Summer 2022 University of New Haven Alumni Magazine

DISTINGUISHED Endeavors Faculty Achievements and Recognitions PAGE 18 ALUMNI MAGAZINE • ISSUE 08 • SUMMER 2022 NEWS New Health Sciences Dean • 04 ALUMNI NEWS Giving Day 2022 • 32 SPORTS DESK Fall Sports Preview • 39 PREVIEW Study Abroad in Tuscany • 01

ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 PREVIEW

STUDY ABROAD

Below, students from the spring 2020 cohort — most psychology majors — walk in the nearby Piazza del Comune in the historical city center of Prato.

ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 NEWHAVEN.EDU/MAGAZINE 1

The University of New Haven’s campus in Tuscany, Italy, reopened for Spring Semester 2022 with a record-breaking class of nearly 100 students.

While studying abroad, students volunteered to teach English at local high schools; set up self-defense courses at a local women’s shelter; and participated in the Conversation Exchange program, meeting with local high school and university students to converse both in Italian and English.

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.

Vice President for Enrollment & Student Success Gregory E. Eichhorn

Bria Mangione, Stephanie Mullins, Iris Tao, Taylor Design

Photography

Dawn Alderman ’99, ’03 M.S. Marketing & Communications

Renee Chmiel M.S., Dave Cranshaw, MBA, Tyler Hanson M.S., Matthew McCullough, Michael McKiernan, M.A., Carolyn Meyer, John Mordecai, Kaitlyn Naples, Laura Norris, M.S., Alicia Post Lindstadt, MBA, Carol Regan, Chris Teodosio Design

Contributors

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

DepartmentsFeatures PREVIEW 01 • Study Abroad NEWS 04 • University News 06 Paths of Discovery 06 • The College of Arts and Sciences 07 • The Pompea College of Business 08 • The Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences 09 • The Tagliatela College of Engineering 10 • The School of Health Sciences 11 The Bergami Center for Science, Technology, & Innovation 12 • Faculty Spotlight 12 • Publications 13 In The Media 14 • Success Starts Here: Charger Success Stories 16 • Events: Spring 2022 Commencement ALUMNI NEWS 30 • From the Alumni Association 32 Events: Giving Day 2022 34 • Back to Campus 35 Talking To: Antonio McDonald ’01 SPORTS DESK 36 • Highlights: The Peterson Performance Center 38 Charger Roundup PERSPECTIVE 40 • Esports EndeavorsDistinguished Faculty Achievements and Recognitions2218 26 Embracing a Purposeful Life Alumni Spotlight: Darryl Mack ’91 ExperiencesShared Collaborative Learning and Student Success 2 ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 TABLE OF CONTENTSIN THIS ISSUE

ALUMNI MAGAZINE ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022

Vice President for University Advancement Brian Otis

©2022 University of New Haven. All Rights Reserved. For permissions, please contact erodgers@newhaven.edu

Editor in Chief Elizabeth Rodgers

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.

President of the Alumni Board of Directors

Interim Associate Vice President for Marketing & Communications Sue Pranulis

Doug Whiting, Steve Neumann

Francesco Bolognini, Nicole Apuzzo Cain, Clarus Multimedia, Defining Studios & Defining Properties, Thomas Sayers Ellis, hayes.house.gov, Don Hamerman, Avi Mehta, Lismarie Pabon ’22, Len Rubenstein, University of New Haven Athletics

The storied successes of our most recent graduates and older alumni alike are featured in a new section titled “Charger Success Stories” (Page 14) which spotlights Charger Nation’s numerous accomplishments across a diverse breadth of disciplines and illuminates the value and return on investment of a University of New Haven education.

Sheahon Zenger, Ph.D., who formerly served as director of athletics and recreation, is now our interim president. He will serve for the next two years as the University’s internally facing and community leader, overseeing day-to-day operations and implementation of the

Our strength as an academic institution is on full display in our three features. Our cover story, “Distinguished Endeavors” (Page 18), reveals how, with increasing frequency, prestigious local, regional, national, and international organizations are recognizing the remarkable efforts of members of our faculty. In “Shared Experiences” (Page 22), we highlight the kind of collaborative and real-world learning that takes place in group activities and contributes to student success. Finally, “Embracing a Purposeful Life” (Page 26) profiles Darryl Mack ’91 who, for nearly three decades, has helped young people transform their lives from being at-risk students to productive and successful citizens.

“This truly is a very special community of individuals, which is why I am pleased to continue in a leadership role, albeit from a different vantage point.”

Members of the University of New Haven community have the tools, intellect, and drive to make a difference. This is why I believe what makes our community so special is the people — the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends who make up Charger Nation.

University’s strategic plan. I am fully committed to assisting Dr. Zenger throughout the next year and beyond if needed.

STEVEN H. KAPLAN

With best wishes, Steven H. Kaplan, Ph.D. Chancellor

In February, the Board of Governors announced an innovative leadership transition plan that will enable the University to grow, build on the momentum of its recent successes, and strengthen its position as a financially sound, highly regarded, and comprehensive university.

This truly is a very special community of individuals, which is why I am pleased to continue in a leadership role, albeit from a different vantage point.

It has been exhilarating to serve this community, and I applaud the Board of Governors for its creative vision. I want to express my gratitude to the thousands of University of New Haven alumni — many of whom my wife and partner Anemone and I proudly call our friends — who exhibit their Charger pride in the work they do, the lives they lead, the communities in which they invest, and the support they provide for generations of students who have followed in their footsteps.

On July 1, after serving nearly two decades as president, I became the University’s first chancellor and CEO. This new role will allow me to focus my time externally on high-level fundraising, strategic partnerships, and board relations while continuing to maintain oversight of the University’s overall financial results and operational performance through the conclusion of the 2022–2023 academic year, at which point I will begin a long-planned sabbatical and retirement.

Throughout his time at the University, Dr. Zenger has proven to be a capable and visionary leader who deserves our support during his interim presidency. The Board of Governors recently confirmed that a national presidential search will commence in the summer of 2023 with the goal of having an individual ready to take office no later than September 2024.

