An Ecosystem of Opportunity
As one of the most complex coastal estuarine systems in the world, Long Island Sound is a marine and environmental scientist’s paradise — and that paradise is only minutes from the University of New Haven campus. Here, students in the University’s B.S. in Marine and Environmental Sciences program’s first-year course, “Introduction to Marine Biology,” set out into New Haven Harbor to sample water quality using an oyster boat from Copps Island Oysters. As part of this prerequisite course, students engage in weekly fieldwork assignments in the marine environments of southern Connecticut, learning the primary tools and techniques employed by marine scientists to study marine organisms and environments.
Impact Investment: Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D. Takes On the Presidency
22
Power On: Flipping the Switch
The University’s new brand outlines what differentiates us as an institution and as Chargers, capturing our forward-looking approach, our action-oriented mindset, and our uncommon resolve. 26
The Elite Workforce of Tomorrow
Learn more about the University’s groundbreaking M.S. in Forensic Technology and the alumni and employers who are giving testimony to what it means to pay a University of New Haven education forward for contemporaries and future students. 16
University of New Haven Settlement If you were a UNH student enrolled in any UNH course as of March 24, 2020 (other than a non-matriculated high school student) and you did not opt out of the Settlement of Krystian Wnorowski, on behalf of himself and others similarly situated v. University of New Haven, Case No. 3:20-cv-1589 (D. Conn.), you will receive the one-time $200 Non-Cash Tuition Credit described in the Settlement if you enroll or have enrolled in a UNH course commencing in September 2023 or later. Go to www.unewhavensettlement.com for more information.
ALUMNI MAGAZINE ISSUE 11 SPRING / SUMMER 2024
Editor In Chief
Elizabeth Rodgers
Vice President for Enrollment & Student Success
Gregory E. Eichhorn
Vice President for University Advancement Brian Otis
Senior Executive Director of Marketing and Communications Sue Pranulis
President of the Alumni Board of Directors Reece Gleadle ’14
Marketing & Communications
Dave Cranshaw, Tyler Hanson, Rachel Lloyd, Matthew McCullough, Carolyn Meyer, John Mordecai, Laura Norris, Kristen Ortega, Kaitlyn Pinheiro, Carol Regan, Chris Teodosio
Design
Bria Mangione, Taylor Design
Contributors
Steve Neumann, Doug Whiting
Photography
Clarus Multimedia, Defining Studios & Defining Properties, Don Hamerman, NCAA, University of New Haven Athletics
The University of New Haven Alumni Magazine is published twice a 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.
©2024 University of New Haven. All Rights Reserved. For permissions, please contact erodgers@newhaven.edu
New Beginnings
Producing this special edition of the University of New Haven Alumni Magazine allowed me to reflect on the idea of new beginnings.
Shoshin — a beginner’s mindset — in Zen Buddhism, teaches that each of us has the opportunity to seek novelty at any time we choose, even in the most mundane of circumstances. Someone with this life approach embodies a willingness to learn from every situation, fueled by curiosity and unimpeded by self-imposed limitations rooted in past experience yet interpreted as constant, linear truth.
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson applies this same philosophical approach to his scientific examination of the universe — and of the human condition. He cautions against “the baggage of your brain,” which he argues, “is more often than not a satchel of preconceived ideas, post-conceived notions, and outright bias.”
In other words, so much in life is more than meets the eye.
Every year, my niece bakes a very particular chocolate cake to celebrate her birthday. The recipe comes from children’s author Patricia Polacco’s book “Thunder Cake,” which recounts how Polacco and her grandma, her Babushka, overcame Polacco’s childhood fear of thunderstorms. I’d always noticed a subtle sweetness in each bite, and, last year, my niece proudly revealed the recipe calls for an unexpected ingredient — 1/3 cup of pureed tomatoes. Now I’d say that’s one heck of a secret sauce.
And according to Elizabeth Gilbert, secret ingredients aren’t limited to recipe development. In her New York Times bestseller, “Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear,” Gilbert talks about how each of us
has “strange jewels” hidden within us, and that it is our calling to try to discover what ours might be. “The hunt to uncover those jewels — that’s creative living. The courage to go on that hunt in the first place — that’s what separates a mundane existence from a more enchanted one.”
What is it hidden within you that makes you, you?
One of my favorite quotes widely attributed to global storyteller Joseph Campbell is, “We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come.” Campbell would be thrilled to know that modern day medical experts have reported we shed upwards of 600,000 skin cells every day, leaving us with a new skin approximately every 30 days. This is slightly tongue-in-cheek (and, admittedly, disregards many mitigating factors in the cell turnover cycle), but I think there is beauty in the idea that it’s never too late for both the left- and right-brained among us to find a fresh perspective and start again.
Japanese philosophy, astrophysics, and chocolate cake. The nature of inspiration, comparative mythology, and cell regeneration. When it comes to this introductory letter, where we’ve ended up is most likely not where we expected to be at the outset. And such is the nature, in hindsight, of so many of our very best beginnings, where, at some point, we release attachment to the destination and instead lean into the journey.
So, in the following pages, we share in a collective new beginning as Chargers, welcoming our seventh University president, and celebrating a shining next chapter for the University of New Haven.
Warmly,
Editor In Chief
University News
University of New Haven Elects Its Seventh President
Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D., an innovative higher education leader with extensive experience in many facets of higher education administration, including enrollment management, fundraising, and academic and corporate pathways, has been elected to serve as the seventh president of the University of New Haven. He joins U New Haven from Fisk University, a highly ranked historically Black university in Nashville, Tennessee, where he has served as executive vice president for institutional advancement and enrollment management. Dr. Frederiksen, who earned six degrees from Vanderbilt University — including bachelor’s degrees in political science, history, economics, and philosophy; a master’s degree in interdisciplinary social and political thought; and a Ph.D. in contemporary political theory and comparative politics — officially began his service on March 1.
EDUCATION
Bachelor’s degrees in political science, history, economics, and philosophy
Master’s degree in interdisciplinary social and political thought
Ph.D. in contemporary political theory and comparative politics
Turn to page 16 to learn more about our newest president and his plans for the University’s next chapter.
Charger Launches Nonprofit Following Transformative Service Experience
As a member of the University’s President’s Public Service Fellowship, Marcus T. Harvin ’23 A.S., ’25 connected with and served his community while working at Neighborhood Housing Services in New Britain. His experience inspired him to found fREshSTARTs, a nonprofit in his hometown of Newhallville, that he envisions will provide similarly meaningful experiences to his friends, neighbors, and fellow Chargers. fREshSTARTs is already making a difference in the community, including current collaborations with Connecticut Foodshare and the National Prison Debate League. Harvin is also a proud graduate of the inaugural class of the University’s Prison Education Program and Yale Prison Education Initiative.
Students Gain Hands-On Experience Creating Music Video for R&B Artist
As part of an interdisciplinary collaboration, students in the University’s music and communications programs produced a music video for Ayminor (Janay Sylvester), a pop and R&B singer/songwriter based in the Greater New York area, who is among the artists signed to Rein Records, the University’s independent student-run record label. As part of their roles with Rein Records and their “Record Label” class, students have been gaining real-world industry experience promoting artists such as Ayminor. They plan music releases and social media promotions, and they even create merchandise. It is an exciting and immersive way for two departments to collaborate and bring their respective fields together.
Senior Grateful for Hands-On Learning Experiences
For Samuel Weinmann ’24, an international affairs major, his time as a Charger went far beyond the classroom. Weinmann has been an active member of the University’s award-winning Model United Nations program since his first year, taking part in seven conferences, including a competition in Japan. He also studied abroad in Prato, Italy, serving as an Italian language intern as part of the University’s Conversation Exchange Program. For Spring 2024, Weinmann interned at Voice for America in Washington, D.C., as part of the University’s Washington Internship Institute Program. Weinmann has also interned at the West Haven Mayor’s Office, the University’s Mayor’s Advisory Commission, and Pratosfera, a newspaper publisher in Prato.
Interior Design Major’s Honors Thesis Draws on Her Father’s Military Background
For Brooke Cuthbertson ’24, reflecting on her father’s 26 years of service as a U.S. Navy crewman inspires both pride and some more difficult emotions, as her father’s work meant he was often away from his family for long periods of time. Cuthbert’s childhood experiences are now inspiring her honors thesis. An interior design major, Cuthbert is imagining a summer camp that would serve the children of members of the military, providing a sense of community and support. In addition, Cuthbertson applied what she’s been learning in the classroom to her real-world experience as a design intern at Wendy Mauro Design in Charleston, South Carolina, last summer.
Bollywood Hollywood Inc. CEO Visits West Haven
Anchal Bhatia ’24, a candidate in the University’s MBA program, hosted and moderated an in-person conversation with the CEO of Bollywood Hollywood Production Inc., Prashant Shah, who visited campus for a meet-and-greet and to provide insights on the world of media, marketing, and movies. Following the conversation, the Department of Communication, Film, and Media Studies hosted a screening of two well-known Bollywood movies where Shah closely collaborated with production, including “My Name Is Khan” and “Jungle Cry,” Shah’s most recent project.
Graduate Student Inspires Fellow Chargers With Passion for Leadership
For Amina Almoustafa ’24 M.S., the “Leadership and Team Building” course she took last year was a particularly impactful experience. She recently returned to the class — this time, as a guest speaker, sharing her own story of leadership. A candidate in the University’s graduate program in human resources, Almoustafa used a powerful “60 Minutes” video about SOLA — the School of Leadership Afghanistan — to teach a compelling and memorable lesson about leadership, courage, and the power of vision and purpose. The school is dedicated to educating Afghan girls and fostering gender equality. Almoustafa also shared her own leadership journey, which included starting a tutoring educational program for disadvantaged youth while she was living in Lebanon.
Graduate Student Learns the Essence of Teamwork
Jalak Popat ’24 M.S., who recently completed her master’s degree in finance and financial analytics, appreciates the real-world investment experience she gained as a Charger. Popat served as a fund manager as part of the University’s Gaia Initiative, a student-led environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investment fund. It was an exciting and immersive opportunity for her to manage an ESG fund and gain hands-on investing experience. Popat also served as marketing director of the University’s Investment Club and Budget Committee member of the Graduate Student Council. She plans to pursue a career in finance and apply what she has learned as a Charger.
circle-arrow-right Students Power Their Passions at the National Sports Analytics Competition
Several Chargers recently traveled to Dallas, Texas, where they excelled in the National Collegiate Sports Analytics Championship. It was an exciting opportunity to network with industry professionals and demonstrate what they have been learning in the classroom. They began preparing during the fall semester, evaluating ticketing data and revenue generation for sports organizations and presenting virtually to a panel of judges in the first round. Then, in the final round, they analyzed sustainability data from various venues. Organized by Baylor S3E and Oak View Group, the competition was hosted by the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA. The event also offered Chargers the chance to attend a Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns game.
circle-arrow-up Pompea Pitch Competition and Expo Offers Students an Interactive Experience
BUSA 1000 is a hands-on course offered to students in all of the University’s academic colleges and schools, enabling them to develop a plan for a company and to pitch their business plan to the University community — as well as to a panel of judges. As part of the 2023 competition, students pitched a variety of creative business ideas around technology and sustainability, including CATSCAN, a scanning software focused on Cat machinery that aims to reduce injuries from heavy machinery use; Hemp Optics, a company offering environmentally friendly and durable eyewear; and Manu Curls, a product for curly hair that is free of ingredients that are harmful for environmental and human health.
