Chargers Care – Special Issue

STUDENTS & ALUMNI • 4

STUDENT SERVICES • 10

FACULTY & STAFF • 8

ALUMNI MAGAZINE

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s r e g r a Ch e Car

IN THE MEDIA • 12

FROM THE PRESIDENT

What We Are Made Of It is difficult to imagine a “pre-COVID-19” era.

The past several months have been a time of great hardship for all of us: as individuals, as a nation, and as a global community. We are looking forward to the day when we can resume some semblance of normal activity; however, when that will be is impossible to predict.

In today’s “new normal,” the University of New Haven is applying the same creativity, work ethic, and ingenuity that have marked our first 100 years to meet these unprecedented times head on. We are making bold and strategic decisions, reimagining new and different ways of doing business. The way in which we will stay connected with you, our readers, is no exception.

In this context, we have planned a series of digital editions of the University of New Haven Alumni Magazine through the summer months and into the fall as we strive to preserve our remarkable and unique sense of community. We look forward to returning

to a print edition of the University magazine later this year, a commemorative edition which will celebrate the institution’s Centennial anniversary and set the stage as we welcome the next century.

STEVEN H. KAPLAN

We embrace audacity.

We embrace hope. And we stand side by side, knowing that together, we will emerge from this stronger than ever.

One of my favorite book titles is “The Audacity of Hope,” written by President Barack Obama and published in 2006. I believe that this idea — that we can find courage and optimism in the face of difficulty — has an application far beyond politics. Today, we find ourselves at a crossroads. We can allow the crisis to paralyze our thoughts, or we can use it as an opportunity for new ideas and creative initiatives to solve old problems. What you will see in this special issue of the University of New Haven Alumni Magazine is that Charger Nation comprises individuals with great resolve and determination — attributes that make us lean in to, not hide from, the challenges we will continue to encounter during these uncertain times.

With best wishes,

Steven H. Kaplan, Ph.D. President

Associate Vice President for Marketing & Public Relations Doug Whiting ALUMNI MAGAZINE

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Editor in Chief Elizabeth Rodgers, erodgers@newhaven.edu Vice President for Enrollment & Student Success Gregory E. Eichhorn Vice President for University Advancement Stephen J. Morin

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Director of Alumni Relations Heather Alpaugh, halpaugh@newhaven.edu

John Mordecai, Laura Norris, M.S., Alicia Post Lindstadt, MBA, Sue Pranulis, M.S. Design Chris Teodosio

President of the Alumni Board of Directors David Galla ’99

Photography Roger & Heather Castonguay, Len Rubenstein, Don Hamerman

Contributors Renee Chmiel M.S., Dave Cranshaw, MBA, Susan Dowd, Tyler Hanson M.S., Matthew McCullough, M.A., Kellie McLaughlin, M.S., Carolyn Meyer,

The University of New Haven Alumni Magazine is published twice per year by the Office of Marketing & Communications. Its mission is to connect alumni and other members of the University community to the University and to one another.

Reach us at: The University of New Haven, 300 Boston Post Road, West Haven, CT 06516 or at magazine@newhaven.edu.

The University of New Haven is committed to equal access to educational and employment opportunities for all applicants, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, color, personal appearance, marital status, civil union status, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, or physical or intellectual disability. ©2020 University of New Haven. All Rights Reserved. For permissions, please contact erodgers@newhaven.edu.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Features

Students & Alumni

Student Services

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Faculty & Staff

In the Media

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Students & Alumni Critical Technologies Pentair, where alumnus

John Jacko, Jr. ’88 serves as

At the Epicenter

executive vice president and chief growth officer, has mobilized to contribute critical technologies that are being used to help COVID-19 patients.

Paramedicine student Doug Schmidt ’22 is volunteering as an emergency medical technician 24 to 36 hours a week in Vermont’s epicenter in Chittenden County through Shelburne Rescue and working another 24 hours at Bristol Rescue Squad, Inc.

