SURESH GARIMELLA

President
University of Arizona

What attributes of this region attracted you here?

Naturally, the first thing that drew me to this region was the University of Arizona. I have long admired the UA and its stature in the state of Arizona and far beyond. The institution possesses the best qualities of a land-grant university, with exceptional faculty and staff dedicated to the success of a diverse student population and focused on serving Arizona every day through the application of research. I have since spoken to many university community members and supporters, and it’s clear to me how much people care about our success. There are tremendous opportunities ahead of us, and I’m looking forward to working with our local community to build upon our strengths as an institution and continue to excel for the benefit of our community here in Tucson and across the world. Of course, Southern Arizona is beautiful, with a rich history and culture that make it a wonderful place to call home. 

As a newcomer to Tucson, what are your initial thoughts about our strengths?

I have seen so much. On my first day, I got a tour of the Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab where we make the world’s largest mirrors for the world’s largest telescopes. In my third week, I experienced my first UA Homecoming and the unique Bear Down spirit that permeates our community. I have also been learning more about the amazing collaborative efforts between the UA and our partners, such as the Center for Quantum Networks, a national consortium led by our College of Optical Sciences; the Comprehensive Center for Pain and Addiction, which our health sciences division launched with Oklahoma State; and The France-Arizona Institute for Global Grand Challenges, a groundbreaking partnership with France’s national research agency. Through all of this, I’ve seen the passion of the people who live and work here, which I consider one of Tucson’s greatest strengths. On top of all this, Tucson is rightly named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. 

How do you hope to strengthen research and enterprise at the University of Arizona?

The University of Arizona has an admirable history of discovery, innovation and impact. Every day, I am learning more about the many areas of excellence we have, as well as our existing collaborations with local industry. What I’ve seen so far reveals a strong foundation of bringing research to bear on challenges facing our region and beyond. I’m looking forward to working with our UA faculty, staff, students, and community partners in strengthening this foundation as we continue to connect Arizona businesses and entrepreneurs to our university, provide students opportunities to intern at organizations across the state, and translate world-changing research into services and products that will uplift our region.

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