Joseph on the verge. Governor’s spokesman front-runner for CSCU vice chancellorship.

Governor Ned Lamont’s spokesman has emerged as the likely choice to fill the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) new vice chancellorship position. Adam Joseph, a veteran Democratic government communications hand, worked for Senate Democrats and Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz before landing in Lamont’s office. Joseph did two tours with Bysiewicz, the first when she filled her calendar with visits to Democratic town committees as secretary of the state for three fruitless terms.

The title grows more preposterous with each day. The position is an ordinary lobby-the-governor-and legislature sinecure with communications duties soldered to it. The jumped up name is one more misstep as Terrence Cheng, whose title was changed from President to Chancellor, continues to struggle in addressing the troubled higher education system.

The popular Joseph’s experience in the legislative and executive branches of state government may help Cheng find his footing after a calamitous beginning this year. The legislature added tens of millions to Lamont’s CSCU budget proposal.

Legislative leaders were astonished at Cheng’s public displays of ingratitude at their advocacy for the state’s largest education system. It has not been forgotten.

And now these ridiculous titles. Do Cheng and the members of the Board of Regents not know who was history’s most infamous chancellor? Yes, him. Ninety years ago. Changing a some titles will do nothing to address Connecticut’s demographic decline. It is no strategy for filling expensive empty classrooms around the state.

Published September 8, 2023.