{{Short description|Indian-American mechanical engineer}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Suresh Garimella | image = Suresh Garimella 2021.png | caption = Garimella in 2021 | office = 23rd President of the [[University of Arizona]] | term_start = October 1, 2024 | term_end = | predecessor = [[Robert C. Robbins]] | successor = | office2 = 27th President of the [[University of Vermont]] | term_start2 = July 1, 2019 | term_end2 = July 2024 | predecessor2 = Tom Sullivan | successor2 = [[Patricia Prelock]] (interim) | birth_date = 1964 or 1965 {{citation needed|date=January 2025|reason=Where do these number come from?}} | birth_place = [[Nedunuru]], India | death_date = | death_place = | education = [[IIT Madras]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br>[[Ohio State University]] ([[Master of Science|MS]])<br>[[University of California, Berkeley]] ([[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]]) | module = {{Infobox scientist | embed=yes | fields = Mechanical engineering | workplaces = {{plainlist| * [[Purdue University]] * [[University of Vermont]] * [[University of Arizona]] }} | alma_mater = | thesis_title = An investigation of the thermal and hydrodynamic characteristics of an array of protruding elements in single phase forced convection | thesis_url = https://www.proquest.com/docview/303726099/ | thesis_year = 1989 | doctoral_advisor = Pamela A. Eibeck }} }}
'''Suresh Garimella''' ({{IPAc-en|s|ˈ|ɛ|h|ɛ|ʃ}}) is an [[Indian Americans|Indian American]] [[Mechanical engineering|mechanical engineer]] and university administrator serving as the 23rd president of [[The University of Arizona|University of Arizona]] since 2024. Previously, Garimella was the 27th president of the [[University of Vermont]]. Before assuming the presidency in 2019, Garimella was executive vice president for research and partnerships at [[Purdue University]].
== Early life and education == Garimella was born in [[Nedunuru]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-08 |title=Vermont Quarterly Fall 2019 issue by University of Vermont - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/universityofvt/docs/vq_fall_19_issuu_ab8974ede9aabc |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=issuu.com |language=en}}</ref> His parents did not have a college education.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Edgar |first=Chelsea |title=Suresh Garimella Has Helped UVM Emerge Stronger From the Pandemic. But Who Is He, Anyway? |url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/suresh-garimella-has-helped-uvm-emerge-stronger-from-the-pandemic-but-who-is-he-anyway/Content?oid=37040664 |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Seven Days |language=en}}</ref>
In 1985, he earned his [[Bachelor of Science|B.S.]] in mechanical engineering from [[IIT Madras]], which he has described as "much more intense than MIT."<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Professor Suresh Garimella, PhD - Editorial Board - Energy Conversion and Management - Journal - Elsevier |url=https://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy-conversion-and-management/editorial-board/journals.elsevier.com/energy-conversion-and-management/editorial-board/professor-suresh-garimella-phd |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Elsevier}}</ref> He then received an [[Master of Science|M.S.]] from [[Ohio State University]] in 1986, followed by a [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] from [[University of California, Berkeley]] in 1989, both in mechanical engineering.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="Pume">{{cite web |title=Suresh V. Garimella |url=https://engineering.purdue.edu/CTRC/research/Garimella_homepage.php |website=Cooling Technology Research Center |publisher=Purdue University School of Mechanical Engineering |access-date=16 January 2021}}</ref>
== Career ==
=== Purdue University === At [[Purdue University]], Garimella was executive vice president for research and partnerships and the Goodson Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering. He also served as Purdue’s chief global affairs officer. He was the founding director of the Cooling Technologies Research Center.
