Garimella gets to work with a focus on students

With university leadership, the Pride of Arizona, Wilma and Wilbur Wilcat, and a large gathering of members of the campus community looking on, University President and University Distinguished Professor Suresh Garimella said a top priority of his administration will be student success. 

"We're here because we care about the success of our students and the experience of our students," Garimella said. "That is our North Star."

At an Oct. 2 welcome event on the steps of Old Main, Garimella, the 23rd president of the university, said he will also put a major focus on research and public service – both part of the university's land-grant mission.

"It seems simple to say, but it's really a high calling to keep that land-grant mission in mind in everything we do," Garimella said. "I am here to work with each one of you to move that mission forward and be seen as a partner for everyone in the community."

Garimella comes to the university after serving as president of the University of Vermont since 2019. He now calls Tucson home with his wife, Lakshmi.

The Arizona Board of Regents unanimously approved Garimella's appointment as 23rd U of A president, following a national search led by an 18-member search committee that included regents, U of A faculty and staff, a student, and community and business leaders.

Saying he was eager to get to work, Garimella left the crowd with one important message: The future is bright.

"I sense an anticipation and a great excitement about where we're going to go together, but it's not one person who does it," Garimella said. "It's the entire team, the leadership team, the faculty, the staff, the students. So let's all work together to do great things for this state and for this campus community."

Read more about Garimella and his priorities in a story on the university's news website and view this photo gallery of Garimella's first full day on campus.