Mark Ojakian, President of Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, will retire in January

Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) President Mark Ojakian announced Wednesday plans to retire, effective Jan. 1, 2021.

After more than 40 years of public service, Ojakian, 66, decided not to extend his contract as the organization’s president. He said felt it was time to move on and “pass the torch to the next generation of leaders.”

Ojakian, who was born in Hartford and grew up in West Hartford, completed his studies in New Hampshire and Washington D.C. He returned to Connecticut after graduate school to help care for his father, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Ojakian worked as waiter for three years, before his mother cut out a job advertisement for an Office of Legislative Research analyst in the local newspaper. He began his career through that job in 1980.

Before spending five years as CSCU’s president, Ojakian held a number of positions in local government, serving as Gov. Dannel Malloy’s chief of staff, Office of Policy and Management deputy secretary, and deputy state comptroller.

As CSCU president, Ojakian led 17 institutions of higher education, 9,000 employees and over 100,000 students, while managing a $1.3 billion operating budget. He expressed confidence in CSCU’s Board of Regents and the organization’s leadership to continue the initiatives that began under his leadership, including the Students First, which aims to consolidate the state’s 12 community colleges into a single accredited institution.

“There’s always work that’s going to be unfinished but I think that the board…the team is positioned incredibly well to continue the momentum that I think I was able to begin,” he said.

Board of Regents Chair Matt Fleury said in a statement, “President Ojakian has been extraordinarily effective in leading Connecticut’s colleges and universities in the best interests of our students and our state. He has maintained a steadfast commitment to the Board’s vision for quality, affordable, equitable higher education by focusing on student success and the sustainability of these valued institutions.”

Fleury also said that the board will launch a national search to determine President Ojakian’s successor and an interim plan will be put in place until a permanent president is installed.

Gov. Ned Lamont called Ojakian “intelligent and knowledgeable,” crediting him with bringing stability to a system that was “in turmoil.”

“Of course, significant challenges continue, and I am gratified to hear that the Board of Regents remains committed to implementing the important changes started under President Ojakian, especially Students First,” said Lamont in a statement. “Our community colleges are critical to the state’s economic future. We need to ensure not only that every campus remains open and operational, but that they make strides toward reducing chronic inequities. Students First will do just that, and I am committed to working with the CSCU leadership team to ensure it is fully enacted.”

Ojakian said his focus for the next for months is making sure CSCU institutions reopen safely, with the best public health protocols in place, as well as continuing to help students with transpiration, childcare, schooling costs, and mental health.

“I will continue to give 100% of my effort until I actually retire at the end of December,” he said.

As for his retirement plans, Ojakian said he looks forward spending more time with his husband, children, and grandchildren.