Students Serve as Consultants to Port Authority
A unique and immersive project enabled undergraduate and graduate students in the University’s Economics and Business Analytics programs to work with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, analyzing data and applying
what they learned in the classroom in a real-world setting. Students used real-world data from the Port Authority from early 2020 to late 2023 to identify historical trends and use them to predict future patterns. The University of New
Haven student team was one of more than 16 groups working with the Port Authority’s data to make predictions. The agency selected their work as the top project in the class.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & FORENSIC SCIENCES
Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy Program Alumni Solve Two Cold Cases
As investigators in the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in Southern California, Lauren Felix and Robert Taft have applied what they learned as part of the University’s Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) online graduate certificate program, solving two cold cases and providing the families of the victims with answers after more than four decades. The first program of its kind in the world, the University’s FIGG graduate certificate is designed to educate individuals from the public and private sectors. The program’s fourth cohort began this past January.
Graduate Student Reflects on Distinguished Career in Law Enforcement
During her nearly 30 years in law enforcement, Lori Adams ’24 M.S. has served the San Diego Police Department in a variety of roles, from helping solve sex crimes to investigating cold cases. She’s continuing to learn from the past through the expertise and experience of her professors and current leaders in the field as a candidate in the University’s graduate program in investigations. Adams hopes those following in her footsteps will learn from those who have served before them and that they’ll appreciate the critical role they play in serving their communities. She emphasizes the importance of good communication skills and urges students to seek mentorship opportunities.
Police Recruits Gain HandsOn Training Experience
Police academy recruits recently investigated mock crime scenes at the University, building their skills working in world-class facilities, receiving support from educators with extensive real-world experience, and even learning how to be crime scene investigators. As part of the training, 19 recruits visited the University’s new crime scene facility, as well as the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science. The training was part of a collaboration between the University’s Forensic Science Department and the Bridgeport Police Department, which 16 of the recruits represented.
Forensic Science Major Reflects on Her Time as a Charger
Whether she was cheering for her fellow Chargers on the soccer field, helping her classmates learn physics, or playing the keyboard in a band, Emily Verge ’24 has great memories of her time as a Charger. Last summer, Verge interned in the Combined DNA Index System section of the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory’s DNA Unit. While shadowing several units of the laboratory, she explored the process of forensic analysis. Her internship also enabled her to gain immersive real-world experience. Verge plans to continue her education at the University. She’ll begin her master’s degree in cellular and molecular biology this fall as part of the University’s 4+1 dual degree program.
Incoming Forensic Science Major Is Excited to Join the Charger Community
The first deposited member of the University’s Class of 2028, Noah Nemiroff ’28, is looking forward to being a member of the Charger community. In summer 2023, Nemiroff attended Columbia University’s National Student Leadership Conference to take part in the forensic science program — an experience he says was “amazing.” He’s now looking forward to continuing to study forensic science at the University of New Haven. Nemiroff, who’s currently a senior at Half Hollow Hills High School West in Dix Hills, New York, will officially begin his time as a Charger in August. Nemiroff is excited to get involved in the University community and plans to join organizations that are related to his major.
University Offers Unique Cybersecurity Education Programs for High School Students and Educators
Members of the University community are excited to offer the GenCyber Teacher and Student Academies this summer. The NSF- and NSA-sponsored programs endeavor to promote cybersecurity awareness and education. The GenCyber Student Academy, which is open to 40 students (20 male, 20 female) entering grades 9–12 in fall 2024, is designed to promote cybersecurity and online safety and trains students with STEM backgrounds who are interested in exploring and applying cybersecurity concepts. Open to 25 educators at public, private, or charter schools in the Northeast, the GenCyber Teacher Academy also offers educators with STEM backgrounds the tools and training to apply cybersecurity concepts in their classrooms. Educators receive Chromebooks free of charge, as well as access to lesson plans and an online community of current and past participants.
Two-Time Alum Remains Engaged With University Community
University Charges to Impressive Finish in NSA Competition
Several Chargers recently competed in the NSA Codebreaker Challenge, a competition developed by the National Security Agency, finishing in 12th place out of more than 450 schools across the country (the top 3 percent). Several students were also recognized by the NSA as high achievers for their outstanding performance. As part of the competition, students had a fictional mission to play roles as NSA employees providing technical assistance to the U.S. Coast Guard after an unidentified signal was discovered near U.S. waters. They were to help identify and investigate the unknown object that was producing the signal. The competition included nine progressively more challenging tasks that built on each other. Tasks included exploiting vulnerabilities in software to determine the IP addresses of potential bad actors, as well as reverse engineering software extracted from a fictional spy balloon.
Demetrius Holliman ’22, ’23 MBA, who earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, is a senior project engineer at Pratt & Whitney. As a Charger, Holliman served as a mechanical design/technical assistant intern at Brother’s HarleyDavidson through the University’s Bergami Summer Internship Fellowship program. He went on to earn his MBA at U New Haven with a STEM-designated concentration in data analytics. As an active member of the Charger community, he was involved in a variety of organizations, including the University’s National Society of Black Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and NAACP chapter. He also served as a leader in the University’s Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity — Gamma Alpha Tau chapter. As an adjunct professor in the University’s Industrial and Mechanical Engineering Department, he’s excited to help students power their own careers.
University’s SAIL Lab Enables Researchers to Navigate Sea of Opportunities in Intelligent-Machine Research
The University’s Secure and Assured Intelligent Learning (SAIL) lab explores important questions on the leading edge of science — everything from making medical devices safer to the brain–computer interface — offering students opportunities to conduct research that endeavors to make a meaningful impact on society. More than half a dozen students are members of the University’s SAIL lab team, including doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate students. Students have already had the opportunity to pursue publishing their research and to share their work with the University community, industry professionals, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal.
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Showcase Elevates Research and Fosters Industry Connections
The Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MIE) Showcase brought together students, faculty, staff, and industry professionals, enabling them to share exciting ideas. Students presented their cutting-edge research posters and gave oral presentations while interacting with industry leaders and professionals. The showcase included alumni such as Magdalena Garcia ’15 M.S., an operations analytics manager for Sikorsky, and Joseph Leveillee ’08, director of quality for RevMedica, a startup company, who delivered respective keynote addresses. The showcase was an exciting opportunity for students to learn from alumni, as well as to share with them what they’ve been working on at the University. Students presented their research exploring a variety of pertinent topics, including AI, as well as 3D printing and functional polymers.
University’s EMS Club Enables Students to Serve as First Responders on Campus
Nearly two dozen students in the University’s unique and immersive paramedicine program are also members of the EMS Club, serving as first responders at a variety of events on campus, gaining hands-on experience and building meaningful working relationships with local first responders. The EMS Club is expanding its reach beyond the University through community outreach. Its members visit local health fairs, offer blood pressure screenings, and teach hands-only CPR. The club’s relationships with local first responders, including those from the West Haven Police Department, Allentown Fire Department, and Fire Marshal’s Office, have continued to strengthen. Many of them now include paramedicine alumni as staff members.
University’s Campus Pantry Expands Critical Support for Students
The University’s Campus Pantry is continuing to grow, supporting students’ well-being while cultivating a sense of community. The pantry began a collaboration with Connecticut Foodshare late last year, which enables the pantry to serve more students and consistently have more food available. In addition, the pantry can offer food items that may be more costly, such as produce and protein, to students free of charge. Campus Pantry collaborates with a variety of departments and offices on campus to expand its offerings and create opportunities for students. The pantry works closely with the University’s nutrition program, and students complete clinical hours to gain hands-on experience and assist with the pantry’s day-to-day operations.
Senior Reflects on Rewarding Internship
For Melissa Nunez ’24, studying public health at the University has meant immersing herself in the world of healthcare beyond the classroom. It has also offered her the chance to grow as a leader while sharing her passion for service. An active member of the School of Health Sciences, Nunez has been a member of the Student Public Health Association, serving as an ambassador during her senior year. She’s also collaborated with faculty members and networked with industry leaders at Connecticut Public Health Association events. One of Nunez’s most gratifying experiences as a Charger has been her internship at Make-A-Wish Connecticut, using her bilingualism to translate for and work with non-English-speaking wish families. After she completes her degree, Nunez will be continuing her time as a Charger. This fall, she’ll begin pursuing her Master of Healthcare Administration at the University.
Doctor of Health Sciences Graduate Is a Leader in the Field and a Pillar of the Community
Gary Havican ’04 MBA, ’23 DHSc, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Catholic Health Systems in New York, has been enthusiastic about making an impact in the field of healthcare since he was very young. He’s now a leading healthcare administrator who is passionate about creating opportunities for current and future Chargers to find their own paths in the field. A School of Health Sciences Advisory Board member, Havican has worked with the University’s paramedicine program. He also played a key role in helping the University acquire the “Simbulance,” that is, enabling students to gain hands-on experience. Hartford Business Journal recognized Havican, who previously served as senior vice president of Hartford HealthCare and president of its central region, as a member of its 2023 “Power 25 Health Care” cohort.
“Beyond Borders” Brings International Women’s Health Into Focus
As student researchers and future public health professionals, Aishwarya Sreenivasan ’23 MPH, Priyanka Srirangam ’24 MPH, Muskan Kohli ’24 MPH, and Surya Madhavi Dinavahi ’24 MPH were inspired to explore a topic intimately familiar to them: the health of international women. Specifically, they hoped to better understand the challenges international women face when it comes to accessing healthcare. They recently shared their project with the Charger community as part of an exhibition in the University’s Seton Gallery called “Beyond Borders: Bringing International Women’s Health Into Focus,” an interdisciplinary collaboration between student researchers and Chargers from the Theater and Psychology departments.
Students Give University’s Tuscany Campus Meal Plan Five Stars
For students who study abroad at the University’s campus in Prato, Italy, eating at local cafés and restaurants as part of their meal plan is not only delicious but also an experience that creates a sense of being welcomed like family. Students receive vouchers for each meal that they can present at several cafés and restaurants near the campus. There are also restaurants in Florence — a short train ride from Prato — on the meal plan, all located a short walk from the train station so students who are traveling can also get something to eat. Some of the restaurants on the meal plan have been feeding Chargers since the University opened the satellite campus more than a decade ago.
