Estela R. López

Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs
Connecticut State University System

Estela R. López, the former provost and vice president for academic affairs at Northeastern Illinois University is the current Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for the Connecticut State University System.

Dr. López is responsible for coordinating the academic affairs of the four Connecticut state universities – Central Connecticut State University, Eastern Connecticut State University, Southern Connecticut State University, and Western Connecticut State University.  López also serves as the chief liaison to the leadership of the universities and to the state’s Board of Governors for Higher Education, in addition to assisting the chancellor in a wide range of other responsibilities.

López had served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Northeastern Illinois since 1997.  Prior to joining NEIU, López served as a senior associate at the American Association for Higher Education and as a senior fellow at the American Council on Education while on a year-long sabbatical.

From 1990 to 1995, López was vice president for academic affairs and planning at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico.

Born in Cuba and raised in New York City, López earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish literature at Queens College in 1963.  She then attended Columbia University, where she earned both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Spanish literature.

The Hispanic Caucus of AAHE awarded her the Distinguished Leadership in Higher Education Award.  She is also the recipient of the Illinois Latino Council in Higher Education Distinguished Service Award.

In 2004, the mayor of Hartford asked Lopez to co-chair his Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education.  This commission is working to increase by 25% the number of Hartford Students going on to a four-year college or university.  She will continue as co‑chair of the Implementation Team.