The spirit of giving back has always been strong among our University family. This is readily apparent in the generous financial commitments from Jeffery P. Hazell ’83, ’10 Hon., Professor Alice Fischer ’22 Hon. and her husband Michael, and Stephen Tagliatela ’13 Hon. and the Louis F. and Mary A. Tagliatela Family Foundation (Page 5) as well as in the construction progress for the Peterson Performance Center funded by David Peterson Jr. ’88, ’17 Hon. (Page 36)

I intend to accomplish a great deal over the next year to ensure an even stronger future for the University, and I look forward to our continuing work together.

An Exciting Next Chapter

ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 NEWHAVEN.EDU/MAGAZINE 3 WELCOME LETTERIN THIS ISSUE

Sheahon Zenger, Ph.D., Interim President

As I told graduates at our Spring 2022 Commencement, we all have an obligation to serve in whatever way we can to leave this planet better for future generations than it is today. I urge you, as I did them, to embrace this responsibility. Ultimately, I am as confident as ever that we will continue to achieve great things.

She previously served as dean of the Westbrook College of Health Professions at Maine’s University of New England. She also spent 23 years at Eastern Michigan University, serving as director of its occupational therapy program and the School of Health Sciences director.

Francis-Connolly earned her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Quinnipiac University, her master’s degree in occupational therapy from Boston University, and her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Michigan. A prolific author and presenter, her research focuses on mothering across the life course and academic mentoring and leadership. She is chair of the Society for the Study of Occupation: USA and has been a reviewer for the Journal of Occupational Science and the American Journal of Occupational Therapy.

The University’s graduate program in criminal justice was recently ranked 14th out of 81 online master’s degree programs in criminal justice and criminology by U.S. News and World Report — rising from 48th last year. It was also ranked 13th in the best online criminal justice programs for veterans. The program gained especially high praise for its faculty creden tials and training, ranking fourth nationwide. U.S. News and World Report also ranked the University in the top quarter of programs for engagement and student excellence.

The University’s Online Graduate Program in Criminal Justice Ranked Among Best in Nation

At a University press conference this past April, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal announced $120,000 in federal funding that will enable the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science to provide hands-on police training focusing on investigating hate crimes and shootings. Secured through the 2022 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, the grant will enable the Institute to offer training on the prevention of community conflict and hate crimes as well as on topics such as crime scene security and preservation, crisis management, and forensic lab capabilities.

Elizabeth B. Francis-Connolly, an interdisciplinary health expert with extensive experience as an educator and higher education administrator, joined the University effective July 15 as the new dean of the School of Health Sciences. Prior to this, she served as dean of the School of Interdisciplinary Health and Science at the University of Saint Joseph in WestDr.Hartford.Francis-Connolly helped launch a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, an online master’s degree program in public health, and a doctor of nursing practice program at Saint Joseph. She established an interprofessional education faculty working group, created a faculty committee to explore issues of equity and inclusion on campus, and developed an annual Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award to recognize junior faculty members’ achievements in teaching.

University InterdisciplinaryNames Health Expert New Dean of the School of Health Sciences

University News

4 ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 NEWS

Lee Institute of Forensic Science Receives Federal Grant to Support Police Training

The Jeffery P. Hazell Athletic Center

Fischer joined the University in 1982. She created and launched the institution’s undergraduate program in computer science, which she has led ever since.

Tagliatela Family Chair in Civil Engineering Endowed Fund

Jeffery P. Hazell Athletic Center

will be home to the University’s men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball teams and host large-scale University and community programs.

Alice Fischer, Ph.D., a 40-year member of the faculty, and her husband are making a $2 million commitment to establish the Alice E. and Michael J. Fischer Endowed Teaching Chair in Computer Science. The gift will be used to recruit and retain a prestigious faculty member who will teach core computer science skills and champion computer science education at the University.

Hazell was awarded an honorary Doctor of Business Administration from the University in 2010 and was presented the University’s prestigious President’s Award in 2017.

Tagliatela Family Makes Generous Gift to Support Civil Engineering

The gift will be used to recruit and retain a prestigious faculty member who will teach core computer science skills and champion computer science education at the University.

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3. Portion of the gift will be used to establish and outfit the Tagliatela Family Civil Engineering Laboratory

Fischer earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with distinction from the University of Michigan, where she was a part of Phi Beta Kappa and Delta Phi Alpha. She earned both a master’s degree in applied mathematics and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Harvard University.

Fischer cowrote “Applied C: An Introduction and More,” released in 2000, which was published in traditional Chinese for use in Taiwan and Hong Kong and in simplified Chinese for use in the Republic of China. She was also a coauthor of “The Anatomy of Programming Languages,” published in 1992.

Stephen Tagliatela ’13 Hon., longtime University benefactor and member of the Board of Governors, his wife Viola, and family members have made a generous commitment through the Louis F. and Mary A. Tagliatela Family Foundation in support of several key initiatives in the civil engineering program at the Tagliatela College of Engineering.

In recognition of her generosity and her Universityandeducator,careerdistinguishedasanresearcher,scholar,theawarded

Louis Tagliatela Jr. and Patricia Tagliatela. Founded by Francesco Tagliatela in 1917, the family recently celebrated their 100th year in business in 2017. Tagliatela is a licensed real estate broker who is also involved in a variety of real-estate partnerships throughout the East Coast.

Jeffery P. Hazell ’83, ’10 Hon. has made a $3 million commitment that will serve as the lead gift for the renovation of Charger Gymnasium. Once it is completed, the on-campus facility will be named in honor of Hazell.

Dr. Fischer an honorary Doctor of Engineering as part of its Spring 2022 Commencement.

1. New faculty member will be recruited to hold chair position for a five-year term

Through the Tagliatela Family Chair in Civil Engineering Endowed Fund, a new faculty member with expertise in construction management will be recruited to initially hold this chair position for a five-year term. A second initiative, the Tagliatela Family Scholarship in Civil Engineering Endowed Fund, will be used to provide scholarships to undergraduate students in civil engineering.

include renovated locker rooms for all varsity sports, increased seating capacity and new viewing areas in the arena, additional team meeting space and coaches’ offices, and an upgraded lobby honoring past Charger greats and championship teams.