Chargers Explore Culture and Criminal Justice With Italian High School Students
Several Chargers studying abroad at the University’s campus in Prato, Italy, in March 2023 visited ITIS Tullio Buzzi High School, a Prato high school focused on science and technology. The school, which generously enables Chargers to use its labs and workspaces, welcomed the students and their professor, Daniel Maxwell, MPA, who visited the school to teach a criminal justice lesson to the high school students. The opportunity enabled the American and Italian students to interact and learn together about their countries’ respective justice systems. During the lesson the students compared the U.S. Bill of Rights to the rights enumerated in the Italian constitution. They also discussed search warrants and the 4th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Students enjoyed competing for prizes — University of New Haven swag — and applying what they had learned.
Italy Campus Program Coordinator Passionate About Sharing Her City and Her Culture With Students
Lara Pugi, program coordinator at the Tuscany Campus, has lived in Prato for over a decade. The University community recently learned more about Pugi as part of a faculty and staff interview series on the Charger Blog. As part of the conversation, Pugi spoke to what resonates with her most about working with U New Haven students at the University’s Tuscany campus. When she herself was college aged, Pugi had wanted to study abroad but didn’t have the opportunity. Now, in a professional capacity, her role enables her to be an important part of the University’s students’ experience, creating a home-away-from-home.
Sports Night Is a Highlight of Students’ Study Abroad Experience
Students studying abroad at the University’s campus in Prato, Italy, are big fans of Sports Night, an activity-filled evening each Monday that brings together students, faculty, and staff for fun and connection outside the classroom. Monday nights are known as “Sports Night” to students, faculty, and staff in Italy. The activities take place just a short walk from the campus at Sant’Anna Oratorio (oratory), which offers space for local kids to play and come together for organized activities during the week. This weekly gathering place for the University community offers ping-pong tables and foosball and an outdoor volleyball court. There’s also a well-lit soccer field with benches for Chargers to watch the game. Getting out on the field is a Monday night goal for many Chargers. Faculty and staff often attend Sports Night as well, and it is a fun way for students to get to know them outside the classroom and the campus.
Conversation Exchange Program Builds Connections Between Chargers and Italian Students
Students studying at the University’s campus in Prato, Italy, describe the Conversation Exchange Program as one of the most meaningful aspects of their time abroad. It connects them with local high school students, enabling them to immerse themselves in Italian language and culture and even make lifelong friends in another country. While Chargers are paired with local Italian high school students, they are conversing with students their own age because high school includes students up to age 19 in Italy. The program pairs Chargers with local students, and they meet weekly for eight weeks. Students typically find they have common interests, and the program often leads to friendships between American and Italian students. The program gets students out of the classroom and into the community as they learn Italian and explore the culture.
Faculty Spotlight
Publications
A sampling of recent work from our talented faculty across all five schools and colleges
Yoder, Ph.D. College of Arts and Sciences
Scholarly Book: Pitching Democracy: Baseball and Politics in the Dominican Republic
Published By: University of Texas Press (2023)
Mehmet Balcilar, Ph.D. Pompea College of Business
Journal Article: Predicting the Volatility of Bitcoin Returns Based on Kernel Regression
Appeared In: Annals of Operations Research (2023)
Lorenzo M. Boyd, Ph.D. Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences
Scholarly Book: Policing in the U.S.: Past, Present, and Future
Published By: Cengage Learning (2024)
Dequan Xiao, Ph.D. Tagliatela College of Engineering
Journal Article: Selective Depolymerization of Lignin Towards Isolated Phenolic Acids Under Mild Conditions
Appeared In: ChemSusChem (2023)
Rangachari, Ph.D., CPH School of Health Sciences
Journal Article: The Untapped Potential of the Quadruple Aim of Primary Care to Foster a Culture of Health
Appeared In: International Journal of General Medicine (2023)
In the Media
CNN · Biden: “We shall respond” after three U.S. soldiers die in drone attack
Robert Sanders, a senior lecturer of national security, discusses a drone attack that killed three U.S. soldiers and injured more than 30 at an American military outpost in Jordan.
ABC News Australia · Donald Trump wins U.S. Supreme Court fight to remain on ballots ahead of Super Tuesday primaries
Patricia Crouse, a practitioner in residence of public administration and political science, discusses the Supreme Court of the United States ruling that former President Donald Trump cannot be disqualified under the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment referencing insurrection.
Fox Business · Teens working part-time jobs at highest rate since 2009 in “perfect storm” of economic conditions, stability
Patrick
Gourley, associate professor of economics and business analytics, comments that teenage labor force
statistics are “highly procyclical.”
From Fox · One dead, possibly 10–15
Kenneth Gray, a senior lecturer of homeland security and criminal justice, discusses a mass shooting incident that occurred at the end of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade, and how law enforcement ran to the threat when it began, in this in-depth interview.
Susan Campbell , a distinguished lecturer of communication, film, and media studies, comments on Tucker Carlson’s controversial interview with Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin on X.
A roundup of broadcast, digital, and print media spotlighting University of New Haven faculty experts
AP News · Pro leagues balance profit, integrity risks in legal betting era
Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on why sports leagues will have a credibility problem as players are betting on games, leaving fans to wonder if there is an integrity issue.
USA Today · Taylor Swift may attend the Super Bowl. Is security around Allegiant Stadium ready?
Allison Arnett, a lecturer of nutrition sciences, comments on the health risks associated with consuming alcohol, even for those who do not drink every day.
CBS News New York · CDC officially ends 5-day COVID-19 isolation guidance
Karl Minges, assistant professor of public health, discusses the CDC’s decision on its isolation guidelines for COVID-19 and the concern from a public health standpoint. Delish · How healthy is it to drink alcohol every day?
Bobby McDonald, a lecturer of criminal justice, comments that the security infrastructure in Las Vegas is well equipped to handle this year’s Super Bowl.
MarketWatch · “A modest pullback in yields for CDs.” Plenty of CDs pay upward of 5% — but will that keep up in 2024?
Frank Chen, assistant professor of finance, comments on CD rate fluctuations and how the economy’s health impacts any changes the Federal Reserve could make.
Scripps News · The future of weight loss companies looms as weight loss drugs take off in popularity
Pavani Rangachari, professor and director of the Master of Healthcare Administration program, discusses the possibility of Medicare covering weight loss drugs. The AMA considers obesity a disease that cannot be resolved for some with diet and exercise alone.
Vahid Behzadan , assistant professor of cybersecurity, data and computer science, and computer and electrical engineering and director of the SAIL Lab, discusses online scams that take advantage of people on dating sites by asking for money or credit card information, which are becoming extremely sophisticated.
Parade · Adding this one food to your diet could lower your blood pressure by 36%, according to new research
Maggie Lyon, a practitioner in residence of nutrition sciences and hospitality and tourism management, comments that fruits and vegetables are important to your health, especially one that is a “culinary cornerstone.”
Events
Newest Graduates Celebrate Time as Chargers and Look to the Future
The University of New Haven celebrated the Class of 2024 when Commencement returned to West Haven this past spring.
Four ceremonies were held over the course of three days, May 9–11, in the heart of main campus at Kathy Zolad Stadium. Nearly 3,500 undergraduate and graduate degrees were awarded to our newest Charger alumni.
“Recent research claims that this is the first time in several decades that Americans have been less optimistic about young people’s prospects for the future,” President Frederiksen told graduates as he presided over his first Commencement. “To those researchers, I say come to the University of New Haven and meet the next generation of our elite graduates. In my short time here, I have encountered students with unlimited promise and an infectious can-do spirit. This is a university community with no ceiling, and the world needs Chargers — like you — like never before.
In her Commencement address as part of Saturday’s ceremony for undergraduates, Ann Nyberg, legendary Connecticut television news journalist, told the Class of 2024, “Be proud. You are a beautiful former mask-wearing, live-to-tell-about-it graduating class. And you can do anything. You are our future leaders. Never question your tenacity or your courage. You already know how to persevere.”
As part of the ceremony, Nyberg was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree. An honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree was also awarded to Indra K. Nooyi, a successful business executive who’s been ranked among the world’s “100 Most Powerful Women” by Forbes magazine. She served as chair
“Be proud. You are a beautiful former maskwearing, live-to-tellabout-it graduating class. And you can do anything. You are our future leaders. Never question your tenacity or your courage. You already know how to persevere.”
ANN NYBERG
and CEO of PepsiCo from 2006 to 2019. A native of India, she became the first woman of color and the first immigrant to head a Fortune 50 company. Selected to speak on behalf of the undergraduates at the celebration’s culminating ceremony, Aiyannah Lewis ’24, who accepted her bachelor’s degree in psychology, issued a challenge to her fellow graduates, “Let us go out into the world and show them that we are pioneers, change agents, and disruptors helping to shape our communities and the fields we are part of. Let us show the world our passion and our purpose — and what a Charger is all about.”
Congratulations to the Class of 2024 and to everyone who supported them along the way! Power On!
BY DOUG WHITING
Impact Investment
JENS FREDERIKSEN, PH.D. TAKES ON THE PRESIDENCY
Spend some time with Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D., the new president of the University of New Haven, and a number of seemingly paradoxical characteristics emerge.
Soft of voice, he is voluble and exudes energy and intensity as he discusses topics from market positioning and student debt to life’s motivations and family.
Supremely confident, he nonetheless comfortably narrates a life story marked by occasional failure and an understanding that “chance and fortune” have played a role in his ultimate success.
Tackling complex subjects, he offers remarkably simplifying analysis and remedies to problems.
Acknowledging the multiple challenges currently facing higher education, he offers unabashed optimism about the industry’s future.
Worldly and a highly successful leader, he is at heart a family man immensely proud and protective of his preteen children.
What ultimately emerges is the tantalizing picture of an unlikely but possibly game-changing leader early in the University’s second century.
Frederiksen — disarmingly handsome, nattily attired, and retaining the youthful face and fit frame of his athletic past — came to an expectant campus on March 1 after an exhaustive nationwide search to take the reins as the University of
New Haven’s seventh president. He arrived armed with six degrees, a glowing resume, experience as a community and economic development leader and architect of the revival of Nashville’s Fisk University — one of the nation’s premier historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) — and a reputation as “an exceptionally forward-thinking and transformational leader,” according to Mike Ambrose ’84, chair of the Presidential Search Committee and vice chair of the University of New Haven Board of Governors.
Ambrose would write, “Throughout our rich history, and particularly over the past two decades, we have proven very effective at developing innovative and market-responsive programs and illustrating the return on investment of a University of New Haven education. In today’s ultra-competitive higher education marketplace, it is incumbent on us to push the boundaries and to create a unique and defining value proposition that not only differentiates us but also enables us to rise above our peers. I believe Dr. Frederiksen is the leader to help us realize that vision.” How does one meet those lofty expectations? In part by proclaiming shortly after his arrival that in five years the University of New Haven will be “one of the best institutions in the country for student outcomes and return on investment (ROI).”
