The Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education has appointed an interim president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities.  Jane McBride Gates will start in the new year and fill the spot role until a permanent replacement can be found.  Mark Ojakian is retiring at the end of the year as the system moves toward consolidating the state’s 12 community colleges into one.  Gates served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at West Conn and previously held leadership roles at Savannah State University in Georgia and Arkansas State University.