Alice E. and Michael J. Fischer Endowed Teaching Chair in Computer Science

Finally, a portion of the gift will be used to establish and outfit the Tagliatela Family Civil Engineering Laboratory to support the growth of civil familyofConstruction,co-ownsSaybrook.MarinaResortSaybrookco-ownstheprogrammingengineeringinCollege.TagliatelathePointandinOldHealsoFranklinLLC,NewHavenwithmembers

Charger$3Student-AthleteFormerMakesMillionGifttoSupportAthletics

An in-person ceremony celebrating the vision for the Hazell Athletic Center is being planned on campus for the fall.

2. Tagliatela Family Scholarship in Civil Engineering Endowed Fund will be used to provide scholarships to undergraduate students in civil engineering

The Jeffery P. Hazell Athletic Center will be home to the University’s men’s and women’s basketball and upgradedprograms.andscaleandvolleyballwomen’steamshostlarge-UniversitycommunityThefacility will

A longstanding University benefactor and a member of the Board of Governors, Hazell, who was a member of the football team as a student, helped revive the University’s football program in 2009 following a five-year hiatus. He also supports Jeffery’s Fusion, the University’s on-campus fine dining restaurant, and the Hazell Nut Café, which provides experiential learning opportunities to hospitality and tourism management students in the Pompea College of Business.

Professor Makes $2 Million Gift to Support Computer  Science Education

Benefactor and

Students Hold Benefit Concert for Local Nonprofit

Nikodem Poplawski Ph.D., who has been called a potential “future Einstein,” and Michael Del Grosso ’23, who serves as a teaching assistant under Dr. Poplawski, have been conducting groundbreaking research exploring topics such as quantum field theory and quantum mechanics. They have completed two research papers, and their work is now featured in a documentary that aired this past spring in Germany and France on ARTE TV.

University Launches Innovative EducationEnvironmentalMarineProgram

ResearchTheoreticalMajorMathematicsConductingPhysicsatMIT

As part of the University’s Live Concert Planning & Promotion course, students organized a benefit concert to support Musical Intervention, a New Haven-based nonprofit that works with clinical and community organizations and the public to provide a platform for individuals and groups to write, record, and perform original music. The Music Intervention Jam was headlined by MicaelTreperformancesVision,musicalConnecticut-basedartistAimwithadditionalfromBreezy,CARL!,andTheSon.

Unique Design Course Facilitates ConnectionsCommunity

The Impact of Storytelling

As part of Telling Digital Stories, a special topics communication course, students created video journalism pieces focused on identity and belonging. The class contributed to the University’s Welcome Project, a collection of short video and audio interviews with students, faculty, staff, and members of the community. Focused on community building and the fostering of understanding and diversity, the project features conversations that reflect on the challenges and opportunities of living and working together.

NEWSARTS & SCIENCES

Hang Su ’23 has been involved with numerous faculty research projects at the University and beyond, including a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in summer 2021 and work with a faculty mentor at Rice University this past spring. Most recently, Su took her research to MIT, where she conducted theoretical physics research on cosmology as part of MIT’s Summer Research Program (MSRP). As a highly competitive program for undergraduate students, MSRP enables students to conduct research under the mentorship of MIT faculty.

Several University faculty members are leading the inaugural Citizen Opportunities for Accessing Science Training on the Sound (COASTS) Program, training nearly two dozen local community members to become citizen scientists and fostering the education and marine stewardship of Long Island Sound. Participants will also learn from experts at the Mystic Aquarium and the National Audubon Society, and University students will enjoy new opportunities to work within the community and apply what they’ve learned in the classroom.

Students in the University’s Community Design class worked with real-world clients as they designed marketing materials for two local nonprofit organizations — West Haven Community House, which offers a Head Start program, and Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven. The organizations are now using the materials the students created, including bus ads, a billboard, and printed brochures.

Physics Professor and ResearchStudent’sFeatured in Documentary

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EntreprenHER Spotlights Women Entrepreneurs

Unique ExploresCourseBusiness and Entrepreneurship

Ceyda Mumcu, Ph.D. — a former professional basketball player in Turkey and expert in fan behavior, sports marketing, and marketing analytics — is part of an interdisciplinary research group whose proposal “Communicating for Justice and Equality: Women’s Sport and Corporate Social Advocacy” recently received multiple awards. Recognitions included the Mary Ann Yodelis Smith Award for Feminist Scholarship, which was awarded by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications Commission on the Status of Women, and a grant from the Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication at Penn State University.

Esports Expert Says Industry ‘Needs Talented Workers — Not Just Gamers’

Pompea College of Business Launches Two New Mentorship Programs

The second annual EntreprenHER event brought together women entrepreneurs from across Connecticut and members of the University community — including the University’s Women in Business Club executive board — enabling finalists to pitch their businesses to a panel of judges and help create networking opportunities for students. The event also included a pop-up shop at which women who own in-state businesses showcased and promoted their products and services.

Professor’s Research Focuses on Impact of Women’s Sports in Advancing Social Change

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collaborated to develop a business concept that would have a positive environmental impact. They presented their business plans as part of the course’s culminating event, the Pompea Business Plan Expo, which included a final round of the pitch competition spotlighting the top four teams.

As part of “IntroductionUniversity’sthetoBusinessandEntrepreneurship”course,morethan100studentsfromdiversemajors

“Meaningful Mentorship: Making the Most of Your Charger Connections,” a panel discussion hosted by the Mentor Collective, a third-party partnering with the Pompea College of Business, highlighted two new programs: the Near Peer Mentorship Program, which pairs first-year business students with upper-level students, and the Alumni Mentoring Program, which matches seniors with PCoB alumni. The first official event since both programs were launched at the start of the academic year, the panel brought together current students and alumni mentors to discuss their experiences and the importance of mentorship.

At the Sports & Active Nutrition Summit in San Diego, Assistant Professor Jason Chung, B.C.L., L.L.B., discussed the expanding opportunities — including in the field of nutrition — in the esports industry worldwide as it continues to grow and evolve. As a presenter and panelist at the event, Chung shared his in-depth knowledge of the esports industry and the unique needs of gamers. Intended to foster scientific and business innovation, the event also featured insight from former and current athletes, nutrition company leaders, and dietitians. NutraIngredients-USA, which hosted the event, moderated the esports panel discussion that included Chung.