Failure Begets Success
Career Highlights
2000–2010 Academic career at Vanderbilt University led to four bachelor’s degrees, a master’s degree, and a Ph.D., as well as competing as a varsity tennis athlete
2006–2020 Taught courses at Fisk University, Sewanee: The University of the South, and Vanderbilt University
2012–2015 Consultant at Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
2015–2017 International broker and advisor to five Tennessee-based companies, charged with expanding global markets and developing international relationships
2016–2024 Leadership team at Fisk University, culminating as executive vice president for institutional advancement and enrollment management
2024 Appointment as president of the University of New Haven
It wasn’t always evident that this would be the Danish-born Frederiksen’s path. Neither of his parents had more than an eighth-grade education, though they would achieve success sufficient to provide him with the benefits of a top-notch European primary and secondary education and the tools to pursue a budding professional tennis career.
Spending his youth in Luxembourg, he acknowledges that “things had come a bit too easy” for him in his academic work and on the tennis court, though he excelled at both. He concedes, without boasting, that he was intellectually gifted and talented and “exceptionally good” at tennis from an early age. He even played soccer in the Junior World Cup. He recognizes, though, that he lacked a strong work ethic early in life. That understanding ultimately served as the chief motivator for his rapid and impressive successes once he “bottomed out” on the pro tennis tour and decided to follow a different path and attend college in the United States.
Citing his flameout on the tennis tour, he says with still the betrayal of a European accent, “My entire professional life is built on a massive failure. It’s taught me to be very cautious about bombarding young people with excessive praise and that work ethic and determination are the keys to being successful. I came to realize that nobody would ever outwork me again.”
With customary candor, he says his father was “not very warm and fuzzy and never understood my pursuit of education.” Even so, after initially assuming that he would attend university in the United Kingdom, a fellow tennis pro suggested he look at schools in the U.S. Although Harvard, Duke,
and Berkeley, among others, pursued him, it was a full tennis scholarship to Vanderbilt University that eventually won him over.
Again, he offers a candid assessment of that decision: “Tennis became a means to an end,” he says. “I was entirely devoted to academics.” As evidence, he would graduate from Vanderbilt with four undergraduate degrees in four years, something he believes has never been done before. And in what would become a common theme in his life, he understood that pursuing the four majors would be invaluable in a world where “people have discourse from many different disciplines.”
Advancing that theory, he became fluent in English, Danish, German, French, and Flemish along the way.
A master’s degree in interdisciplinary social and political thought, assisted by a Mellon Foundation Fellowship, and a doctorate in contemporary political theory and comparative politics, both from Vanderbilt, would follow.
“Don’t
Jump Over the Fence Where It Is Lowest.”
Initial postgraduate employment led him to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and then a position as an international broker and advisor to five Tennessee-based companies where he was charged with expanding global markets and developing international relationships.
In 2016 he arrived at Fisk University, where over the next eight years, he would lead virtually every nonacademic operation — enrollment management, financial aid, career services, alumni affairs, marketing and university relations, advancement, university galleries, and the John Lewis Center for Social Justice — in increasingly responsible posts, culminating in his appointment as executive vice president of institutional advancement and enrollment management.
“Throughout the 1950s, 60s, and 70s Fisk was an elite HBCU,” Frederiksen says. “But when I arrived it was a time of absolute turbulence. Funds weren’t flowing there, and we needed to fix a lot.” He notes that he had the benefit of having been a professor with a solid reputation that gave him credibility as he began to initiate change. “What I was saying was resonating,” he remembers.
Less than a decade later the results speak for themselves. Net tuition revenue increased, new partnerships with the public and private sectors evolved, the university gained widespread visibility in the media, and the physical plant was expanded and modernized.
Frederiksen’s impact on Fisk is remarkable for its breadth and depth. From envisioning and implementing its strategic plan to launching Fisk’s Business Incubation and Innovation Center and from Fisk raising more than $110 million under his
leadership to helping secure a number one national ranking by Forbes for academic stewardship, his fingerprints are all over Fisk’s resurgence. One of his proudest accomplishments is establishing corporate partnerships with numerous entities, including HCA Healthcare, Ryan Specialty Group, Cravath, Swaine & Moore, the Los Angeles Lakers, Marsh McLennan, and Ingram Industries.
He developed contacts that led to visits to the Fisk campus from the likes of the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson. He facilitated a Fisk Jubilee Singers performance with Grammy Award-winner Alicia Keys and a Juneteenth performance at the White House. He collaborated with HomeFree USA to launch a successful financial literacy program and established an executive speakers program with leaders from industry.
It was at Fisk where he learned the importance of getting to know students in a “very personal way” and worked closely with them to resolve problems and disputes. He maintains this is why he enjoyed “extraordinary” student and alumni support during his time there. And it is also where he had the opportunity to work for and with Frank L. Sims, who served as interim and acting president and chair of the Fisk Board of Trustees during Frederiksen’s tenure there.
“He and I could disagree, but I never doubted his honesty and his integrity,” Frederiksen says today. “I put a high premium on integrity. He’s as close as I would have to a relative.” Working with Sims, he
says, convinced him that there are no ceilings and to always aim high. “In Denmark we have a saying, ‘if you’re trying to go over a fence, you shouldn’t jump over where the fence is lowest.’ There is a right way and a wrong way to do things.”
Frederiksen says his experience at Fisk will serve him well at U New Haven. There are similarities, he notes: both universities are undergoing transformations; both have a diverse faculty, staff, and student body; both enjoy a high percentage of first-generation students; and both share an excitement about the opportunities ahead.
He says he sees several advantages for the University as he takes the helm, including “an extraordinary business model,” a strong interdisciplinary academic profile, and recognizable signature programs. Among the challenges he foresees are better defining U New Haven’s unique value to prospective students and families, raising the University’s profile through earned and social media and, most important, growing the endowment and raising funds to support scholarships and new facilities.
“Our physical infrastructure needs to be on the front foot,” he says, “and we need to increase funding to support that infrastructure. Impact gifts can change thousands of lives. I’ll be talking about impact investing versus traditional philanthropy and believe that we are positioned to appeal to many different funding constituencies.” He believes in endowment with a purpose and will look to find donors willing to support
“Our physical infrastructure needs to be on the front foot, and we need to increase funding to support that infrastructure. Impact gifts can change thousands of lives. I’ll be talking about impact investing versus traditional philanthropy and believe that we are positioned to appeal to many different funding constituencies.”
faculty chairs and student scholarships. He says he is a ready, willing, and able fundraiser excited to assume a task that will consume much of his presidency.
Of his prediction for U New Haven, Frederiksen says the “schools that will survive will be those who serve up ROI. It will take a colossal effort by every single person at the University to make this happen, but we can.” That ROI, he says, translates into an education that instills in students notions of good citizenship, civic engagement, and community involvement as well as preparation for employment in their chosen fields or opportunities for graduatelevel studies.
Charles E. Pompea, ’71, ’90 EMBA, ’06 Hon., chair of the University of New Haven Board of Governors who served as president and CEO of Primary Steel, based in Middletown, Connecticut, for 14 years, said, “Dr. Frederiksen is a captivating leader who has outlined an inspirational vision for the future of the University of New Haven. I am excited to see the bold steps he will take to elevate the University and distinguish us as a destination university for high-achieving students, faculty, and staff.”
An Industry at a Crossroads
Frederiksen assumes the presidency at U New Haven at a time of immense challenges in higher education, perhaps the most significant in generations. The Economist has called the situation a “crisis of legitimacy,” and danger seemingly exists around every corner. Demographics suggest there are simply fewer high school graduates, particularly in the Northeast. The nation’s deep political divide is evident on campuses everywhere. Parents and families are questioning the cost and value proposition, wondering if the investment is worth it while contemplating unprecedented loads of student debt. There is heavy
Top 5 Presidential Goals
1 Become one of the best institutions in the country for student outcomes and return on investment.
2 Enhance the campus’s physical infrastructure and capacity build through fundraising.
3 Develop and leverage our signature academic programs and clusters.
4 Expand corporate, academic, and research partnerships to increase the University’s national and global presence.
5 Build upon the University’s operational prowess to create a sustainable and thriving business model.
competition for fundraising dollars. And university presidents are facing scrutiny from government, students, families, and donors.
Unsurprisingly, Frederiksen has given considerable thought and has clearly formed opinions on the industry he has chosen for his life’s work. He delivers his thoughts with eyes that penetrate the interviewer and words chosen with careful precision.
“This is a pressure cooker environment” and a complicated time in higher education, he told LiveNOW from Fox in an interview shortly after being named president, citing the lightning speed of AI development and the numerous alternative pathways to degrees and employment that have emerged in recent years.
Nonetheless, he says, “this challenging climate also offers tremendous opportunity and quite possibly even a mandate for higher education innovation and transformation. It is time for higher education to step up and answer the call. There is a need to be agile and to have an entrepreneurial level of economic, social, and technological responsiveness to confront the challenges. We have to change.”
However, he says with his characteristic optimism, “Universities have and continue to be uniquely positioned as platforms for a brighter, more productive and just future.”
With respect to the complicated student debt dilemma, he offers for consideration ideas for the great mass of institutions that serve a large Pell Grant population, families from lower and middle incomes, and first-generation students and that do not have major endowments to offset some of the debt.
First, he returns to his notion of “impact investing.” He says, “We have to raise more funds to support student scholarships and address cost and affordability. We need to convince major donors, industries, and corporate and philanthropic leaders that investing in the next generation is in their best interest.”
“We have lots of big problems to solve — locally, nationally, and globally — and I would say to students: become a doer, join a community of doers.”
Additionally, he believes that “students are OK with investing in themselves and taking on some amount of debt in support of their futures, but the expectations around deliverables and outcomes must align, and the ROI must be there. We need to have mutual accountability and responsibility between students and universities.”
Frederiksen argues that U New Haven can, like Fisk, establish “really incredible partnerships with visionary industry leaders who are invested in students and ultimately their next generation of employees.”
He adds, “We live in a world of hyperbole, yet getting a degree isn’t hyperbole. This is one of the more important decisions you will make because it will impact your future.”
To students and families, he says, “Be deliberate, be vigilant, and really look for an institution like the University of New Haven that understands and champions the importance of a comprehensive experience and that embraces the concept of mutual accountability.” The University must provide an experience for students that prepares them for postgraduate education or employment, he says, while students must similarly commit themselves to the hard work necessary to extract all they can from the University’s vast academic, extracurricular, and social offerings.
“We have lots of big problems to solve — locally, nationally, and globally — and I would say to students: become a doer, join a community of doers. There is no substitute for the right four-year experience. And I would say, make no mistake, you are investing in your future, and this is about a return on investment economically, socially, psychologically, and even politically. To me, universities are crucial places to fortify our democracy.”