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STUDENTS & ALUMNI

Human Nature In reflecting on the overwhelming amount of loss in the world today, Rutchlor Louis ’22, an exercise science major, espouses that we, as a society, can learn from this experience and make changes without sacrificing our social identity. “Change is inevitable,” he says, “but we can’t let those changes dehumanize us.”

CEO of SC Tech Company Blackbaud Forgoes Paycheck in Response to Coronavirus Alumnus Mike Gianoni ’92 EMBA,

Face Shield Production

CEO of Blackbaud, says he is foregoing his paycheck during the coronavirus pandemic. Among the other measures Gianoni announced were a donation to the World Health Organization and UN Foundation and the release of free educational resources to help organizations manage the crisis.

Sean O’Brien ’97, alumnus of the University of New Haven Business Administration Program, is the vice president of Precision Metal Products Inc. He has started production on face shields to be distributed to local state hospitals to protect our health care workers as they combat COVID-19.

Field Hospital for Non-Coronavirus Patients Built at SCSU

A Compassionate Caregiver After witnessing the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color, Jahnovia Wheatley ’23, a pre-med student, is eager to become a healthcare provider who will advocate for her patients. Wheatley says she feels more driven than ever to help address the ongoing disparities in the U.S. healthcare system and the racial, social, and economic barriers that negatively affect the health of all people.

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University of New Haven graduate Rick Fontana ’99 is the emergency management director for the City of New Haven.

He is overseeing the effort, in collaboration with FEMA, to convert public college and university facilities into emergency medical sites and lodging to prepare for the anticipated increase in COVID-19 cases. We thank Rick for his dedicated leadership.

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Supporting FEMA Response Jake Sibilski ’21, a double major in paramedicine and biology, is a former member of the U.S. Coast Guard where he worked part time in American Medical Response’s (AMR) New Haven Division and as an emergency department technician at Yale New Haven Hospital. When AMR deployed several members to New York City as part of the COVID-19 FEMA response, Sibilski volunteered to resume his position and help fill the resulting empty shifts.

Army Reservist Deployed to “Hot Spots” Rocely Urizar ’21 is currently activated.

A national security major, Urizar joined the U.S. Army Reserves as an operating specialist in 2016.

She and her unit are now being sent to locations considered “hot spots” for COVID-19 to support the response.

Director of Safety and Engineering

On the Front Line of Local Response Caitlin Sculley ’15 MHA has brought her clinical background, leadership skills, and dedication to caring for patients and health care providers to her new role as part of Yale New Haven Hospital’s response to the pandemic.

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Brian Ohler ’20 spent 12 years serving in the Connecticut Army National Guard. Now a student in the University’s homeland security and emergency management program, Ohler is also the associate director of safety and engineering at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, Connecticut, working on the front lines of the local response to COVID-19.

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STUDENTS & ALUMNI

Telehealth Technology Melanie Rooney ’21 adds a direct care component to her lab research in the University’s Cellular and Molecular Biology graduate program through her work at Catholic Health Services in her hometown of Long Island, New York. Rooney works as a telehealth technician setting up equipment in the homes of COVID-19-positive elderly patients to monitor key health and wellness indicators. This equipment has Bluetooth capabilities, which allows a dedicated team at the hospital to monitor this information remotely.

PPE 3D Printing Graduate student Ryan Assini ’21, currently studying cellular and molecular biology at the University, has used at-home technology and his knowledge of 3D printing to produce what he describes as “ear savers,” pieces of plastic that health care workers can use to alleviate discomfort and improve fit while wearing PPE masks. To date, Assini has donated more than 1200 of these mask components.

Mobile Testing Tiffany Hidalgo ’21, a graduate student in the University’s cellular and molecular biology program, works as a phlebotomist at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut. In this role, Hidalgo assists with patient intake at the hospital’s mobile COVID-19 testing site and provides direct care to COVID-19positive patients admitted to the hospital.

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Faculty & Staff Video Message to Our Students University of New Haven alumni, faculty, and staff recently submitted video messages of solidarity to our students, who finished out the remainder of the semester (and in some cases, their college experiences) virtually. It is in these moments that we find our strength and prove to ourselves, and to one another, what it takes to be a Charger.

