°®¶ą´«Ă˝ announces Anne D’Alleva as eighth president
University of Connecticut provost to lead °®¶ą´«Ă˝ into new era
Anne D’Alleva was selected as the next president of °®¶ą´«Ă˝ in a vote by the State University of New York Board of Trustees on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. D’Alleva, currently the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the University of Connecticut, is scheduled to begin her duties on Nov. 1, 2025.
“I am deeply honored to accept the position of president of °®¶ą´«Ă˝ and to join the distinguished SUNY system,” D’Alleva said. “°®¶ą´«Ă˝ has a remarkable tradition of academic excellence, research innovation and community engagement, and I am inspired by the dedication of its faculty, staff and students. I look forward to working collaboratively with campus and community partners to build research strength, expand opportunities for students, enhance alumni involvement and advance the University’s impact in New York, the nation and the world.”
D’Alleva is an accomplished academic leader who has focused on advancing student success and has engaged in multidisciplinary and collaborative efforts to expand UConn’s work in AI and quantum technologies, partner with the state’s tribal nations, and expand academic offerings at the university’s four regional campuses. D’Alleva has led UConn’s academic enterprise, including strategic planning, budgetary management, faculty development and curriculum innovation across the university’s 14 schools and colleges. She leads transformative initiatives that support student success, faculty excellence and institutional impact.
“My time at UConn has been profoundly rewarding, and I will carry forward the values of excellence, collaboration, inclusion and service that have shaped my leadership,” D’Alleva said. “My sincerest thanks to Chancellor John King, to Chairman Merryl Tisch and all members of the SUNY Board of Trustees, to Chair Kathryn Madigan and all members of the °®¶ą´«Ă˝ Council, and to the °®¶ą´«Ă˝ Presidential Search Committee for placing their trust in me. Together, we will write the next exciting chapter in °®¶ą´«Ă˝â€™s story, rooted in excellence and a bold vision of the future. It is a privilege to lead such a vibrant and ambitious university.”
The first woman to serve as provost in UConn’s history, D’Alleva had previously served as dean of the School of Fine Arts since 2015 and first joined the UConn faculty as a joint appointment to Art History and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies in 1999. She received her B.A. in Art History from Harvard University, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Art History from Columbia University with a graduate certificate in feminist theory.
The °®¶ą´«Ă˝ Council guided the work of the 21-member Presidential Search Committee comprised of faculty, students, alumni, the °®¶ą´«Ă˝ Foundation, presidents from other SUNY institutions and a non-voting liaison from the SUNY Chancellor’s Office. The committee used feedback from the University community as it evaluated candidates and sent its recommendations to Chancellor King and the Board of Trustees.
“We are thrilled to welcome our new °®¶ą´«Ă˝ President, Dr. Anne D’Alleva,” said Kathryn Grant Madigan, chair of the University Council and Presidential Search Committee. “Her deep experience, vision, energy and warmth will enable her to build on the foundational successes of Harvey Stenger to new levels of academic excellence and prominence.”
“I want to offer my heartiest congratulations to Anne D’Alleva on being selected as °®¶ą´«Ă˝â€™s next president,” said President Harvey Stenger. “She brings with her a reputation as a multidisciplinary collaborator in research and scholarship, a leader in expanding and enhancing Connecticut’s facilities, and an administrator who has developed innovative solutions to support student success. I wish Anne the best in her time as °®¶ą´«Ă˝ president, and I look forward to many future successes for the University, its people and the local community.”
Holistic student success has been one of D’Alleva’s priorities at Connecticut. She established a vice provost for student success to enhance this work and reorganized cultural centers and offices such as the Dean of Students, the Center for Students with Disabilities and Student Activities to better connect these initiatives with academics. Additionally, D’Alleva established a partnership with a food share program to establish food pantries on all seven UConn campuses.
“We are honored to welcome President Anne D’Alleva to the °®¶ą´«Ă˝ community,” said Faculty Senate Co-Chairs Julien Panetier and Laura Hawkes. “This transition is both a moment of continuity and an invitation to new possibilities. Together we share responsibility for advancing knowledge, fostering innovation and shaping future leaders. We look forward to working in partnership as we embrace the opportunities and challenges ahead.”
During her time as the dean of the School of Fine Arts, D’Alleva led a five-fold increase in research funding and founded the Krenicki Arts and Engineering Institute, which strives to offer classes in areas such as entertainment engineering and industrial design and allows for new pathways of creativity and breakthroughs in research and scholarship. Additionally, she created a research cluster in arts and human rights and established a School of Fine Arts Advisory Board and a Recent Alumni Council to better connect faculty and students with graduates.
“On behalf of the University Foundation Board, I would like to thank the University Council as well as the students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members who participated in the search process,” said Foundation Board Chair Stuart Koenig. In addition, the entire Foundation Board welcomes and looks forward to working with our new president to continue to elevate °®¶ą´«Ă˝ to even greater heights.”
Prior to her arrival at UConn, D’Alleva completed postdoctoral fellowships at Australian National University and through the Getty Foundation. She received additional research funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the College Art Association. Her books Fundamentals of Art History (3rd ed., 2021) and Methods and Theories of Art History (3rd ed., 2021) have been published in multiple languages worldwide.
“This marks an exciting new chapter for °®¶ą´«Ă˝ as we welcome a president whose vision, energy and dedication stood out throughout the search,” said University Council Student Representative Irene Cui. “We are eager to see the inspiration and momentum their leadership will bring as we move forward.”
D’Alleva has been actively engaged with organizations including the American Association of Colleges and Universities, the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, the National Association of College and University Business Offices, the College Art Association of America and programs such as academic leadership development through the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
Additional support for D’Alleva
“Under the leadership of President Stenger, the University has emerged as one of America’s top public ivies. I am really looking forward to working with °®¶ą´«Ă˝â€™s new President to build on this success. We are all excited about what the future will bring.” - New York State Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo
“I want to thank President Harvey Stenger for his years of dedicated and visionary leadership at °®¶ą´«Ă˝. His commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and community engagement has left a lasting legacy on the institution and our region. As we welcome the incoming President, I extend my full support and confidence in their ability to continue building on this strong foundation, advancing the progress and expanding the positive community and state impact of °®¶ą´«Ă˝ for generations to come.” - New York State Senator Lea Webb
“This announcement couldn’t have come at a more fitting time. The University is already abuzz with excitement as students move onto campus and classes get underway, and the announcement of our new president carries with it that same start-of-the-school-year energy: one marked by optimism, enthusiasm and the promise of new possibilities. Like a student embarking on a new and exciting journey, °®¶ą´«Ă˝ is excited to start a new chapter in our storied history, and we’re confident that Anne D’Alleva can lead us in the right direction – ensuring that students have what they need to succeed in an ever-changing world, advocating for our faculty, and elevating °®¶ą´«Ă˝â€™s status as a premier research institution across the globe. Throughout the search process, Anne has demonstrated the qualities and skills that the leader of a unique university like °®¶ą´«Ă˝ demands. We are excited to welcome them to campus and lead us toward further growth and success for our students, faculty, staff, community and beyond.” - Professional Staff Senate Chair Andre L. Mathis ’09, MPA ’12