Listen to him closely, and themes begin to emerge that suggest why, in the midst of the industry’s identity crisis, he enthusiastically assumes the presidency.
There is his strong belief in the University of New Haven and the immediate future of higher education as a game changer for young people. Further, he sees the University existing in a sweet spot somewhere between the Ivies and state universities and between traditional liberal arts and technical prep institutions, positioned as a sound investment for those looking to acquire knowledge and be fully prepared for the 21st-century workforce.
The University of New Haven, he says, cannot sit still but must continue to innovate, to be responsive to the market, to be confident in its space in the higher education universe, and to leverage its traditional and existing academic strengths.
A Family Affair
May Wood was an undergraduate at Vanderbilt and one of the top amateur golfers in the U.S. when she met Frederiksen, who was in the doctoral program there. She would leave school after her sophomore year to pursue a professional golfing career. Later,
May returned to Vanderbilt to complete her degree, and they met again, this time at a mutual friend’s wedding. They married a few years later.
Conceding that he “needed to be in a place where someone else could be number one, where I was comfortable putting someone else before me,” the Frederiksens postponed starting a family for a few years until first Gunnar, now 9, and then Lilly, 7, graced their lives.
Because he’s a bit older than his sister, Gunnar felt the negative impact of a life interrupted during the pandemic. In response, “We have bombarded him with lots of attention,” Frederiksen says. “He’s a very sensitive child, but he’s been very brave.” Lilly, he says, has an independent streak that serves her well. Both Lilly and Gunnar are excited about starting at a new school in the fall, he says, and exploring what Connecticut has to offer.
With the experience of bars being set ridiculously high and an athletic youth “left to coaches and sponsors” due to his parents’ indifference, Frederiksen is determined to give his
children a different model. “I tend to set bars that are unrealistically high and have to live with the consequences of not getting there some of the time,” he says. Those kinds of expectations will be tempered, he says. There will be more room for the children to simply enjoy their pursuits than he experienced.
He worries little about finding a work-life balance in his new role. “It is liberating to combine the two worlds of work and family,” he says assuredly. As excited as he is to make his mark on the University of New Haven, he is just as energized to share that experience with a loving family.
The Frederiksens have purchased a home 15 minutes east of campus in the Connecticut shoreline town of Branford. For now, he is staying in Connecticut with occasional visits from May and the children. But they will soon arrive permanently, when the school year ends and their Nashville home sells, and he is “most eager to share this new experience with [his] family.”
The Charger faithful are eager as well. •
BY STEVE NEUMANN
FLIPPING THE SWITCH
FUELED BY GRIT
America may run on Dunkin’, but the University of New Haven runs on grit. And in the fall of 2022, the University felt it was about time the story of what that means was shouted from the rooftops with a new brand campaign — complete with a full-court media press and the tagline “Power On.”
If you’re familiar with the aforementioned uber successful Dunkin’ Donuts campaign, then you’re familiar with Lesley Bielby, the creative and innovative strategist who spearheaded U New Haven’s “Power On” campaign. Out of nearly a dozen advertising agencies, the University chose Bielby’s current firm, DiMassimo Goldstein (DiGo), where Bielby is CEO, because it has done work
with complex and iconic brands such as Pfizer, CVS, and Samsung, amongst many others.
Former executive vice president and chief operating officer for the University, Sheahon Zenger, Ph.D., who had previously served a twoyear term as interim president, which included oversight for the brand development process, admitted that U New Haven’s choice of DiGo was a little unexpected because the firm had not previously worked with many universities.
“We were intentional about selecting a firm which did not historically partner with colleges and universities,” Zenger said. “Our thinking was, ‘If you do what you’ve always done, you’re going to get the results you’ve always gotten.’ When DiGo presented their pitch, it was clear they’d taken the time to understand who we are and what makes us tick.”
A RALLYING CRY
During the brand launch event last fall, Bielby talked about DiGo’s creative process, noting the secret to any brand success is in the brand itself — and the people who make up that brand.
“We discovered very quickly that U New Haven truly is a magical place,” Bielby told the audience. “This level of grit and determination, this need to stick your elbows out and make your mark in the world, was very evident, very quickly. And that was reinforced again and again with every interview that we did.”
Bielby’s firm conducted 70 stakeholder interviews and 1,500 external surveys, including thorough focus groups with students. After completing their research, DiGo met with the University leadership team and presented a brand house — a type of blueprint or chart that has, at the top, the brand’s purpose and mission.
“As we were reviewing the interviews,” Bielby said, “one theme that emerged was that, when you come to U New Haven, something happens — it’s like a switch gets flipped, and your potential gets actualized. The University doesn’t give you anything you don’t already have inside of you. It brings that potential out of you.”
Bielby went on to note the central challenge for any brand campaign is to come up with a concise phrase or set of words that exemplify what the brand stands for.
“You want those phrases or words to become not just a tagline, but a rallying cry,” Bielby said. “And if that can then crystallize what you’re all about, and you live that every single day, it’s amazing what happens — you start becoming it. You already had that inside of you, but now you begin to see it even more in how you’re showing up in the world.”
One word that seemed to come up over and over again to describe the U New Haven community, including in the brand video shown during the launch event, was the word “doer”: “In our first pitch meeting, our team talked about how the University community is similar to the Dunkin audience,” Bielby said. “You’re ‘doers’ — you’re the ones that get your sleeves rolled up and get stuff done.”
Senior Executive Director of Marketing and Communications Sue Pranulis, who partnered with Bielby and Zenger to execute the campaign, agreed, saying, “You’ll see examples of grit and resiliency across our entire University community. When faced with a challenge, we know how to be nimble, adapt, and push through. Beyond this, although as Chargers we know we can compete as individuals, we also know that Charger Nation is greater than the sum of its parts, and there’s a big focus on synergy and
... ONE THEME THAT EMERGED WAS THAT, WHEN YOU COME TO U NEW HAVEN, SOMETHING HAPPENS — IT’S LIKE A SWITCH GETS FLIPPED, AND YOUR POTENTIAL GETS ACTUALIZED.
Lesley Bielby, CEO, DiMassimo Goldstein (DiGo)
collaboration when it comes to reaching our goals. That’s something I’ve always been very proud of.”
CREATING CONNECTION AND UNITY
Although DiGo’s job of trying to capture the essence of the University of New Haven’s character was quite comprehensive, Pranulis’s job was to take things even further.
When a new brand campaign launches, to ensure it’s successful, this identity and messaging needs to be integrated into everything an organization does. In addition to all the paid advertising — digital ads, search engine ads, billboards, radio and Spotify ad spots — Power On also needed to be reflected on the University website, in all of the print materials that go to undergraduate students, all the University merchandise and swag, and all the banners on campus.
“We’ve integrated the new brand into all aspects of our marketing strategy and associated collateral,” Pranulis said. “Visually, of course, it needs to be appealing, drawing people in and curating an experience of belonging. Then, we need to be sure we’re adding that more defined substance through our storytelling — whether it’s in our alumni magazine, on the Charger blog, or through our various social media channels. When we’re doing both of these things well, those individuals consuming this content can feel a part of something greater than themselves. In that way, the brand creates that sense of connection and unity we’re really looking for.”
Although the bulk of the work for the campaign has been done, Pranulis wants to keep the momentum going: “It’s important to me that the brand stays top of mind for the internal University community,” Pranulis said. “We’ve developed a suite of digital assets
that faculty and staff can use. In this way, we can all become brand ambassadors. My team has designed email signatures, office signage, Zoom backgrounds, PowerPoint templates, and various other tools that can fit seamlessly into the work people are already doing daily.” But they didn’t stop there. Pranulis also noted the importance of stakeholder feedback: “We want our faculty and staff to be and feel a part of this process. We welcome feedback and are constantly fine-tuning our offerings and looking to see what else we might be able to create.”
STUDENT-CENTERED
Additionally, it was important for Pranulis and the rest of the leadership team that the content of the media used in the campaign center student voices and experiences: “These were some of the best and brightest students I’ve had the pleasure to work with during my 24 years at U New Haven,” Pranulis said. “Collaborating with these young adults was one of the most rewarding parts of my work on the new brand campaign. They were so motivated to take part in the process, which, in turn, inspired me to keep pushing the boundaries and considering new approaches and creative solutions. It was a really special experience.”
Two of these students were Morgan Fabbricatore ’24 and Tom Fang ’26, both self-starters with an entrepreneurial spirit who embody the Power On tagline. Their experiences and perspectives were captured as part of a video interview series done with student focus groups as part of the brand development process.
Fabbricatore ’24, a mechanical engineering major with a concentration in mechatronics robotics and a minor in physics, has flourished at U New Haven,
WE, AND THE UNIVERSITY, MAY PROVIDE THAT SPARK, THE FUEL, MAYBE EVEN IGNITE THE FLAME. BUT IT’S OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE TENDING THAT FIRE, FORGING NEW PATHS, AND STEPPING INTO THE FUTURES THEY’VE BUILT FOR THEMSELVES ...
Sue Pranulis, Senior Executive Director of Marketing and Communications
despite matriculating during an unprecedented global pandemic. “When I came to the University my freshman year,” she said, “I saw there was a robotics club, but due to COVID, there were no current members, and it was inactive. A couple of seniors and I got together, and we restarted the club.” She further added, “The engineering college within the University itself does prepare you for both success and the real world. And it’s more like a one-on-one versus just being one of 50-plus students. There’s so many people around me who support me and that I
can support. So there’s belonging, and I feel like I do belong.”
At first Fang ’26, a national security major who also works for the University Police Department (UPD), wasn’t even sure he wanted to go to college. “Then, I looked through all the majors that the University offered and national security, specifically, caught my eye,” Fang said in his video interview. “So I dove deeper into the program itself to see what it offered. Ultimately when I came to visit for Accepted Students Day, I felt really welcomed here.” Fang further discussed the benefits this decision afforded him. “Considering the fact that my second week here I got my job at UPD, this University has definitely given me a lot of opportunities, whether it’s coming from the University itself or the people that I’m meeting here — whether the students, my professors, or even alumni that come back and visit. I think the University of New Haven as a whole is almost like a knot that ties everything around the world together.”
Everything considered, Pranulis summed the experience up like this: “The story of the new brand is, at its core, the story of the University of New Haven. So what’s most important is how we continue to tell those stories that reinforce what we stand for.” Pranulis further added, “And this is where I keep coming back to our students and how central they were to the development of the new brand. We, and the University, may provide that spark, the fuel, maybe even ignite the flame. But it’s our students who are tending that fire, forging new paths, and stepping into the futures they’ve built for themselves using the skillsets they’ve gained during their time here. And these success stories all become part of the larger story of the University of New Haven. That collective energy and collective achievement is at the center of what it means to Power On.” •
THE ELITE WORKFORCE OF TOMORROW
Universities build their reputations in a variety of ways — general academic excellence, strength of faculty, facilities, support for students, mission, and highly recognized athletic programs, to name a few. Some, like the University of New Haven, more than check the boxes on those characteristics, especially its focus on and sustained excellence in particular fields of study. And those signature programs, as the saying goes, help lift all boats.
