June 23, 2022

Dear Members of the Connecticut College Community,

I am writing to let you know that Rich Madonna, vice president for Finance and Administration, will be leaving the College to take a new position as senior vice president for finance at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. His last day will be Aug. 1.

Since he came to Connecticut College in 2016, Rich has been responsible for the overall leadership and strategic direction of the Division of Finance and Administration, including supervising the offices of budgeting and financial planning, accounting, capital projects, facilities management, dining services, events and catering, and auxiliary operations as well as overseeing the College’s 750 acres and 105 buildings.

During his time at Conn, Rich oversaw the growth of the College’s endowment from $273 million to nearly $450 million. He supervised the implementation of the College’s strategic plan and the development of the 20-year campus master plan. And he was instrumental in the design and completion of several key projects, including the Athey Center for Performance and Research at Palmer Auditorium, the Hale Center for Career Development and the Walter Commons for Global Study and Engagement, as well as the Stark Center for the Moving Image and the redesign of the Thames River waterfront, now underway. He steered the College through the financial challenges of the pandemic, helped us to become a leader in sustainability and ensured Conn met the Board of Trustees mandate of balanced cash operating budgets every fiscal year.

With his extensive management experience, collaborative nature and entrepreneurial drive, Rich helped strengthen the College at a critical moment in our history, and I am grateful for his service.

We are now beginning the process of finding his successor as well as a leader to serve in an interim capacity. You will hear from me in the coming weeks about both.

Please join me in thanking Rich and wishing him well in his next endeavors.

Yours,
 
Katherine Bergeron
President