University of Bridgeport Appoints New Interim President

Stephen Healey, PhD, has been appointed the Interim President of the University of Bridgeport as announced today by Board Chair Robert L. Berchem, Esq. The appointment, effective immediately, is a result of the resignation of Laura Skandera Trombley as president, who has accepted a position as president of Southwestern University that will also allow her to be closer to a family member who needs her care.

Healey, who most recently has served as provost and vice president for Academic affairs, has held positions of increasing responsibility since he joined the University in 1998 as a member of the faculty. His previous roles at the University include associate provost, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, and other service positions.

Healey served as the lead negotiator of the transfer of assets from the Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing to the University of Bridgeport. Through collaboration with other academic leaders and faculty, he has helped to create fifteen new academic programs.

We look forward to working with Dr. Healey, a longstanding and respected member of the UB community, as the University looks to make its mark on the new decade by preparing students for the careers of tomorrow, expanding student opportunity and access, and shaping the future through visionary leadership, community, and collaboration,” Berchem said.

Trombley will continue in an advisory role to the Interim President through June 2020.

“I want to thank Laura for her innovative leadership as president of the University of Bridgeport. During her presidency, she initiated several significant changes, including the implementation of the three-college structure, an increased focus on connecting education to career, and the creation of The Heckman Center for The Bridgeport Plan,” Berchem said. Healey added, “I wish Laura well as she takes the next step in her career. I will value her counsel in the coming months. I look forward to working with the University community in this time of transition.”