian
Andrew Kim, Major Gift Officer
Eric Lessne, Associate Vice President for Capital Budgeting and Facilities Operations
William Moroz, Student Government President
Allison O’Leary, Interim Director of Integrated Communications and Marketing
Troy Paddock, CSU Professor, History
Sergio Perez, Vice President of DEI
Ken Rahn, Deputy Chief, Campus Police
Betsy Roberts, Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences
Angela Ruggiero, Director, Center for Pre-Professional Programs
Dan Swartz, Professor, Health and Movement Sciences
Thierry Thesatus, Associate Dean of Career and Student Success
Carlos Torre, Professor, Curriculum and Learning
Christopher Trombly, Dean, College of Education
Jane Velez, Administrative Assistant
Ayanna Walker, Associate Dean of Health and Human Services
Mufu Weng, Budget Director
Mark Wursthorn, Graduate Student
Updates
02/12/2026 – The Search Committee completes anti-bias training and officially begins reading applications.
For Questions
Please reach out to the chairperson, Elliott Horch, horche2@southernct.edu.