Jeffrey Treistman, Ph.D., and Matthew Schmidt, Ph.D., are bringing their passion for learning and teaching to “Impolitic,” their new podcast that aims to educate their audience about complex and hotly debated political issues, such as the war in Ukraine. Dr. Treistman and Dr. Schmidt have received the guidance and support of several University alumni who are helping them with the podcast — available on Apple and Spotify — including with graphic design, marketing, and sound engineering.

Students Take Part in Casualty DrillMass

Brooke Kammrath, Ph.D., D-ABC, was appointed associate editor for the Journal of Forensic Sciences, the official publication of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. Dr. Kammrath will advance the journal by publishing the highestquality manuscripts and increasing its presence on social media. A leader in the field, she is involved with myriad professional societies, including the Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and the Society for Applied Spectroscopy.

Through its Center for Advanced Policing, the University will now be responsible for training sworn police officers in the Northeast — and it will be the only location in the area to offer this training — because it was selected to become a National De-Escalation Training Center (NDTC) regional training center. A nonprofit organization, the NDTC helps public sector law enforcement agencies and endeavors to deliver the most advanced training supported by research and best practices.

and harsh interrogation techniques can have on memory. This past spring, he consulted on two high-profile cases in Guantanamo Bay and The Hague. Most recently, Dr. Morgan, who specialized in forensic psychiatry at Yale University, worked on research for the White House comparing traditional FBI interview methods to cognitive interviewing and a study funded by a grant from the U.S. government that focused on personality and behavior.

Cole Kochanowski ’22 was awarded a Fulbright–Hays Fellowship that allowed him to study and live in Tajikistan, a country of nearly 10 million in central Asia, this summer to support his interest in national security and environmental conservation, which was also the focus of his senior capstone project. After spending his summer in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Kochanowski plans to return to the U.S. and work in the intelligence field. He also hopes to pursue a career in foreign service as a U.S. diplomat.

As part of an annual mass casualty drill, students from across the Lee College — including those majoring in forensic science, homeland security, and criminal justice — applied what they learned in the classroom as they worked together to respond to and investigate two mock crime scenes. This year’s scenario involved a mass shooting and a suspected meth lab explosion. Students responded to and processed both scenes, staged outside South Campus Hall, checking for fingerprints, conducting witness interviews, analyzing the chemicals found, extinguishing fires, and helping victims.

Forensic AcademicNamedProfessorScienceEditorofPrestigiousJournal

 National Security Professors’ New Podcast Fosters Interest Political Affairsin

TrainingUniversityNamedRegionalDe-EscalationCenter

8 ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 NEWSCRIMINAL JUSTICE & FORENSIC SCIENCES

Forensic Psychiatry Expert Consults on Cases Guantanamoin Bay and The Hague National Morgan,ProfessorSecurityCharlesM.D.,M.A.,isanexpertontheimpactthatstress

National Security Major Earns FulbrightPrestigiousFellowship

the

such as industry,

+ Project Lead the Way scholarships for incoming engineering students are offered to high school seniors who

Students Excel at Regional Computer Science Conference

two

consulting,

the

Nine computer science students recently presented their senior capstone projects at Pace University as part of the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges: Northeastern Region Conference, with one team winning first place in the event’s poster contest. The University’s Computer Programming Club also received high praise in the event’s programming contest, capturing sixth place.

Mehdi Mekni, Ph.D., recently received a grant from the National Security Agency and the National Science Foundation that will enable him to create Connecticut’s first GenCyber Teacher Academy. The weeklong program, offered for free, will allow 25 teachers at public, private, or charter high schools in Connecticut to learn how to apply cybersecurity concepts in their classrooms. The program, which will include online pre- and post-camp activities, will also build and foster a GenCyber Teaching–Learning Community. Ph.D. of 21st sectors academia, nonprofits, or government agencies. have com pleted PLTW one of University’s ABET-accredited considered for a scholarship of at least $20,000 annually.

courses. Students who apply to

engineering programs are now automatically

+ ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 NEWHAVEN.EDU/MAGAZINE 9 ENGINEERINGNEWS

University Hosts Robotics Competition

the American Society for Engineering Education for its dedication to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at the University and among future industry leaders. The University is among fewer than a dozen institutions nationwide to earn this recognition from the organization’s Diversity Recognition Program.

The VEX Robotics Competition brought together more than 30 high school teams from Connecticut to Massachusetts that competed in individual and team challenges with the opportunity to qualify for the New England Regional Championship. The University has hosted this annual competition all but once since 2016 thanks to the support of student and faculty volunteers, including the University’s Robotics Club, and partners, including the Connecticut Technology Engineering Education Association. The VEX Robotics event was the kickoff of Engineer’s Week, also known as “E-Week,” a weeklong celebration of engineering and STEM disciplines.

The annual Sikorsky STEM Challenge allows local high school students to learn from mentors at Sikorsky by meeting and working with staff members during the academic year to develop projects. As part of the 11th Sikorsky STEM Challenge Final Challenge Day, held this past spring at the University, students presented their work to a team of judges and toured the University’s campus and state-of-the-art facilities.

University and Sikorsky Host STEM Event

in engineering and applied science prepares students for in-demand research careers

CT’s First GenCyber Teacher Academy

The recognitionbronze-levelhasEngineeringCollegeTagliatelaofearnedfrom

Tagliatela College of DiversityCommitmentRecognizedEngineeringforto

What’s New at TCoE? A new bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering will offer exciting experiences for students, including new courses and opportunities for collaboration, and prepare graduates for in-demand careers in two areas of engineering that are increasingly becoming aligned. + Designed for individuals with either a B.S. or M.S., the University’s new

century in

Dhaani ’23 MPH and Mabintou Darboe ’22 MPH received two of the three Vivian Drenckhahn Student Scholarship Awards awarded annually by SOPHE and were recognized at an awards ceremony as part of the conference. The financial awards are presented to full-time undergraduate or graduate students who are national SOPHE members and have demonstrated a commitment to addressing public health through a career in health education and have excelled academically.

