February 10, 2016

Dear Members of the Connecticut College Community,

I am very pleased to write with the news that Richard Madonna, currently vice president of finance and operations at Union Theological Seminary, has been appointed the new vice president for finance and administration at Connecticut College. Rich will begin his new role on April 1.

Rich is a certified public accountant with a bachelor of science degree from Quinnipiac University, who has 20 years of experience in finance and operations both in higher education and in the private sector. Ten of those years were spent at Yale University, where he enjoyed a series of increasingly responsible positions in audit and finance, serving the Divinity School, the Office of Research, the Office of the General Counsel, as well as the Yale Entrepreneurial Institute, a venture he co-founded in 2006.

As vice president at Union Theological Seminary since 2010, Rich has been responsible for all aspects of finance and operations for this small independent graduate school, from finance and human resources to facilities and information technology. He has developed innovative approaches to the master plan; upgraded classrooms, study spaces, and food service; implemented collaborative budgeting; enhanced benefits for staff; introduced web-based technologies to improve business processes; and spearheaded new initiatives in the neighboring community. One of these is the Union Food Lab, an incubator he founded in Harlem to help aspiring food professionals launch their own socially responsible and sustainable ventures.

At Connecticut College, Rich will be responsible for the overall leadership and strategic direction of the division of finance and administration. This includes supervising the offices of financial planning, accounting, human resources, facilities management, auxiliary services, dining services, and events, as well as overseeing the College’s 750 acres and 105 buildings. Rich is impressed with the talent and passion of the staff and faculty he has met so far and excited to have the opportunity to work with Conn students. He is also enthusiastic about joining the campus at a time when we are completing a new strategic plan. His arrival in April will, in fact, coincide with the last phase of the planning process. With his extensive management experience, his collaborative nature, and his creative and entrepreneurial drive, he will bring a unique set of skills to the College at this critical moment for our future.

I would like to thank trustee Jonathan Cohen ’87, who chaired the search committee, and all the committee members whose hard work brought about this appointment: trustee Karen Quint ’87; Abigail Van Slyck, dean of the faculty; Ann Goodwin, vice president for advancement; Candace Howes, the Barbara Hogate Ferrin ’43 Professor of Economics; David Jaffe ’77, associate professor of theater; Anne Kelley, assistant director of facilities management; Sal Bigay ’16, president of the Student Government Association, and Wendy Mahon, executive assistant to the President. I also want to express special thanks to Jim Norton, director of facilities management, who has done a wonderful job since November in the role of interim vice president for administration, and to Mary Calarese, director of financial planning, and Amanda Mayfield, controller, for their excellent work during this period of transition.

Rich is an avid photographer and has been actively involved as a youth sports coach in his community. A native of Connecticut, he is very happy to be returning to his home state and looks forward to meeting you when he arrives on campus in April. Please join me in welcoming Rich Madonna to Connecticut College.

Yours,
 
Katherine Bergeron
President