Governor Lamont Selects Shari Cantor as Chair of the UConn Board of Trustees

(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is selecting Mayor Shari Cantor of West Hartford to serve as chair of the University of Connecticut Board of Trustees, the governing body overseeing Connecticut's largest public university.

A graduate of the UConn School of Business, Mayor Cantor has served as a board member since 2014 and is widely regarded as one of strongest advocates in Connecticut for UConn and its students. She was inducted in the UConn Business Hall of Fame in 2017.

"In selecting a board chair, I want someone who not only has extensive experience with UConn and knows its academic and administrative needs, but who also has strong connections to Connecticut's business community and will actively work to strengthen the bonds between the university and our state's employers so that our graduates are prepared with the resources they need to lead successful, long-lasting careers," Governor Lamont said. "Shari Cantor is the right person to lead the board, and her input is going to significantly benefit the university and its mission to develop the graduates who will flourish in today's rapidly evolving, modern economy. Shari bleeds Husky blue, and I look forward to having her serve in this leadership role."

"As a proud UConn graduate, I am deeply honored to take on this responsibility," Mayor Cantor said. "UConn has played an extraordinary role in my life and in the lives of so many Connecticut families. Public service has always been a deeply meaningful commitment for me, and I see this opportunity as another way to give back to a university and state that have given me so much. I thank Governor Lamont for his confidence and Dan Toscano for his many years of dedicated leadership, service, and commitment to UConn's success. I look forward to working collaboratively with President Radenka Maric, my fellow trustees, faculty, staff, students, and alumni to build on UConn's remarkable momentum, expand opportunities for our students, and strengthen the university's impact on Connecticut and beyond."

A native of West Hartford, Mayor Cantor attended Hall High School and graduated magna cum laude from UConn with a degree in accounting in 1981. Her family has deep roots in UConn. In addition to all three of her siblings graduating from the university, her husband Michael Cantor also attended UConn, graduating in 1980 with a degree in chemical engineering and earning a juris doctor degree from UConn School of Law in 1983. Michael taught courses at the School of Law for more than 20 years and now serves on advisory boards for the School of Engineering and the School of Law. Additionally, two of their four sons also went to UConn.

Upon graduation, Mayor Cantor began working as a certified public accountant, first at PwC and then at Cigna. An interest in public service led her to win election to the West Hartford Town Council in 2004, followed by becoming the town's deputy mayor in 2012. She became mayor of West Hartford in 2016 and continues to serve in this unpaid, volunteer leadership position.

Together, Shari and Michael's dedication to UConn and its future has led them to give back to the university in numerous ways. Working with the UConn Foundation, they helped create Build Hartford, a UConn course that matches undergraduate and graduate students with Hartford-area start-ups, local businesses, and community organizations, giving them hands-on experience while fostering economic development and encouraging the retention of university talent in the Greater Hartford region. They also have been active supporters of the university's Students First program, which provides emergency financial assistance to UConn students facing unexpected hardships.

In addition to her service with UConn, Mayor Cantor has an extensive resume of volunteer and leadership experience with organizations such as the American Heart Association of Northeastern Connecticut, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, West Hartford Rotary, Foodshare, the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, the West Hartford Art League, and the American School for the Deaf.

Mayor Cantor's selection to serve as board chair takes effect immediately. She will succeed Dan Toscano as board chair. Toscano served in the leadership position since 2019 and stepped down from the role this week.

"Over the past seven years, Dan Toscano's leadership on the board has helped strengthen UConn and elevate its reputation as one of the best universities in the country, contributing to a record-breaking surge in applications from aspiring Huskies across the nation," Governor Lamont said. "I applaud Dan for his eighteen years of service on the UConn Board of Trustees and the UConn Foundation Board of Directors, and I am grateful for his commitment and dedication to the university."

The UConn Board of Trustees is comprised of 21 members: twelve appointed by the governor; two elected by alumni; two elected by students; and five ex-officio, including the governor, the UConn Health Board of Directors chair, and the commissioners of Connecticut Department of Agriculture, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, and Connecticut State Department of Education. All the members serve as unpaid volunteers.