Board President
Dr. Robert A. Kennedy was appointed by Governor Dannel P. Malloy as Interim President of the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education on August 22, 2011, and was recommended for a full appointment by the Board of Regents for Higher Education on January 19, 2012. On February 29, 2012, he was confirmed as President by the Connecticut State Senate.
Dr. Kennedy served as the President of the University of Maine from April 2005 to June 2011. He joined the University of Maine in 2000 as Vice President for academic affairs and provost, served as its Executive Vice President from August 2001 to August 2004 and also served as an Interim President from August 2004 to April 2005.
One of the hallmarks of his presidency in Maine was inter-institutional collaboration, as well as bringing together academic institutions and companies in various sectors, effectively promoting public-private partnerships. Those collaborations spurred economic development, provided new academic opportunities for students, and improved the efficient use of resources.
During his academic career, he held numerous positions at colleges and universities across the country including the University of Iowa, Washington State University, The Ohio State University, the University of Maryland and Texas A&M University. He also served with the U.S. Army.
Immediately before coming to UMaine, he served for eight years as Vice President for Research and Associate Provost for Graduate Studies at Texas A&M. While at A&M, Dr. Kennedy was a member of the Government/University/Industry Research Roundtable at the National Academy of Sciences and was a founding director of NASA's National Space Biomedical Research Institute.
Dr. Kennedy graduated from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 1968 and earned a Ph.D. in Botany from the University of California-Berkeley.
Executive Vice President
As Commissioner, Mr. Meotti was responsible for the Department of Higher Education, which developed public policies guiding Connecticut's higher education system, conducted research and analysis, reviewed proposals for licensing and accrediting academic programs and institutions, regulated private occupational schools, made recommendations regarding public college and university budgets and tuitions and fees, and directed the Alternate Route to Teacher Certification as well as several student financial aid and college-preparatory programs. As an ex officio member of the Connecticut State Board of Education, he has worked closely with policy-makers and education officials on P-20 issues such as high school reform and teacher certification.
Mr. Meotti has an extensive background in public policy, having served as President of United Way of Connecticut and President of the Connecticut Policy and Economic Council. He served eight years in the State Senate, during which he was Assistant Majority Leader and vice-chair of the Education Committee.
His distinguished record of public service includes work in higher education, having chaired the Board of Governors' Tuition Policy Review Committee from 2002-05 and served on the Board of Governors' Public Agenda Advisory Council from 1997-98. He has been a visiting lecturer in public policy at Trinity College and was president of the Manchester Community College Foundation from 1998-2002.
Mr. Meotti earned his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
