Gov. Dannel P. Malloy today announced that he is appointing Thomas E. Kruger of Greenwich to serve as chair of the UConn Board of Trustees.
Kruger is a partner in the corporate practice of the international law firm of Paul Hastings LLP, and is based in the firm’s New York office. He has served as a member of the UConn Board of Trustees since 2011.
“It has been my privilege to be a part of the unprecedented growth of one of America’s finest public universities these last six years, and I’m humbled by the opportunity to help continue to build UConn into all it can be for the state of Connecticut and the world,” Kruger said. “For all the success it has achieved as a model for teaching, research, public service, and economic impact, I believe the University’s best years lie ahead. I’m eager to work closely with my fellow trustees, President Herbst and her leadership team, our elected officials, and the entire UConn community to realize the University’s full potential.”
Kruger will succeed Larry McHugh in the position of chairman. Earlier this year, McHugh announced his intention not to seek another six-year term on the board.
In his professional work with Paul Hastings LLP, Kruger focuses on corporate finance, securities law matters, and mergers and acquisitions. He has extensive transactional experience representing publicly and privately held entities in acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures, divestitures, public and private securities offerings, and financings. Previously, he served as a managing partner for the New York City firm of Battle Fowler LLP, until its merger with Paul Hastings.
He has been a member and chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board of the University of Detroit, Mercy Law School, and has also been active in his neighborhood and community. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.
“Having served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the past six years and as chair of the Financial Affairs Committee for the last four years, Tom has a firm grasp on the vital role that UConn has in Connecticut as an economic driver for our state, and its standing as one of the nation’s top-rated public universities,” Malloy said. “As someone with a strong background in finance and administration, coupled with his experience working with other institutions of higher education, Tom will be a valuable asset to continue pursuing our critical mission of making Connecticut home to the best educated, most skilled, and most productive workforce in the nation that is in demand by the world’s leading industries.”
The UConn Board of Trustees is the governing body for the University and is comprised of 21 members: 12 appointed by the Governor of Connecticut, two elected by University alumni, two elected by University students, and five ex-officio members, including the Governor, the UConn Health Board of Directors chair, and the Commissioners of Agriculture, Economic and Community Development, and Education.
