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Board of Regents appoints Natalie Braswell interim chancellor of CSCU
Summary
At a May 26, 2026 special meeting, the Board of Regents approved a resolution appointing Natalie Braswell interim chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and University System through June 30, 2027, with a possible 120-day extension; two abstentions were recorded and the board will continue a national search for a permanent chancellor.
The Board of Regents for Higher Education voted May 26 to appoint Natalie Braswell as Interim Chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and University System (CSCU).
Karen Bufkin, the board secretary, read the resolution appointing Braswell and specifying that the interim appointment runs through June 30, 2027, and "may be extended for a period of up to 120 days by mutual agreement," with authority granted for the board chair and general counsel to negotiate an employment agreement.
The appointment was put to a motion that was moved and seconded and then approved by voice vote; the transcript records two abstentions but does not record the names or a numeric tally of the yes votes. The chair asked the record be marked for the two abstentions and announced that "the motion is approved and Ms. Braswell is appointed."
Ari Santiago, chair of the Board of Regents, outlined the board's selection process and praised Braswell's experience. "From that pool, we narrowed down to two highly credible finalists through a criteria driven evaluation conducted by the full board," Santiago said, describing a candidate pool of 17 and a deliberative evaluation. He added that CSCU "needs steady, effective leadership" and said of Braswell: "Natalie brings a pragmatic, action oriented approach and a proven ability to step into complex challenges during times of transition." He noted her recent service as Governor Lamont's general counsel and prior roles including Connecticut State Comptroller and senior positions at the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
The chair said the board remains committed to a transparent national search for a permanent chancellor and described the interim role as focused on stabilizing operations, supporting institutional leadership and working with financial officers on budget and planning.
The meeting began and proceeded as a special session with no public session in accordance with the posted agenda; the board moved into executive session under state law (referenced in the meeting as "1:200, subsection 6E of the General Statutes" and "CGS 1:210B") and reconvened to take the public action recorded above. The meeting adjourned at 5:23 p.m. Eastern.
Next steps: the board said it will continue its national search for a permanent chancellor and carry forward the interim leader's work on governance, financial planning and an independent review; no additional implementation timeline was specified in the meeting transcript.