Graduate Program in Healthcare Administration Earns Prestigious Reaccreditation

Master of Public Health InsecurityAddressesCandidateFood

10 ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 NEWSHEALTH SCIENCES

Selena Chom ’21, ’23 MPH, a candidate in the Master of Public Health program who earned a bachelor’s degree in health sciences, is a coauthor of a paper examining the impact of food insecurity on sexual minority men that was

Representative Jahana Hayes, an internationally recog nized educator who represents Connecticut’s 5th District, recently spoke to a group of University graduate students as part of the University’s “Law and Public Health” course, sharing her educational journey and praising students for entering the field during a challenging and critical time. The first African American woman and first African American Democrat to represent the state of Connecticut, Rep. Hayes is among several leaders — including Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and Maritza Bond, health director for the city of New Haven — who have spoken to the class.

The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) has granted full accreditation to the University’s Master of Healthcare Administration Program for a seven-year term, the maximum amount of time for renewed accreditation. Originally accredited in 2018, the program is ranked ninth out of all CAHME-accredited programs in Modern Healthcare, a highly respected healthcare executive publication. An Associate Graduate Member of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration and the Health Information Management Systems Society, the University offers a 36-credit MHA program that is one of just four CAHME-accredited programs in New England and the only such program in Connecticut.

U.S. StudentsMentorsCongresswomanGraduate

insecurity.addressingtakeresearchconductresearchersHavenUniversityYale,fromincludedthis2021.conferenceHealthAmericanthisChomonimpacttoinsecurityherisacademicandpublishedrecentlyinNutritionHealth,aleadingjournal.Shenowcontinuingresearchonfoodandhopeshelpaddresstheitishavingcollegestudents.alsopresentedresearchatanPublicAssociationinfallTheresultsofstudy,whichalsoresearchersHarvardandhaveinspiredofNewpublichealthtoadditionalandstepstowardfood

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Ruth Kameswara Rao ’23 MPH, Sri Prathima Kanneganti ’22 MPH, and Khyati Anil Rustagi ’23 MPH each received a 21st Century Student Scholarship in honor of their commitment to public health and advocacy. The award allowed them to attend SOPHE’s annual conference, Health Education: The ARCH of an Era, in DhaaniMarch.

Five Master of Public Health candidates have earned prestigious recognition from the National Office of the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE).

At the Forefront of Cultivating Opportunities for Innovation and

Community During the first two years following its grand opening, the University’s Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation has had a significant impact on students’ educational experience and is creating new ways for Chargers to collaborate and create. We invite you to take a virtual tour of the more than 45,000 square feet of learning and collaborative space floor by floor and room by room. Visit newhaven.edu/BergamiVirtualTourmouse-pointer BOTTOM FLOOR Highlights include a communications studio, an engineering lab, a makerspace, collaborative zones, and huddle rooms. MAIN FLOOR Highlights include an atrium and café, video production studios, an esports training and competition space, collaborative classrooms, breakout spaces, and huddle rooms. TOP FLOOR Highlights include an auditorium, a VR lab, collaborative classrooms, breakout spaces, and huddle rooms. ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 NEWHAVEN.EDU/MAGAZINE 11 PATHS OF DISCOVERYNEWS

Jestine Philip, Ph.D. Pompea College of Business

Kellin M. Cavanaugh, ABD, LPC College of Arts and Sciences

Faculty Spotlight

Kristine Horvat, Ph.D. Tagliatela College of Engineering

*Other authors: Melissa M. Luke, Syracuse University 12 ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 NEWS

Journal

sampling of recent work from our talented faculty across all five schools and colleges

Publications

Journal Article: Transgender College Student Development:IdentityA Narratology of ExperiencesIntermediating Appeared In: The Journal of Humanistic Counseling (June 2021) Journal Article: Viewing LeadershipofThroughTransformationDigitaltheLensTransformational Appeared In: Journal of CommerceComputingOrganizationalandElectronic (May 2021) Feature Article:: Catalyze Your Chemical Simulations with These CHEMCAD Tips Source: (MarchEngineering.com2020) Book: Invisible Mothers: Unseen Yet Hypervisible After Incarceration Published

Alyssaauthors:A.Grimshaw,

A

*Other Yale University; Khyati Anil Rustagi ’23 MPH, University of New Haven

Appeared In: Journal of Dental Education (January 2022)

Janet Garcia-Hallett, Ph.D. Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences

Article: Dental APracticesEducationDuringCOVID-19:ScopingReview

Robin Kerkstra RDH MSDH, and Karl E. Minges, Ph.D., MPH School of Health Sciences By: University of California Press (November 2022)

Susan Campbell, a distinguished lecturer of Communication, Film, and Media Studies, commented that journalists should honor the tradition of leaving the children of politicians out of the media following social media coverage of Senator Ted Cruz’s teenage daughter, which violated her privacy.

Buffalo, New Mass ShootingYork,

Uvalde, Texas, School Shooting

Chris Haynes, associate professor of political science, legal studies, national security, and international affairs, broke down the significance of the June 2022 public hearings of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.

Melissa Whitson, professor of psychology, said there must be a distinction between someone with mental health issues and someone who exhibits violent behavior.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson News12

Olena Lennon, an adjunct professor of political science and VladmirUkraineheraffairs,internationaldiscussedhomelandofandhowRussianPresidentPutinunderestimatedthestrengthofUkrainiannationalidentity.

Voice of America

Robert Sanders, associate professor and chair of national security, discussed the historic nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court.

CNN International Matthew Schmidt, associate professor of Putin’sPresidentpoliticalsecurity,affairs,internationalnationalandscience,discussedRussianVladmirVictoryDayremarks.

Journalistic Integrity

Forbes

Supreme Court Leak

ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 NEWHAVEN.EDU/MAGAZINE 13 FACULTY SPOTLIGHTNEWS

Kenneth Gray, senior lecturer of criminal justice, homeland security, and investigative services, discussed the “great replacement theory” and why the accused shooter included it in his manifesto.