3:42 / 3:56

Biology Professor, Public Health Graduate Student

Facilities Staff Are Unsung Heroes

Raising a Voice for the Vulnerable During the Coronavirus Pandemic

During Coronavirus Pandemic The behind-the-scenes work of facilities employees is crucial to maintaining and cleaning

In an opinion piece published in Puerto Rico’s most widely read newspaper, lecturer Yanice MendezFernandez ’21 MPH, called on officials to not forget the displaced and homeless populations affected by COVID-19.

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campus for the ultimate return of students and, in the meantime, the local emergency personnel who are calling campus home as they respond to COVID-19.

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FACULTY & STAFF

University of New Haven Supports First Responders During Coronavirus Pandemic As local public safety professionals and emergency personnel work to keep the community safe during the COVID-19 outbreak, the University of New Haven is doing its part to help support their efforts by offering critically needed temporary housing in its residence halls.

Dr. Kaplan Only Current University President Appointed to Governor’s Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group University of New Haven President

Steven H. Kaplan, Ph.D., was asked to be part of the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group’s Education Committee, which is being co-chaired by former Yale president Richard Levin.

PPE Donations School of Health Sciences Staff member Ezequiel Alvarez-Figueroa, R.D.H., MHA, prepared dental center supplies for donation in response to COVID-19. Supplies were donated to West Haven and Connecticut Region 2 Emergency Management for distribution to local health care providers.

University’s Biomedical Engineering Program Working to Address Potential Medical Equipment Shortages During Coronavirus Outbreak Dr. Kagya Amoako and his students are using 3D-printing technology to develop innovative solutions for the possible lack of critical equipment health care providers need to treat patients affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cyber Forensics Research and Education Group Develops Resource to Provide Real-Time Information During COVID-19 Pandemic Under the direction of Ibrahim Baggili, Ph.D., a team of students worked day and night to develop a website and app that provide information to the public about everything from local COVID-19 cases to store inventories of essential items.

Visit their website, PandeMICs, to learn more.

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Student Services Stop & Shop and the Campus Pantry Stop & Shop stepped forward with a large donation in support of the Campus Pantry earlier this year. Recognizing the hardships that students and their families face as a result of COVID-19, Stop & Shop recently doubled that contribution. Because the pandemic led to the University’s physical Campus Pantry closure, the program quickly shifted to providing electronic gift cards to students in need across the nation.

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STUDENT SERVICES

Graduate Students Support One Another During Pandemic

Career Development Center Continues to Provide Same Support and Resources Virtually

Recognizing that COVID-19 could present financial challenges for its classmates, the Graduate Student Council is providing support to students in need. Its efforts are one of many ways Chargers are helping Chargers during this unprecedented situation.

While students are now searching for jobs and internships from home, staff members in the University of New Haven’s Career Development Center are continuing to provide a comprehensive offering of trainings, workshops, office hours, and other career services online.

University’s Staff Therapy Dog Continues to Bring Comfort — Remotely By connecting with students on Instagram, Brue, a member of the University’s Counseling and Psychological Services team, is still making students smile while endeavoring to give them a sense of calm. Keep up with Brue’s adventures at @dogsinthehalls.

ChargerREC Takes Fitness and Recreation Into the Virtual World ChargerREC is helping the campus community stay fit and connected through exercise classes, activities, and programs that are all offered completely online, including the following:

USGA Steps Up The Undergraduate Student Government Association has taken many steps to ensure the well-being of its peers. Using emergency funds, the USGA has reimbursed a portion of public transportation costs that students incurred while retrieving their belongings after the University closed its campus because of the pandemic; continued to provide weekly gift cards to students as part of its Food Insecurity Initiative for places such as Target, Amazon Pantry, and Whole Foods; funded undergraduate student bursary employees for wages lost due to COVID-19; and applied its remaining emergency funds to support University prorated room and board reimbursements.

See for Yourself Want to get a feel of what campus life is like at the University of New Haven without having to travel?

