Beleaguered bon vivant Terrence Cheng picks Democratic loyalist as CSCU general counsel–after national search, of course.

Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) conducted a national search for a general counsel and found the winner–that’s right–in Connecticut. Terrence Cheng, denizen of posh Hartford restaurants, passenger in tuition-financed limousines–announced Thursday that Democratic loyalist Karen Buffkin will be leaving the University of Connecticut to join the beleaguered bon vivant at the central office of the 85,000 student system.

Buffkin served as counsel to the historically unpopular Democratic governor Dannel P. Malloy in his second term. As Malloy’s tenure came to an end in 2018, Buffkin was given a first class ticket in the hackerama and safe passage to a job at the University of Connecticut that last year paid $256,000.

Cheng was at UConn’s Stamford campus until he was named President of CSCU in 2021. Last year, the Board of Regents approved changing Cheng’s title to the grander title of Chancellor.

Buffkin’s experience includes navigating labor relations at the UConn Health, which no one on her side of the bargaining table can characterize as a success.

Buffkin begins her new job on November 29th. Cheng may not be at his $442,000 a year job to greet Buffkin on her first day.

Published October 31, 2024.