The War in Ukraine

NBC Connecticut

Jessica Holzer, assistant professor and director of the B.S. in Health Sciences in Georgia.casediscussedprogram,thefirstofmonkeypox

In the Media

Monkeypox CBS News Atlanta

The Woodrow Wilson Center

The January 6 Capitol Insurrection

Fox News California

The Hartford Courant

Michael Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice, and Brian Marks, executive director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program, discussed the leaked opinion from the Supreme Court on Dobbs v. Jackson.

A roundup of broadcast, digital, and print media spotlighting faculty experts from Spring Semester 2022

14 ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022

SuccessCharger Stories

McLoughlin, a national security major and double minor in political science and legal studies, interned with The Normandy Group LLC. His time at the University also included competing as part of the University’s Model United Nations Program.

Business Analytics Grad Joins Ranks at Amazon

From Music City to the Big Apple

CareertoForwardLooksEngineerCivilFuturePlans

Our distinctive schools and colleges lay the foundation for future scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, forensic psychologists, doctors, engineers, programmers, attorneys, and scholars — the soon-to-be global citizens who will, before long, take their places in the world.

Sharath Raj ’22 M.S., a graduate of the University’s master’s program in data analytics, joined Amazon as a software development engineer this past summer, based in Boston. A native of India, he earned a provost’s assistantship to work with the Pompea College of Business and is grateful for the support and mentorship of the faculty and staff. Raj, who has an undergraduate degree in computer science and engineering, is excited to combine his passions for data and technology in his new role. One day, he hopes to start his own company and become a leader in using technology to revolutionize the defense and space industry.

Colford, an international affairs major, worked in the office of U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal as part of his internship with the Washington Internship Institute.

NEWS

atJobLeadsInternshipSeniortoOfferHubbell

SPOTLIGHT ON: THE CLASS OF 2022

Allison Sawicki ’22, a graduate of the University’s mechanical engineering program, recently began her career at resultedHubbellrecentincludingsummeralsoseniorenergyandonconductingvaluableEngineersofUniversity’sandSociety,LambdaProgramtheformerlyengineer.associateIncorporatedHubbellasandesignSawicki—amemberofUniversity’sHonorsandAlphaDeltaHonorpeerassistant,treasurerforthechapterSocietyofWomen—gainedexperienceresearchthermalbatteriesrenewableaspartofherthesis.Shecompletedthreeinternships,hermostplacementwithInc.,whichinajoboffer.

Andrew Colford ’22 and Declan McLoughlin ’22 spent the spring 2022 semester in the nation’s capital, where, as interns, they forged meaningful connections and immersed themselves in everything the city had to offer.

When Saron Hagos ’22 M.S. received her master’s degree in civil engineering on May 15, her family had traveled nearly 7,000 miles from their home country of Eritrea in eastern Africa to celebrate with her in person. Her father, a civil engineer, sometimes brought Hagos and her siblings with him to work, and she became interested in civil engineering at an early age. During her time at U New Haven, she served as president of the African Graduate Student Association and worked as a research assistant. Hagos plans to work as a structural engineer for Simpson Gumpertz & Heger in Boston, Massachusetts, and to one day pursue her doctorate.

Washington, D.C. Internships Cap Off Time at U New Haven

As a Charger, she studied in Nashville, Tennessee, as part of the University’s Study Away program. Through classes in a recording studio in “Music City,” Sousa gained hands-on experience while learning from industry professionals. She also interned at Sound Stage Studios, a prestigious recording studio. A former member of the University’s Honors Program, Chi Kappa Rho Sorority sister, threetime resident assistant, and supervisor for ChargerREC, Sousa looks forward to turning her passion and experience into a lifelong career.

Brianne Sousa ’22, a graduate of the University’s music and sound recording program, plans to pursue a career in the New York City area’s live music industry.

Since founding southern California-based Nutrition Innovation nearly 20 years ago, Alan Roberts ’02 M.S. has worked with a variety of companies in the food, beverage, and dietary supplement industries and has helped develop myriad new products and ingredients. A former NCAA Division I athlete, Roberts holds an undergraduate degree in physiology from UC Santa Barbara and master’s degree in human nutrition from U New Haven. He also cofounded Instone LLC, a sports nutrition company owned by actor Sylvester Stallone.

SPOTLIGHT ON: CHARGER NATION

Alice Gao ’94 MBA has closely collaborated with businesses in the U.S. and China throughout her distinguished banking career. A senior vice president for East West Bank in Pasadena, California, she is leading a new team called Cross Border Commercial that bridges banking in and between the U.S. and China. Gao, who first moved to the U.S. from China in 1990, is a frequent speaker at industry events, including Meet the Money, MIT World Real Estate Forum, Urban Land Institute’s Emerging Trends in Real Estate United States and Canada annual conference, and the Women’s Executive Forum. In 2014, the University recognized Gao with a Distinguished Alumni Award. She also serves as Secretary General on the China Enterprise Council and the Board of Advisors for World Trade Center Los Angeles.

Alumnus Building a More Diverse and ManufacturingThrivingWorkforce

Innovation Is a Key Ingredient in Alumnus’ Nutrition Industry Success

Theresa Bloom ’17, ’18 MBA has fond childhood memories of baseball games at Petco Park in downtown San Diego. A sport management major, Bloom gained experience interning at three different organizations, including the Bridgeport Bluefish baseball team, and studying abroad in Prato, Italy. She later earned her MBA as part of the University’s Fast Track Program. In September 2021, Bloom returned to her home state of California as a marketing manager for the baseball team she grew up cheering for, helping to create meaningful memories for fans.

Alumna and Banking Industry Leader Expands Impact on a Global Scale

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Read on to see how our newest graduates and older alumni alike have turned their passions, drives, and University of New Haven experiences into rewarding lives and fulfilling careers.

Alumnus’ Museum Creates Immersive African American History Experience

Jeffrey Fletcher ’79 has expanded the collection of African American artifacts his mother started decades earlier, establishing a museum in Stratford, Connecticut, to ensure the approximately 5,500 pieces tell a story to enhance education about African American history. Fletcher, a former stu dent–athlete who served for more than 20 years in the New Haven Police Department, drew inspiration for the Ruby and Calvin Fletcher African American History Museum — named for his parents — from the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. Fletcher enjoys collaborating with dedicated leaders in education, including University Professors Danielle Cooper, Ph.D., CPP, and Kendell Coker, Ph.D., J.D.