Try out our virtual tour.

• “Ask a Trainer” live Q&A • Yoga, meditation, and wellness talks • “Household HIT” and “QuaranTraining” at-home workout sessions • Video game ladder and esports tournaments • Viewing parties for popular TV shows Find ChargerREC on social media to learn more about these and other ChargerREC virtual offerings.

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IN THE MEDIA Follow more stories about students, faculty, and staff HERE.

“Look at TV shows that have laugh tracks. Maybe they’ll do the same thing at games.”

Gil Fried, J.D., professor and chair of sport management, suggested that the “new normal” for sports may extend far beyond rules and regulations.

Vahid Behzadan, Ph.D., assistant professor of computer science and data science, spoke to Forbes Magazine about his research in developing methods for enhancement of vaccination strategies leveraging recent advances in artificial intelligence, particularly in reinforcement learning techniques.

“Remember, a core component of the Constitution and the Revolution was to build a system where the government could not easily use the military internally.”

“Americans value liberty and privacy greater than everything else. One of the reasons that this pandemic has been so hard for our society is that responding to this crisis requires infringements upon both.”

Summer Johnson McGee, Ph.D., CPH, penned an op-ed on sacrificing privacy on the route to normalcy.

Matthew Schmidt, Ph.D., associate professor of national security and political science, forecasted the changes to come in terms of how the U.S. might begin to approach national security in support of the overtaxed civilian health care system.

“We had an extremely mild winter on the East Coast which means it is a bad year for ticks. Overall, right now, it’s a ‘perfect storm.”

Eva Sapi, Ph.D., professor of cellular and molecular biology and director of the University’s Lyme Disease Research Group, warns people looking to head outdoors after three months of quarantine about a possible collision course between COVID-19 and tick-borne illnesses this summer.

“If you have a rubric that says quality engagement means a student is going to push a conversation forward — that they’re not going to repeat what the previous person has said — then you have to model that.”

Jenna Sheffield, Ph.D., assistant provost for curriculum innovation, discussed the challenges faculty face in creating continuity and promoting vibrant discussion in the new landscape of live virtual classrooms.

“Do things to build a sense of community and shared emotional connection — things that help us feel some control over a very uncontrollable situation.”

Melissa Whitson, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, talked about how to combat “quarantine fatigue.”

Patrick Gourley, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics and business analytics, and Brian Marks, J.D., Ph.D., senior lecturer of economics and business analytics, participated in an #AskReuters Twitter chat series to provide tips about navigating unemployment in the world of COVID-19 as individuals and as small business owners, respectively. A summary of this sage advice was picked up by The New York Times.

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How Can I Help?

The pandemic and the resulting economic uncertainty have already begun to affect our students and their parents. There are many ways to support our Charger Community during these challenging times.

Together, we are #ChargingAhead!

WAYS TO HELP

The Charge Ahead Student Fund Chargers from across the globe have asked how they can help in this time of crisis. In response, the University has created the Charge Ahead Student Support Fund, which provides support for the urgent needs of our students resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. This fund will support technology for remote learning, travel, food, housing and medical expenses, and other emergency needs.

Learn more

The Centennial Scholarship Fund The Centennial Scholarship Fund was established in honor of the University’s 100th year.

It was created to provide grants to high-achieving students who needed funding to “cross the finish line” to graduation, usually because of a family or financial crisis.

The outbreak of COVID-19 and the resulting economic downturn have already begun to affect our students and their parents. Help us help those who have worked so hard to achieve their dream of a University education, by giving them the support they need — sometimes just a few thousand dollars — to complete their studies in the face of these challenging and difficult times.

Learn more

Alumni Magazine 300 Boston Post Road West Haven, CT 06516

This is a special time to be a Charger ‌

The University of New Haven was founded in 1920 on the Yale campus. Forty years later, the University moved to its current West Haven location, occupying a campus that originally consisted of three buildings.

Today, we are a leading comprehensive University that has been recognized for academic excellence by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. Our more than 6,800 students hail from across the globe.

‌ as we celebrate our second century of success.