In 2018, Garimella was appointed as a member of the [[National Science Board]] by the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/staff/staff_bio.jsp?lan=sugarime&org=OCE&from_org=OCE|title=Suresh V. Garimella {{!}} NSF - National Science Foundation|website=www.nsf.gov|access-date=2019-08-21}}</ref> He was named a Jefferson Science Fellow by the [[United States Department of State]] in 2010 in the Obama administration.<ref name="auto" /> He has also was a Science Advisor in the [[International Energy Agency]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/Jefferson/PGA_056555|title=JSF - Suresh Garimella|website=sites.nationalacademies.org|access-date=2019-08-21}}</ref>
=== University of Vermont === Garimella became the president of the [[University of Vermont]] on July 1, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Suresh Garimella to Become Next University of Vermont President |url=https://www.uvm.edu/uvmnews/news/suresh-garimella-become-next-university-vermont-president |access-date=2019-08-21 |website=www.uvm.edu |language=en}}</ref>
He had received criticism for the university's plan to terminate select [[humanities]] programs which led to the creation of UVM United Against the Cuts, where over 3,000 people voiced their lack of confidence.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ruehsen |first=Ella |date=2021-04-13 |title=Thousands voice no confidence in Garimella administration as grievances mount |url=https://vtcynic.com/news/thousands-of-students-faculty-and-staff-voice-no-confidence-in-garimella-administration/ |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=The Vermont Cynic}}</ref> His administration had faced pushback for its response to a [[United States Department of Education|Department of Education]] investigation into [[antisemitism]] on campus,<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Auria |first=Peter |date=2022-09-15 |title=President pushes back on allegations of antisemitism at University of Vermont |url=https://vtdigger.org/2022/09/15/president-pushes-back-on-allegations-of-antisemitism-at-university-of-vermont/ |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=VTDigger |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Edgar |first=Chelsea |title=UVM President Denies Allegations of Antisemitism on Campus |url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/uvm-president-denies-allegations-of-antisemitism-on-campus/Content?oid=36490651 |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Seven Days |language=en}}</ref> and over the cancellation of a planned guest lecture by [[Palestinians|Palestinian]] author [[Mohammed el-Kurd|Mohammed El-Kurd]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hellman |first=Rachel |title=Records Show UVM Professors Questioned Decision to Nix Palestinian Writer's Appearance |url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/news/records-show-uvm-professors-questioned-decision-to-nix-palestinian-writers-appearance-39777348 |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=Seven Days |language=en}}</ref>
=== University of Arizona === On August 9, 2024, Dr. Garimella accepted the position of President of the [[The University of Arizona|University of Arizona]].<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://news.arizona.edu/news/suresh-garimella-be-23rd-university-arizona-president |title=Suresh Garimella to be 23rd University of Arizona president |access-date=2024-08-09}}</ref> He assumed office on October 1, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet President Suresh Garimella, the U of A's newest Wildcat {{!}} University of Arizona News |url=https://news.arizona.edu/news/meet-president-suresh-garimella-u-newest-wildcat |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=news.arizona.edu}}</ref> In April 2025, Garimella garnered national attention after implementing sweeping changes to the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, including removing several administrative DEI roles and eliminating references to DEI from institutional policy documents.<ref>{{Cite web |title=University of Arizona eliminates DEI statements and offices |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-education/2025/04/06/university-of-arizona-eliminates-dei-requirements/712345678/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=azcentral.com}}</ref> The move was met with criticism from civil rights groups, student organizations, and faculty, who characterized the actions as politically motivated and aligned with broader national efforts to restrict DEI programming in public education.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Garimella's DEI rollback sparks backlash at UArizona |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/university-arizona-rollback-dei-under-fire |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Inside Higher Ed}}</ref>
== Awards and honors == In 2025, Garimella was elected to the [[National Academy of Engineering]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Academy of Engineering Elects 128 Members and 22 International Members |url=https://nae.edu/331605/NAENewClass2025 |access-date=2025-09-23 |website=NAE Website |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-aca}} {{s-bef|before=Tom Sullivan}} {{s-ttl|order=27th|title=President of the [[University of Vermont]]|years=2019–2024}} {{s-aft|after=[[Patricia Prelock]] (interim)}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Robert C. Robbins]]}} {{s-ttl|order=23rd|title=President of the [[University of Arizona]]|years=2024–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Garimella, Suresh}} [[Category:Presidents of the University of Vermont]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Indian mechanical engineers]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Purdue University faculty]] [[Category:IIT Madras alumni]] [[Category:Ohio State University College of Engineering alumni]] [[Category:UC Berkeley College of Engineering alumni]] [[Category:American mechanical engineers]] [[Category:21st-century Indian engineers]] [[Category:21st-century American engineers]] [[Category:21st-century American academics]]