SUCCESS STARTS

Alumna

HERE

“Dream Job”LandsWorkingforSanDiegoPadres

As executive director of ManufactureCT, Jamison Scott ’04 EMBA leads one of the oldest man ufacturing associations in the country at a time of great promise and opportunity for the industry. He also serves as executive vice president of Air Handling Systems in Woodbridge, Connecticut, a firm founded by his grandfather and where Scott has worked for over three decades. He is a proud graduate of the University’s Executive MBA Program, having successfully juggled full-time work, association commitments, and academic studies. Today, the Pompea College of Business is a member of ManufactureCT, and the current president of ManufactureCT’s Board, Jill Mayer, the CEO of Bead Industries, is a member of the University’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Advisory Board.

The University of New Haven celebrated the Class of 2022 on Sunday, May 15, during morning and afternoon ceremonies at the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport. More than 1,300 graduates from across all five schools and colleges were awarded their undergraduate and graduate degrees as part of Commencement Day.

Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences. Shelley Stewart III ’22 Hon., a senior partner at McKinsey & Company and leader of the McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility, delivered the keynote address and received an honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree in recognition of his business success and unwavering devotion to advancing economic equality for underrepresented groups. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal ’00 Hon. also offered his congratulations and encouragement to the graduates.

Paul Lemmo ’22 Hon., president of Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, delivered the keynote address for the morning ceremony recognizing graduates of the College of Arts & Sciences, the Tagliatela College of Engineering, and the School of Health Sciences. Following his address, Lemmo was

presented with an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree in recognition of his distinguished career and his commitment to creating opportunities for the next generation of STEM professionals. Alice Fischer, Ph.D., a dedicated educator who launched the University’s computer science program nearly four decades ago and who has authored books about the components of programming language, was also presented with an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree.

The University’s afternoon ceremony recognized graduates of the Pompea College of Business and the Henry C. Lee College of

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF COMMENCEMENT newhaven.edu/ClassOf2022 mouse-pointer 16 ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 NEWS Events

Spring 2022 Commencement

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Tow Youth InstituteJustice

RECOGNIZED BY THE NATIONAL FOUNDATIONSCIENCE

DISTINGUISHED Endeavors

Shue Wang, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Tagliatela College of Engineering’s Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Department, enjoys the challenge of developing novel engineering tools to solve biological problems. Committed to advancing her innovative research and to serving as an educator and mentor to her students, Dr. Wang is now the second University of New Haven professor to receive the Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) award from the National Science Foundation.

ENGINEERINGBIOMEDICAL PROFESSOR

THE TOW YOUTH JUSTICE INSTITUTE AWARDED $1 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT TO RESTORATIVESUPPORTJUSTICE

Shue Wang, Ph.D.

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Staff at the University of New Haven’s Tow Youth Justice Institute (TYJI) are passionate about ensuring the behavioral health challenges and service needs of minors are met with compassionate care — not merely escalated into the juvenile justice system.

Considered a more therapeutic response that could help address the root causes of problematic behavior, restorative practices are shown to divert youth from the justice system and reduce recidivism in juvenile offenders and are quickly gaining traction across the country as best practice.

The highly competitive award of more than $550,000 will support Dr. Wang’s research exploring how the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) — cells that have self-renewal properties — is regulated. By studying the biophysical and biochemical factors that affect differentiation — the process during which young, immature (unspecialized) cells take on individual characteristics and reach their mature (specialized) form and function — she hopes to learn more about MSCs’ potential for use in cell-based therapies for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

The fundamental mechanisms by which MSCs differentiate into bone cells are not yet well understood. Using a micro-engineered platform, Dr. Wang will endeavor to determine the function and mechanisms of mechanosensitive noncoding RNAs that regulate osteogenic differentiation. In addition, a multiplex nanobiosensor (2D and 3D culture systems) will allow her

be allocated over three years to support the creation of the Restoring Connecticut Project.

Hoping to strengthen Connecticut’s network of restorative practices, the TYJI endeavors to make support more easily accessible through a collaborative network of restorative justice practice providers. By developing an interactive online database, the TYJI aims to make resources available to every community, school, and home to offer alternative responses to addressing challenging youth behavior. The TYJI hopes to give special concern to families with service needs as well as youth and families of color.

The TYJI recently received more than $1 million in funding from the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to help advance these efforts — and their impact. The award will

BY RENEE CHMIEL

Hoping

and international organizations in a variety of ways. This special feature spotlights select faculty achievements and illuminates the ways in which the work of these individuals — as representative of the broader accomplished faculty pool — is bringing long-overdue recognition and honor to the University.

Dr. Wang, whose current courses include “Tissue Engineering,” will also be developing an undergraduate course titled “Introduction to Stem Cell Engineering” that will provide students with an overview of stem cell research and teach them about current topics at the frontier of the field.

The Center for Children’s Advocacy (CCA) and the Connecticut Youth Services Association (CYSA), the grant sub-awardees, will support this mission. The CCA will train staff in facilities such as therapeutic residential programs and pretrial detention programs. The CYSA will conduct a landscape analysis for both the Youth Service Bureaus and Juvenile Review Boards to assess the resources required to achieve Connecticut’s juvenile diversion goals.

The highly competitive award of more than $550,000 will support Dr. Wang’s research exploring how the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)  — cells that have self-renewal properties — is regulated.

ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 NEWHAVEN.EDU/MAGAZINE 19

Shue Wang, Ph.D. (center) and her students in the laboratory.

The grant offers a variety of opportunities for the TYJI to collaborate with other organizations and agencies — including the University’s electrical and computer engineering and computer science departments, which will develop the user-centered online platform.

