Mun Y. Choi *72 appointed Provost and EVP at UConn
Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to announce that I have appointed Mun Y. Choi *72 as Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Connecticut, following a national search.
Mun has served in this role on an interim basis with great distinction since June and is one of the most capable and effective individuals I have encountered in higher education. He has been an invaluable trusted colleague and one of the most outstanding leaders we have here at the University. His time at UConn has been marked by determination and results as he aggressively pursued our priorities on every front, both as Dean of the School of Engineering and as interim Provost.
He has clearly demonstrated that he will operate according to the highest standards when it comes to leading a global university. I know that I join many others in admiring his exemplary service to UConn and am delighted that he will continue in this permanent position.
Mun joined UConn as Dean of Engineering and Professor of Mechanical Engineering in 2008. He came from Drexel University where he served as Department Head of Mechanical Engineering and Associate Dean for Research. He was a faculty member in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Illinois from 1994 to 2000 and was a NRC post-doctoral fellow at NIST from 1992 to 1993.
He received his Ph.D. and M.A. in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University and his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Mun is a PhD graduated from Dryer's group and MAE in the early 90’s, and has made truly stellar contributions to academic administration and education over the years. Even more impressive are his continuing research contributions to NASA microgravity sciences as he has pursued these endeavors.
During his tenure as Engineering Dean at UConn, undergraduate applications to the department increased by 124%, the number of undergraduate degrees awarded increased by 64%, research awards increased by 143% and more than $23.5 million was secured toward capital campaign goals.
He has nearly two decades of experience in developing innovative research programs that are nationally competitive; original educational programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels to attract and retain students; and in building industry partnerships and private philanthropy to grow and support faculty, students and staff.
As UConn’s Provost and Executive Vice President, he serves as the University’s chief academic officer responsible for all academic initiatives and programs, overseeing academic and institutional strategic planning, and plays a leading role in the budgeting and allocation of University resources.
He oversees academic policies and procedures, academic program planning and implementation, administration of the research enterprise, program assessment, enrollment management, student success initiatives, graduate education, institutional research, public engagement, university libraries, university information technology systems and services and academic personnel management.
I would like to express my thanks to Professor Cameron Faustman and the entire search committee for their diligent and thoughtful work throughout the entire search process.
These are challenging and exciting times at our University. I am thrilled to have someone of Mun’s caliber on our leadership team as we build a growing record of excellence as an institution – and undertake the great tasks that lie ahead.
Please join me in congratulating Mun and his wife, Suzanne, on his appointment.
Sincerely,
Susan Herbst, President
University of Connecticut
