Presidential Search Process Update

June 07, 2023

Submitted By: Office of Marketing and Communication

The Board of Regents is poised to begin the search process for a new president of the University of Hartford.

The University is pleased to announce that the search committee chair will be Regent Michael Daglio ’91, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Hartford HealthCare (HHC). WittKeifer, a premier search and leadership firm in higher education, has been selected as the search firm.

Acting President Stephen Mulready M'77 is set to lead the University for one year, with UHart’s seventh president expected to begin in July 2024.

As chair of the search committee, Daglio will lead a diverse group of University constituents in creating an inclusive process, soliciting feedback from the campus community and stakeholders, and evaluating potential candidates who best align with UHart’s culture and long-term vision. The committee will play an essential role in stewarding an intensive, transparent, and nationwide search that prioritizes the University’s values and mission. With assistance from WittKeifer, members will vet finalists and make a recommendation to the University’s Board of Regents on the selected candidate who will lead the University into the future.

Representing our community, the Presidential Search Committee members are:

Michael Daglio '91 (Chair, Regent)

Mike Davis (Staff)

Pearl Douglas (Regent)

David Gordon ’75 (Regent)

Aaron Issacs (Cabinet)

Martin John ’92, M’94 (Regent)

Deborah Koltenuk (Regent)

Kayon Morgan (Faculty)

Hashini Mohottala (Faculty)

Maliqa Mosley-Williams ’24 (Student)

Jeremiah Patterson M'00 (Faculty)

Kate Pendergast (Cabinet)

Lisa Read (Staff)

Annette Rogers M'02, D'11, P'10 (Faculty)

Paul Sittard ’85 (Regent)

Tanya Taupier (Regent)

Peter Tedone (Regent)

Daglio has long engaged with UHart as an alumnus and local business leader at HHC, one of the largest health-care systems in New England. HHC serves as a generous strategic partner of the University, providing health services on campus, professional athletic training, and clinical rotations and internships for students. The organization directly supported the development of the University’s new HHC Immersive Simulation Center, replicating a hospital floor and providing nursing students with training in realistic health-care scenarios. But Daglio’s connections to UHart extend even further.

“I’m honored to be leading the search for the next president of UHart, a place that means so much not only to me, but also to my entire family,” Daglio explains. “My mother worked here for more than 20 years, and my three siblings are also alumni. The University of Hartford has played such a prominent role in my life and helped me pave the way for the career I have today. I’m happy to be able to pay it forward to current students and the University community in this new and significant way.”

The next steps in the search process will begin in earnest this summer. A search website is being developed and updates will be regularly shared with the University of Hartford community.