Through the hard and intentional work of many, U New Haven has earned a place in the public consciousness through its undergraduate and graduate programs in criminal justice and forensic science. Residing in the renowned Henry C. Lee College, the forensic science program is regarded by outside observers as among the best in the country; several ratings organizations have called it the very best such program in the United States. The forensic science landscape is dotted with U New Haven graduates, already fulfilling new President Jens Frederiksen’s vision of the University as one of the nation’s best for student outcomes and return on investment.
U New Haven hasn’t rested on its laurels, either, to draw the interest of prospective students. Instead, it built a world-class faculty and consistently innovated by creating new programs to prepare graduates for rapidly changing opportunities and demands. Enter the M.S. in Forensic Technology, a program developed a decade ago to meet the needs of 21st-century crime scene investigation, according to Assistant Dean, Senior Lecturer, and Director of the Center for Advanced Policing Lisa Dadio M.S., M.S.W. It combines traditional crime scene techniques with advanced instrumentation and measurements, developing expertise in techniques such as forensic photography, blood stain analysis, and firearms examination.
“We place a high importance on preparing students to become professionals who do it the right way, who maintain the integrity of the crime scene and the investigation.”
MARIA TORRE PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Long a private university with a public mission, U New Haven’s forensic technology program aims to “make investigations better,” said Program Coordinator Maria Torre. “We place a high importance on preparing students to become professionals who do it the right way, who maintain the integrity of the crime scene and the investigation.”
Dadio and Torre point out that the program has many of the characteristics of the University’s traditional academic philosophy and strengths — hands-on experiences through research and internships, relevancy to a constantly changing industry, faculty who are current practitioners and experts in the field, and supportive alumni enthusiastic about networking with and serving as mentors for current students, lending further credence to the notion that U New Haven is an institution that builds meaningful — and actionable — connection. Additionally, it has built mutually beneficial relationships with leading organizations and agencies dedicated to excellence in forensic science that proactively seek out and repeatedly hire University students and graduates as interns and investigators, such as the Raleigh/Wake City-County Bureau of Identification, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Connecticut, and the Bode Technology Group in Virginia, resulting in what Dadio and Torre refer to as “a University of New Haven 2.0,” a hub of Charger talent continuing to grow and evolve into the elite workforce of tomorrow.
In the following pages, you’ll read about just a few of the many forensic technology graduates and employers who are giving testimony to what it means to pay a University of New Haven education forward for contemporaries and future students.
KENNY JEAN-BART ’22 M.S.
The decision to pursue a career in forensic technology was an evolving process for Kenny Jean-Bart ’22 M.S. that began in high school with a biology class assignment to read “Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers” by Mary Roach. The book, a history of the use of cadavers and an exploration of the surrounding ethical and moral issues, captivated her.
“I don’t remember the specifics of the assignment,” says the 26-year-old from Woodstock, Georgia, “but I was fascinated by the book. It’s about what can happen to a cadaver that’s been donated to science. There was a chapter about the body farm at the University of Tennessee and the research being conducted by their forensic anthropology department at the time.”
Two years later, the youngest of three daughters raised by a single mom attended a summer camp for high schoolers considering a career in health care. The highlight for Jean-Bart was a simulation where students acted as first responders to a mock crime scene. “That had me thinking of going into forensic medicine and potentially becoming a forensic pathologist.”
While pursuing her biology degree with a minor in human development and family sciences at the University of Georgia, Jean-Bart was further inspired by recreationally reading memoirs by forensic professionals. A forensic anthropology elective began to shift her thought process from forensic pathology to forensic science. Then the University of New Haven beckoned — specifically, the University’s crime scene house and hands-on learning model, which caught her attention — as Jean-Bart considered graduate programs. She selected the M.S. in Forensic Technology as most applicable to the career she wanted to pursue.
Jean-Bart found her groove at the University after experiencing the uncertainties of student life during the COVID-19 pandemic. She points to classes on crime scene investigation, blood splatter analysis, and crime scene reconstruction as particular favorites. She took advantage of the approachability of Assistant Dean and Senior Lecturer Lisa Dadio, Associate Professor Peter Valentin, and Senior Lecturer Maria Torre, among others, who offered an empathetic ear, course guidance, and assistance finding internships and jobs.
Jean-Bart happily gives back to the University, meeting with students visiting the Washington, D.C., area or collaborating with other Charger alumni working at Bode Technology, her employer, when former professors reach out for help.
Today, Jean-Bart is a forensic DNA technologist at Bode, a forensic DNA analysis firm in Virginia, that employs more than a handful of U New Haven graduates. She’s currently in training for their lab support team after working for Bode’s sampling team shortly after graduation.
“What I love most about my job,” she says, “is that we’re really making a difference in victims’ lives” citing sexual assault cases and even cold cases that her team processes.
What I love most about my job is that we’re really making a difference in victims’ lives.”
DANIELLE DIBIANCO ’15, ’17 M.S.
Danielle (Renchy) DiBianco ’15, ’17 M.S. says the University of New Haven “is the best university one can attend to pursue a career in forensic science or criminal justice. Employers know what they’re getting when they see U New Haven on a resume.”
DiBianco, a board-certified medicolegal death investigator for the State of Connecticut employed with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) for the past four years, should know. She earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice (with a concentration in investigative services) and a certificate in law enforcement science from the University in 2015 and then stayed on another two years to complete the M.S. in Forensic Technology.
Those degrees led to a position as a civilian crime scene investigator with the Frederick (MD) Police Department after graduation. Wanting to be closer to her Connecticut family, she then accepted an offer from the OCME, which hires many Charger alumni. She now lives in Prospect with her husband, Giovanni, and their newborn baby.
DiBianco loves the work, where she attends the scenes of unnatural deaths working alongside law enforcement and forensic pathologists to determine the cause and manner of death, bringing closure to families after the passing of their loved ones.
It is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. DiBianco grew up in a law enforcement family where “just about my entire family consists of first responders or medical professionals,” and she knew from a very young age that she wanted to pursue a career in the criminal justice or forensic science field.
It was natural, then, for the Guilford native to look to the University of New Haven. “I have always been a fan of Dr. Henry Lee,” she says, “and as I began exploring colleges and universities, I learned about U New Haven’s advanced programs and curriculums through the Lee Institute.”
Really prepared me to take the stand and testify in court during my time as a crime scene investigator.”
Having already earned two University of New Haven degrees, DiBianco says that she has considered returning for another master’s degree or a doctorate and even hopes to one day join the University’s faculty to teach alongside those she so admires.
“Every professor has something unique and special to offer,” she says. “They are all so accomplished in their fields of expertise.” DiBianco was in the first graduating class for the first-of-its-kind forensic technology program, fondly recalling classes in crime scene reconstruction and forensic expert testimony, which “really prepared me to take the stand and testify in court during my time as a crime scene investigator.”
DiBianco embraces the propensity of Charger alumni to give back to the institution that set them on their career paths and life journeys. She maintains strong professional relationships with many former professors, guest lecturing for some and helping students with job applications. She’s met graduate students through gatherings of the Connecticut chapter of the International Association of Identification, assisting with interview prep and job searches. Part of her responsibilities with the OCME include training interns exclusively from the University of New Haven, giving them the chance to experience her world of work.
MEREDITH NAROWSKI ’18, ’20 M.S.
It wasn’t only about the television programs, but they were a big influencer.
In high school Meredith Narowski ’18, ’20 M.S., realized that a career in forensics was “actually attainable, and the more research I did into forensics and the types of careers you could have, the more I wanted to do it.” But it was those TV shows that lit the spark. “From a young age, I loved all the crime shows and movies that were on pretty much every channel you flipped to on the TV.”
Ultimately, coursework at the University of New Haven clinched the deal. “My passion for forensics grew as soon as I started taking forensic-based courses at U New Haven,” says the Criminal Justice-Investigative Services graduate. “I chose U New Haven because it was one of the highest-ranked universities in the country for criminal justice and forensics. For me, it was the University of New Haven or nothing.”
I truly do not think I could love my career any more than I do.”
Now a crime scene specialist at the Raleigh/ Wake City-County Bureau of Identification (CCBI) in North Carolina, Narowski, 27, expounds easily about her time at the University. “Any time anyone asks me about this program,” she says, “I easily spend 10 or more minutes talking about how amazing it was. The courses are specifically designed to prepare you for the real world. Every class is hands-on, whether it’s practical exercises, mock crime scenes, presentations, mock testimonies, the list goes on.”
Citing field experience in forensics and an ability to relate in-class presentations to real-world experiences, Narowski has high praise for the Lee College faculty members. “I truly loved all of them,” she enthuses. The Oxford, Connecticut, native insists that the goal of every faculty member is “to set you up for success. I spent countless hours meeting with my professors, whether it was to get help on assignments, guidance in job hunting, or just socializing. They honestly became like family to me.”
After earning her graduate degree in the forensic technology program, she was hired by CCBI, joining many other University graduates.
“I landed the job because of [Assistant Dean and Senior Lecturer] Lisa Dadio,” she says. With Dadio’s encouragement, she applied, knowing she would have the opportunity for advancement. Sure enough, a year later Narowski was promoted to crime scene specialist. “Now, I am absolutely living the dream,” she says. “Every day when I go to work, I am doing exactly what I set out to do. I love the challenge. No two crime scenes are the same, and it is always testing my skills. I truly do not think I could love my career any more than I do.”
She maintains relationships with several former professors, and because the forensic technology program gave her both the skill set and confidence necessary for success, she offers current and prospective students advice and encouragement.
Narowski acknowledges nerves and anxiety when she entered the field. That soon changed. “Within the first day, I was using things I learned throughout my studies at the University on scenes. I was able to apply the concepts I learned in the program with ease and confidence. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.”
From the Alumni Association
Paying It Forward
Hi Charger Family,
I am often asked why I support the University of New Haven and what motivates me to serve on our Alumni Board of Directors. I reflected on these questions a lot around this year’s annual Giving Day celebration (read more on page 32), and it brought to mind the story of my personal journey as a former student and proud graduate of the University.
Ultimately, it was the support and contributions of others that enabled me to attend the University of New Haven, graduate with a Systems Engineering degree, and begin work at Accenture. While a student, I was fortunate to receive the Arthur H. Moulton Distinguished Scholar Endowed Scholarship. An endowed scholarship is a type of scholarship funded by a donation from an individual, organization, or institution. The donation is invested, and the interest earned is used to fund the scholarship in perpetuity. The scholarship I received was established by the Moulton family to support students pursuing a degree in engineering. I once had the opportunity to meet Arthur’s son, who explained that Arthur so enjoyed his experience at U New Haven that he ultimately wanted to give back and support future students. I was so grateful that someone would be so generous and caring about the next generation of Chargers to, quite literally, want to invest in their success. In that moment, I vowed to continue the trend and pay it
forward after I graduated and once I was able to do so.
