CSCU Chancellor Cheng Announces Contract Extension for CT State Community College President Dr. John Maduko

Today, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) Chancellor Terrence Cheng announced that he has reappointed Dr. O. John Maduko as President of Connecticut State Community College (CT State) for a four-year term beginning June 3, 2025. Dr. Maduko has served as the inaugural president since June 2022 following the merger of the state’s 12 community colleges.

“This past year and a half – as one community college – has been one of growth and innovation. Since the start of his tenure, Dr. Maduko has hit the ground running, building a strong foundation for CT State’s continued success. Under his leadership, CT State received its accreditation, expanded access to free tuition, and established new partnerships with business and community leaders,” said CSCU Chancellor Terrence Cheng. “I am excited to continuing to partner with him on identifying ways to increase enrollment, connect students to new opportunities, and enhance our program offerings.”

“We have so much to be proud of during our first year and a half as a unified single-accredited institution. While we have implemented a number of initiatives that further support student success, diversity, and workforce development, there is more work to be done to ensure we continue to meet the educational and career aspirations of our students,” said Dr. John Maduko, President of CT State. “I look forward to continuing to work with the Board of Regents and Chancellor Cheng in providing our students with a high-quality education that sets them up for unparalleled success. I also commend our dedicated administrators, faculty, and staff who tirelessly lead this vital work on our campuses every day.”

“Dr. Maduko has been a steadfast leader of CT State and its students, putting access, excellence, and inclusion at the forefront of every decision and initiative. His efforts have helped open new doors for students, by providing them with more than 300-degree offerings and a path to change their lives for the better,” saidMarty Guay, Chair of the Connecticut Board of Regents. “I congratulate him on his reappointment and look forward to working with him on building on our success and identifying new ways to provide students with an innovative, affordable high education.”

“Dr. Maduko’s commitment to the success of CT State and its students is unmatched. Throughout his tenure, he has championed efforts to build one, unified community college that is rooted in access, opportunity, and excellence,” said Juanita James, Vice Chair of the Connecticut Board of Regents. “I am excited to continue to work hand-in-hand with him on helping our students achieve their educational and career aspirations.”

Under Dr. Maduko’s leadership, CT State earned accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), establishing a comprehensive and statewide community college with 12 campuses and multiple satellite locations across Connecticut.

In its inaugural year, CT State served more than 64,000 students in credit and non-degree workforce programs, making it the Northeast’s largest community college and the sixth-largest nationwide. CT State held its first series of commencement ceremonies in May and conferred 5,844 credit degrees and certificates alongside 2,516 workforce development credentials.

Notable achievements during CT State’s inaugural year and a half of operations, along with President Maduko’s nearly three-year tenure, underscore the collaborative efforts of leadership, faculty, staff, and students, and highlight the college’s transformative influence on higher education in Connecticut.

Key accomplishments include:

• A four percent increase in enrollment for CT State’s fall 2024 semester, marking the first year-over-year growth since fall 2012. This includes consistent enrollment gains among Hispanic, Black, and adult students, reflecting the college’s commitment to fostering inclusive access to higher education.
• Increasing participation in Connecticut’s free tuition initiative, which now serves more than 59% of CT State students assuring affordability and access.
• Enhancing mental health and wellness counseling services across its 12 main campuses to provide comprehensive and accessible support for students’ well-being.
• Establishing the CT State Police Department, achieving Tier I POST-C Accreditation. The department has also expanded its team of sworn officers to support campus safety and foster greater public trust.
• Expanding CT State’s advanced manufacturing training facilities statewide, enhancing the college’s ability to meet growing workforce demands in this critical industry.
• Solidifying CT State’s position as the leading producer of professionals in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and information technology, meeting the state’s evolving economic and workforce demands.
• Developing a comprehensive, college-wide equity and civil rights framework, advancing CT State’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
• Achieving more than a 70% increase in diverse faculty and staff hires and earned national recognition with the 2024 Insight into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award.
• Launching the CT State Compliance Office, reinforcing the college’s dedication to transparency, ethical governance, and regulatory compliance across all operations.

Before his appointment at CT State, Dr. Maduko was the vice president for academic and student affairs at Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State), Minnesota's fifth-largest community college, and a member of the 33 institutions and 380,000 students Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System (Minnesota State). He has served in various leadership roles, from chief academic officer to vice president to vice chancellor to dean to professor, for two-year and four-year institutions in Minnesota, Texas, Florida, and Georgia.

Widely involved in professional, academic, and community organizations, Dr. Maduko serves on the College Board - Community College Advisory Panel, the ADL Connecticut - Regional Board of Directors, the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) - Advisory Committee of Presidents, the Connecticut Presidents’ Council, Governor Lamont’s Workforce Council, the Greater Hartford Urban League, Connecticut’s Office of Manufacturing Cabinet, and the National Council of State Directors of Community Colleges (NCSDCC).

Dr. Maduko earned his M.D. in allopathic medicine from St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine and a bachelor’s degree in biology from California State Polytechnic University Pomona, one of only three polytechnic universities in California.

Dr. Maduko and his wife, Amanda, are the proud parents of Giovanni, Giuliana, and Luca.