Dr. O. John Maduko is the inaugural President of Connecticut State Community College, Connecticut’s largest institution of higher education, the largest community college in New England, and the primary driver of access and post-graduate success for more than 60,000 students across multiple campuses and training facilities throughout Connecticut.
Provost Levy Brown and President Maduko attended a Strategic Workforce Session at Hartford HealthCare’s headquarters in downtown Hartford. Hartford Healthcare leaders from across their system and Connecticut convened to assess and discuss workforce needs over the next 5-10 years. Their goal was to develop action steps that can be implemented now, near and far. CT State is a key academic partner and the provost and president spoke about partnership and how both groups are working together to address Connecticut’s healthcare professionals shortage.
President Maduko held a two day Cabinet retreat out of CT State Tunxis Community College campus where the group assessed strategic priorities, the upcoming inaugural spring semester, and how they can further work to stabilize the new college.
This fall, President Maduko represented Connecticut State Community College at Washington D.C. to engage with national stakeholders on the impact of faculty-led instruction and programming and staff-driven services on students and communities across Connecticut. The trip included visiting the U.S. Department of Education and meeting Luke Rhine, Deputy Assistant Secretary, and J. Noah Brown, Senior Advisor for the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education.
President Maduko joined Provost Brown and Capital CEO Harris to virtually sign a partnership with Morehouse College that aims to streamline the transfer process for students interested in attending one of the preeminent all-male HBCU's in the United States.
President Maduko had the honor of visiting W. F. Kaynor Technical High School led by their great principal, Dr. Kenneth Hillard. Kaynor’s senior culinary students prepared lunch and shared their college and career aspirations. In turn, President Maduko shared information about CT State's four stellar culinary programs at Gateway, Manchester, Naugatuck and Norwalk.
President Maduko visited CT State Capital and attending the Herencias Latinas Hispanic Heritage Month event where playwright and awarding author Quiara Alegria Hudes met with students for most of the day in. She capped the evening with an intimate conversation at the Hartford Stage and moderated by Melia Bensussen, their Artistic Director.
In mid-October, President Maduko was honored to serve as faculty for the Presidents' Round Table at the 2023 Thomas Lakin Institute of Mentored Leadership. He presented on finance essentials and shared his experiences as the higher education sector navigates the challenging financial landscape.
Attending his first Connecticut Talent Assistance Cooperative (CONNTAC) 56th Annual Meeting, President Maduko celebrated student scholarship and the advocacy by the CONNTAC staff and their board.
At the 2023 Association of Community College Trustees Leadership Congress, President Maduko joined Joliet Junior College President Clyne Namuo, Bucks County Community College President Felicia Ganther, and Northland Pioneer College President Chato Hazelbaker, to present and lead a panel discussion on The Presidential Search Process from Four Presidents Who Took the Job. They all provided a candid breakdown of their respective experiences during a presidential search process, what was appealing about their institutions, the challenges that presidential candidates face during the process, and advice for trustees and regents who are actively seeking presidents and chancellors.
President Maduko represented the State of Connecticut with Provost Levy Brown, CT State Quinebaug Valley campus CEO Dr. Karen Hynick along with colleagues from the Connecticut State Department of Education and the Connecticut Department of Labor. They attended one of the four Biden-Harris Administration’s nationwide Unlocking Pathways Summit series. The final summit was in Biloxi, Mississippi where they learned from State/Economic Development/Workforce/K12/Community College leaders and representatives from Alabama and Mississippi on their shared regional exemplars that support students with disabilities to pursue competitive integrated employment and further connecting their education and workforce systems to support youth employment.
In September, President Maduko had the honor of visiting Albertus Magnus College in New Haven and meeting with their President, Dr. Marc Camille. Honoring their history and legacy while reimagining future opportunities for students is at the core of Marc’s leadership. President Maduko looks forward to equitable transfer partnerships at CT State.
President Maduko attended the 2023 Rise Gala, where the International Festival of Arts and Ideas theme of “Lost in New Haven” celebrated their 28th year as being part of New Haven's vibrant cultural history. He joined U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro, SCSU's James Barber and Community Economic Developer Lindy Lee Gold.
In an interview with Natasha Lubczenko, host of CT Style on WTNH News 8, President Maduko discussed the upcoming inaugural fall semester of CT State Community College. As CT State gears up for an extraordinary academic journey, President Maduko was excited to share updates on the start of this groundbreaking semester.