I am not the only Charger who has benefited from others’ generosity. This year, more than 250 students received aid from donor-funded scholarships. Whether scholarships and financial aid or other forms of charitable giving, this kind of selfless philanthropy helps students like me not only attend the University but also receive a full and robust student experience while on campus. Notably, alumni support specifically played a pivotal role in the construction of Bergami Hall (formerly New Hall), a testament to the lasting impact of our community’s contributions. In fact, this residence is where I lived during my first year as a Charger and where I worked as a resident assistant for the Engineering Living and Learning Community for my remaining three years. It stands as a central memory of my time at the University and a symbol of the strong bond between our alumni and current students.
I had so much fun as a student at U New Haven, and I am committed to ensuring all University students have an equally enjoyable experience. As I’ve said before, once a Charger, always a Charger! In that sense, I am equally committed to ensuring all Charger alumni can find a home away from home as a member of Charger Nation. So many benefits are available to us even after you’ve left the University. Whether you
are networking to find your next job, wanting to save on insurance or other everyday purchases, or thinking about creative opportunities to continue your education, our Alumni Board and Alumni Association are here for you. Reach out any time to alumni@newhaven.edu.
With that, I’d like to welcome the Class of 2024 to our alumni family!
I hope you all have a fun and safe summer!
Sincerely,
Reece Gleadle ’14 President, University of New Haven Alumni Board of Directors
2023–2024
ALUMNI BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President Reece Gleadle ’14
Vice President Leah Myers ’18
Secretary Meghan Kelly ’10, ’13 M.S.
Treasurer Ronald Pierce II ’16
. Djuana Beamon ’08 MBA
Pasquale Cassella ’94 M.S.
Joseph Cieplak ’72
Frank Harper ’79, ’85 M.S., ’85 MBA
. Darryl Mack ’91
. Lindsay Margiotta ’13
. Christopher McWilliams ’93
George Melanson ’83
Anna Mercaldi ’19
Nicole Pacapelli ’14, ’16 MBA
Hannah Providence ’22
. Ben Robert ’81, ’83 MBA
. Eric St. Amand ’15
. Michael Spaziani ’99
. Richard Steeves ’77, ’80 MBA
. Michelle Stephens ’17
. Colin Weber ’17
STAY CONNECTED
Building Bridges
Ron Pierce ’16 exemplifies the value of giving back.
By Steve Neumann
When you are as involved in on-campus activities as Ron Pierce ’16 was while enrolled at the University of New Haven, graduation into the “real world” can be a somewhat disorienting adjustment.
“When I was a student, I was president of the University’s NAACP chapter for two years and a resident assistant for three years, and I also served on the Undergraduate Student Government Association,” Pierce said. “But then I started working a nine-to-five job, and I found myself thinking, ‘Wait — I don’t have anything I need to do after five o’clock today?’”
Pierce, an agile product owner at Travelers Insurance, has been hard at work reestablishing that sense of connection he experienced while at U New Haven, now in his capacity as an alumnus.
“You build [a] meaningful community within the University’s culture-based clubs and organizations,” Pierce said. “You find yourself really rooting for current members’ success even after you have graduated.”
Pierce has done more than just rooting from the sidelines. For several years he facilitated regular check-ins with current members of his former University registered student organizations and with staff in the University of New Haven’s Myatt Center for Diversity and Inclusion. Then after attending Homecoming 2019, Pierce cofounded the Black Alumni Network (BAN) with fellow alumni Robert Durant III ’17, Arnold M. Lane, Jr. ’14, and Mackenzie Upshaw ’17, ’19 M.S. BAN — which comprises three committees focusing on community, develop ment, and engagement — creates networking opportunities, support programs, and community service events for Black students and alumni of U New Haven.
“One of my biggest passions is cultivating a college-to-career pipeline for U New Haven students and alumni,” Pierce said. “I want to make sure students are equipped with everything they need to succeed in the real world and that they understand some of the big life changes that lie ahead postgraduation.”
Pierce felt the best way to act on this passion was to join the University’s Alumni Board of Directors, which he did in the summer of 2021, building on his experience with launching BAN.
“A lot of the collaborative initiatives we’ve tried to build with BAN and the Alumni Association relate to how we can be more involved with the University’s admissions process,” Pierce said. “We’re taking a closer look at how our efforts can impact student retention, student belonging, and mentorship — we want to make a real difference when it comes to the student experience.”
Pierce added that the Alumni Board of Directors also puts frameworks in place to make sure students have more access to alumni and feel comfortable reaching out to them because these students will then be more likely to pay it forward and return the favor by becoming active members of the Alumni Association after graduation.
“The University has been hosting road shows across the country in places like New York City, Washington, D.C., and Boston,” Pierce said. “Current members and alumni of BAN were able to attend many of these events, and we saw a lot of engagement from Black and Latino alumni in general across the board — that was pretty amazing. So we’re trying to build on that momentum.”
Pierce went on to describe another example of how proactively bringing Charger alumni together around a shared meaning or cause can lead to unique outcomes. In summer 2023, a group of Black alumni from the 70s and 80s came back to campus for a reunion event hosted by the University and ended up deciding to establish a fund for student scholarships.
“That was really amazing because it showed me that my BAN cofounders and I are not the only people on campus and in Charger Nation who recognize the limitless impact our alumni, especially our alumni of color, can have,” Pierce said. “Creating space for even more of this kind of connection, engagement, and philanthropy to take place is something I’m incredibly passionate about.”
For all the work that members of BAN and the Alumni Board have done in the past four years, Pierce feels like it’s all still a work in progress.
“It takes hard work and thoughtfulness to build an environment where former students and alumni can connect,” Pierce said. “You need to help alumni remember what they did and loved most at the University while students and to see that they can find some of that same old feeling in new ways by reinvesting in those former connections.”
Pierce’s vision for BAN is to be a bridge between students and alumni. Furthermore, he wants to help students see the value in giving back to U New Haven, whether financially or as volunteers, through engagement with not only BAN but also the Alumni Association as a whole.
“If there’s a skill set that you have, industry expertise, or a specific passion — anything that you can offer — pay it forward and give back by sharing that with the University of New Haven community and our students,” Pierce said. “You’ll
“If there’s a skill set that you have, industry expertise, or a specific passion — anything that you can offer — pay it forward and give back by sharing that with the University of New Haven community and our students. You’ll be helping shape what society might look like in the future as we move forward over the years.”
Power On Philanthropy
This year’s Charger Leadership Day and Giving Day brought the University’s most active and loyal donors and volunteers to campus to interact with students and faculty to experience the impact their giving has made.
By Steve Neumann
The University of New Haven continues to extend its exciting new brand campaign’s message, “Power On,” into new spheres of University activity. Where before students, faculty, and staff recognized the University as a place to power on their lives and careers, last month visitors to campus were inspired to power on philanthropy for the University’s Charger Leadership Day and Giving Day, held on April 24.
The director of communications and advancement program strategy, Lauren Castagnola, said that in a change from previous years, the University decided to host Charger Leadership Day and Giving Day on the same day.
“We really wanted people to see the impact of their giving,” Castagnola said. “President Frederiksen frequently mentions that this is a new era for the University of New Haven and that donors can help usher in this next era because change isn’t possible without philanthropy.”
This year’s Giving Day was another success, exceeding its fundraising goal of $125,000 by 116%, a trend that has continued for the past three years.
“We launched a new crowdfunding platform this year that allowed donors to have more interaction with what was happening on campus and a little bit more of a fun platform than we had in the past,” Castagnola said.
“We were taking video and images of the day and then emailing it out to folks in real time, aligning
“We really wanted people to see the impact of their giving. President
Frederiksen frequently mentions that this is a new era for the University of New Haven and that donors can help usher in this next era because change isn’t possible without philanthropy.”
LAUREN CASTAGNOLA DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM STRATEGY
of Charger Leadership Day to generate donations,” Castagnola added.
Another change from previous years’ Giving Days was placing equal emphasis on all donors, large or small.
“For a very long time, we really championed very large gifts to the University,” Castagnola said. “But we recognize that if we’re going to keep those larger gifts coming, we have to celebrate the folks who are making $25, $100, $250 gifts to the University and show them their impact as well.”
Castagnola said the University also realized that
something specific rather than going to a general fund that might support something necessary but not necessarily interesting. As a result, Charger Leadership Day was structured around presentations from each of the University’s colleges.
For example, Seton Gallery hosted the College of Arts and Sciences’ end-of-semester showcase, which included student artists’ exhibits and scientific work other students had done alongside faculty.
“You could read the poster and see the research somebody had done or look at the art they had made,” Castagnola said, “but then also have a conversation with the person who was doing that work throughout the year.”
A highlight of the day occurred in the Lee Institute in the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, which featured a presentation from Sarbjeet Kaur, a practitioner in residence who studies human trafficking.
“She talked about the public signs of what you can look for that hint at human trafficking and how it’s really happening right in front of our eyes, but many times we’re missing the signs of it,” Castagnola said. “And that was really impactful for the people who attended her presentation.”
Meanwhile, the Tagliatela College of Engineering hosted a walk-through of the Schaub Makerspace, which highlighted a mechanical engineering project students worked on this year: a self-feeding cat food distribution machine that ensures a cat can’t overfeed itself.
“A lot of the showcase work was by seniors, but it was fun to have two sophomores — Alexis Fernandez and Sara Connelly — in mechanical engineering talking about breaking some ceilings in that space,” Castagnola said, “and about how having the opportunity to do this kind of work early on in their academic career allowed them to solidify their commitment to mechanical engineering.”
In addition to exceeding its fundraising goal for the third straight year, the University’s Giving Day was also deemed a success in making all donors, big or small, feel not only appreciated but also motivated by what they witnessed.
In fact, one of the donors ended up making a substantial additional investment because he was so inspired by the excitement he saw on campus and through being able to talk with his scholarship donors.
“Initiatives like Charger Leadership Day and Giving Day show the power of philanthropy on small and large scales. Donors feel the momentum of the day and the power of the Charger community, whether they are on campus or around the world. We are grateful for the passion and support from our alumni and friends,” said Brian Otis, vice president for advancement. •
Your generosity empowers us to innovate and invest in our students. Visit newhaven.edu/give to make a gift to support Charger Nation today!
Back to Campus
A (Blue and) Golden Anniversary 50
The University of New Haven community recently celebrated several historic 50th-anniversary milestones.
U New Haven Commemorates the Founding of the Black Student Union
The 2023 Sankofa Ball — a highlight of the University’s annual Black and Latino Alumni Weekend — brought Chargers together for a fun and elegant evening to reflect on the important impact the Black Student Union (BSU) has had on countless students and alumni. Founded in 1973, the BSU was the first student organization on campus for students of color. Allen Love ’88, ’90 MPA, the lead sponsor of the event and a member of the University’s Board of Governors, delivered remarks. Several Chargers were also recognized as part of the event. Alandre Alexis, assistant director of RSOs and operations, earned the Horatio Strother Award, which recognizes a Charger who is a role model and demonstrates leadership and service to the University community. Maudjeani Pelissier ’26, an international student from Haiti and a music and sound recording major, received the Sankofa Scholarship. The event also recognized the leadership of dedicated members of the University community, including BSU executive board members. Aaron Brooks ’24, then vice president, was named Executive Member of the Year, while Ron Pierce ’16 earned the Alum of the Year Award. During the ceremony Ariana Eastwood ’23, then president, passed the torch to Brooks, who took over as president after Eastwood graduated.
WNHU Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary In-Person
The Marvin K. Peterson Library Turns 50!
and On-Air
In summer 2023 dozens of Chargers, including current and former members of the University’s award-winning radio station, WNHU, gathered to reflect on the station’s first 50 years on-air and to look to its next five decades of broadcasting and creating memorable opportunities for students. The celebration included a wide array of alumni who have been involved with the station as well as current students. It lasted the entire weekend of the anniversary, bringing together Chargers past and present for campus tours and a reception.
JJ Dionisio ’25, program director, led the countdown to kick off the celebratory broadcast, joined by Pete Sotere ’74, a founding member of WNHU and the second person in the station’s history to broadcast on-air. The celebration included a discussion about the station’s next 50 years led by professional in residence and WNHU general manager Bruce Barber, joined by Jess Finn ’24, WNHU’s station manager. Those alumni who took part in the celebration shared their own experiences at the station, including what it meant to them to be a part of WNHU and how their involvement prepared them for their careers.
The Marvin K. Peterson Library was completed in 1974 during the early years of former President Phillip S. Kaplan, Ph.D. (1973–1991) and dedicated to his predecessor, Marvin K. Peterson, Ph.D. (1954–1973). The library was the first new campus building designed as the result of an architectural competition, according to University historical records. Today, the Peterson Library stands as an academic hub on the University’s main campus in West Haven, advancing the institution’s academic mission by providing a physical and digital space dedicated to intellectual freedom, curiosity, and the pursuit of knowledge, encouraging those in the University community to ask questions and seek answers through critical inquiry.
REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD! Stay tuned! We are hard at work planning for other exciting opportunities in summer 2025 and beyond to bring alumni together to celebrate class reunions, program milestones, and other points of Charger pride. Have an idea or want to get involved? Email alumni@newhaven.edu. We can’t wait to connect with you!
Talking To
Dorinda Borer ’92 MBA: Making Things Happen
For Dorinda Borer MBA ’92, West Haven’s new mayor, public service is a way of life.
By Doug Whiting
Dorinda Borer ’92 MBA likely could have settled into a long-term gig representing West Haven’s 115th General Assembly District in the Connecticut House of Representatives.
First elected to the post in a special election in 2017, she’d catapulted to leadership as a member of the Environment and Public Health committees, chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, and chair of the powerful General Bonding Subcommittee of the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee in just six short years.
Borer, a Democrat, succeeded a fabled Democrat who’d held the seat for 26 years. It seemed as safe a seat in the General Assembly as any.
Instead, she watched in horror as a massive fraud scheme by a Connecticut State Representative and city of West Haven employee unfolded in her home city. A year ago, that individual was sentenced to 27 months in jail for his involvement in schemes resulting in the theft of more than $1.2 million in COVID relief funds — funds from the federal government designed to help local governments pay costs incurred in responding to the pandemic — and other funds from the city of West Haven.
“I had a front row seat” to the troubles, she recalls. “This was the city I grew up in. I could have shoveled against the tide, or stepped in to see if I could help the city turn around.”
She stepped up in a big way, throwing her hat into the race for mayor of West Haven, winning the seat, beginning her inaugural two-year term as the city’s second female mayor on December 3, 2023, and assuming a post formerly held by her ex-husband H. Richard Borer Jr., mayor of West Haven from 1991 to 2005.
Borer says she was motivated to run because of the scandal and a desire to help heal her city. “There are still residual effects, but we are working to fix them. I want to keep moving us forward, to reinvent ourselves.”
Public service has been part of Borer’s DNA since earning her bachelor’s degree from Southern Connecticut State University (where her only child, Drew, recently graduated from) and an MBA from the University of New Haven. A lifelong “Westie,” she served on the city’s Board of Education and as president of Drew’s middle school PTA. In addition, her work in the Irish American community was recognized when she served as the grand marshal of the 2003 Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade and was honored as West Haven’s Irishwoman of the Year in 2014.
Borer has also been honored by the West Haven Black Coalition and the West Haven Hispanic Society for her contributions to building better communities through diversity.
Prior to her service in the state legislature, she worked in municipal government as the personnel director of the town of Stratford and the city of Bridgeport. She held positions in banking as an auditing manager and branch administrator, often working three jobs to help pay for her two degrees. She even flipped houses for a time as she transitioned from the corporate world to public service. In recent years, she’s returned to U New Haven as an adjunct professor, teaching several courses in government.
Each experience helped prepare her for her current role, giving her “exposure to cutting edge technology and people who were visionaries, teaching me how to market myself and reach
“I love it, love coming to work every day, and I enjoy building a new team. I want to be part of making things happen.”
audiences, and how to succeed even when I’m out of my comfort zone.”
On being mayor, Borer says, “I love it, love coming to work every day, and I enjoy building a new team,” she says. “I want to be part of making things happen.”
The job, though, is demanding, and she is still striving to find a work–life balance. The hours are significant, and the buck stops at her desk. Decisions are required constantly, some questions requiring split-second answers. “You start the day with a plan,” she says wistfully, “but you really don’t know what your day will look like until it unfolds.”
As a state representative, she has recognized the contributions of Connecticut’s higher education industry to the state’s economy. Now, as West Haven’s CEO, she is a proud alumna and has a fine appreciation for the University’s presence in the city, knowing that thousands of employees, students, family members, and alumni make major contributions to the city’s economy and cultural and social life. She’d like to strengthen the town-gown relationship with the University and wants to make sure that students know and take advantage of everything that West Haven has to offer.
“This is a beautiful city with beautiful people,” she says. “The city and its people deserve good government.” •
We Are the Champions: Baseball Clinches Northeast-10 Title
After wrapping up the regular season with a 24-22 overall record, the New Haven baseball team made an incredible run in the Northeast-10 tournament to secure the program’s third NE10 title and first since 2017. The Chargers would need to win a pair of games against Franklin Pierce on the Ravens home field to take the title, and they did just that thanks to the hot hitting of All-Tournament
selections Matt McIntire and Shaun Callahan, as well as the hot hand of sophomore pitcher Michael Gatti, who was named the NE10 Tournament Most Valuable Player after winning two games, including the title game. The Chargers earned an automatic bid to their 40th NCAA Division II Championship, with regional action taking place at Molloy University.
Charger Roundup
Chargers Year-End Awards
During its annual Athletics & Senior Awards Banquet on Sunday, April 28, at Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium, the New Haven Department of Athletics handed out its year-end awards, highlights of which included recognizing football’s Giye Jenkins and Macy Brown from women’s volleyball as the department’s Male and Female Athlete of the Year, respectively. Both All-Americans, Jenkins and Brown will return for their senior campaigns, looking to lead their respective programs to back-toback NE10 Championships and appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Women’s
Lacrosse Returns to NCAA Tournament
For the second straight season, the New Haven women’s lacrosse team earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs after racking up an 11-5 regular season record and advancing to the NE10 Championship semifinals. Leading the Chargers on the year were five players who secured Northeast-10 All-Conference honors, highlighted by graduate attack Katie Schenck and senior defender Laura Agbayani on the First Team. Senior goalkeeper Gabby Buscemi, who holds the number two position in the all-time annals for career-saves, earned a spot on the Second Team, whereas juniors Gianna Caprioli in the midfield and Justine Doyle on defense rounded out the accolades with Third Team distinction.
Tight End Signs Free Agent Contract
Tight end Kevin Foelsch saw his dream come true when he was offered and signed a free agent contract from the Carolina Panthers. Foelsch is the first Charger to sign an undrafted free agent contract since Zach Voytek signed with the Buffalo Bills in 2017. In a recent article following the NFL Draft, Foelsch said, “I love this place.” Foelsch continued, “It is a second home for me, I will always call it home, and I will always be a proud alum here. I love all the coaches, all the staff, and everybody, it is a special place for me, and it always will be.”
Spotlight on Men’s Golf
After an impressive second year with the program, sophomore Aissa El Khadri was a top-25 ranked individual in the East Region heading into the postseason, which secured a bid to the NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Region Championship in Wheeling, West Virginia. El Khadri opened up the three-day event at the Speidel Jones Course with a four-over par 75 and went on to close out the 54-hole tournament tied for 75th overall.
Spotlight on Women’s Golf
After winning the NE10 title in just the second year athletes in the program have competed at the varsity level, the women’s golf team earned the automatic bid to the NCAA Regional Championship, competing in the 54-hole event held at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana. Leading the Chargers in its first postseason appearance was graduate golfer Wynter Flores. The Chargers have a strong nucleus returning for 2024–25, with a pair of freshman among the team’s top-four finishers at the NCAA Regionals: Isabella Thomas and Sophia Silva.
Track and Field Take Home Medals at the New Englands
The men’s and women’s track and field teams each wrapped up the Northeast-10 Conference Championships with third place finishes, whereas five student-athletes finished atop the podium in their individual events. Among the highlights for the Chargers were a pair of women who set school records, including Kristen Washington, whose gold medal jump of 6.01 meters (19’8.75”) not only broke a school record but set a new record in the NE10. Rookie Jada Kamtha joined Washington in the record column, securing her second school record of the year — one indoor, one outdoor — with a new mark in the 100 m hurdles. Following the NE10 Championship, the Chargers sent multiple student-athletes to the New England Championship, with three coming home New England Champions in their individual events. Washington took that title in the triple jump for the women, whereas Jacky Marescot and Jonathan Cineus earned the distinction on the men’s side. Marescot’s title came in the long jump, whereas Cineus took gold in the triple jump, part of a 1-2-3 finish for New Haven in the event.
“We are at the forefront of powering passions, changing lives, and creating a more just and better tomorrow for all. Since my first visit to campus, it has been abundantly clear that this university is up to the challenge. I see no ceiling on what we can accomplish together.”
JENS FREDERIKSEN, PH.D., PRESIDENT