Specifically,normally.the award will support aspects of Dr. Wang’s research activities. Dr. Wang mentors her undergraduate and graduate students’ research studies and looks forward to the opportunities the award will create to engage more students in her ongoing research.

to investigate how stiffness, traction force, and geometric guidance regulate noncoding RNAs during MSC differentiation. Her work will facilitate the development of biomanufacturing and tissue engineering systems that will produce the specific stem cell linages necessary for organs to function

Left to right: Erika Nowakowski (Director of Youth Justice Initiatives, TYJI); Ron Harichandran, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE (Dean, Tagliatela College of Engineering); Mario Gaboury, J.D., Ph.D. (Dean, Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences); Donna Pfrommer (Director of Development and Communications, TYJI); Amir Esmailpour, Ph.D. (Associate Professor of Cybersecurity); and William Carbone, MPA (Not Pictured, Director of Experiential Education, TYJI).

Faculty members at the University of New Haven teach, conduct research in their fields, publish, and engage in the extracurricular life of the University community. With increasing frequency, their distinguished efforts in all these endeavors are recognized by prestigious local, regional, national,

providers.justicerestorativenetworkcollaborativethroughaccessiblemoretoTYJIpractices,restorativenetworkConnecticut’sstrengthentooftheendeavorsmakesupporteasilyaofpractice

Claire Glynn, Ph.D.

Dr. Tran is a proud alumnus of Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, where he earned his Master in Public Health. His training focused on community-based participatory research and community engagement. Today, he strives to keep the University of New Haven community engaged in and dedicated to DEIAB-related initiatives.

Dr. Tran is an assistant professor of public health in the School of Health Sciences and assistant provost for diversity, equity, and inclusion. He was recently recognized by his alma mater, Emory University, for his commitment to public health and DEIAB initiatives. The Emory Alumni Association included him as part of its 2021 “40 Under 40”

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workshops, and lectures, and he is often bothered by the lack of creative and educational outlets available to support the well-being of incarcerated individuals. Radical Reversal’s programming will bring a host of contemporary creative minds and scholars from diverse communities to talk and perform with these populations, proving that art can push the boundaries of what’s possible while inspiring hope

Dr. Glynn, who is self-taught, first used genetic genealogy to solve cases of unknown parentage. It is now increasingly used in investigating cold cases, homicides, and sexual assaults and for identifying human remains — commonly known to the public as “John and Jane Does.” Recognizing she had critical skills for conducting genetic genealogy and forensic DNA analysis and there was a need for more education in the emerging field of

ENGLISH PROFESSOR EARNS GRANT TO SUPPORT INNOVATIVE ‘POETRY BAND’

CONNECTICUT MAGAZINE ’S UP-AND-COMERSINFLUENTIAL

Although DEIAB work is critical and meaningful, Dr. Tran also acknowledges that it is not easy. He has been a leader in the University’s DEIAB efforts for the past two years and has made great strides, such as developing trainings for faculty and staff and creating the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) student ambassadors program. Still, he hopes to accomplish much more.

Radical Reversal is among 50 projects nationwide that have earned a 2022 Creative Capital Award. Creative Capital is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to fund artists in the creation of groundbreaking new work in the visual arts, performing arts, literature, film, technology, and multidisciplinary practices, including socially engaged work in all forms. Award recipients will receive varying amounts — up to $50,000 — in direct funding as well as career development and networking services. Creative

class of young graduates who are making an impact in areas such as research, leadership, and public service.

Class of 2022 in recognition of her prolific work as a researcher and contributions to forensic science and the impact she’s already made on the lives of her students at the University of New Haven.

As part of his diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging (DEIAB) work at the University of New Haven, Alvin Tran, Sc.D., MPH, seeks to build bridges across the University community and foster collaboration among students.

FORENSIC GENEALOGISTGENETICAMONG

Dr. Horton — a 2021 American Book Award recipient — has visited prisons and juvenile detention facilities across the country to conduct readings,

Dr. Tran intends to cultivate new collaborations, programs, and opportunities for Chargers to get involved,

Alvin Tran, Sc.D., MPH

Dr. Glynn — an associate professor in the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences — is counted among Connecticut Magazine’s “40 Under 40”

PUBLIC CULTIVATINGFORPROFESSORHEALTHRECOGNIZEDCOMMITMENTTODIVERSITY

Genetic genealogy — the use of DNA testing in combination with traditional genealogical methods to determine genetic relationships between individuals — was originally a hobby for Claire Glynn, Ph.D. She is now a leader in what has become one of the fastest-growing fields of forensic science.

Randall Horton, Ph.D.

Connecticut Magazine’s annual “40 Under 40” list includes 40 professionals under age 40 who are making an impact across the state and beyond. This is the fourth time since 2018 the University has been represented on this list.

When Randall Horton, Ph.D., was incarcerated in Maryland more than 20 years ago after he was convicted of a series of felonies, he began writing. The experience changed his life. Now an award-winning author, poet, and University of New Haven English professor in the College of Arts & Sciences, he hopes his latest project — a “poetry band” called Radical Reversal — will help create a blueprint to reimagine what it means to be incarcerated in America.

Capital is offering a total of $2.5 million in support to artists through the awards.

Dr. Glynn is counted among Magazine’sConnecticut

Radical

such as a recent collaboration in the Spring 2022 semester between the University’s Myatt Center for Diversity and Inclusion, the Center for Teaching Excellence, and the Office of the Provost to develop a series of workshops focused on using chosen names and respecting gender pronouns.

Claire Glynn, Ph.D. (right) teaches undergraduate and graduate classes in forensic science.

Alvin Tran's, sexualpolicy,eatingbodyonMPH, researchSc.D.,focusestheintersectionofimage,disorderedbehaviors,healthandracialandminorityhealth.

Dr. Tran serves as director of the University’s Bachelor of Science in Public Health program. He also assists with planning the University’s annual Lavender Graduation ceremony, which celebrates and honors the accomplishments of graduating members of the University’s LGBTQ+ community.

Dr. Tran intends to cultivate

The program graduated its first cohort of students in 2021, many of whom enjoyed hands-on experience by working with the DNA Doe project, a nonprofit organization that assists law enforcement professionals with investigating unsolved cases. Since its inception, the program’s enrollment has already tripled in size. Many of these students work in the forensic science and law enforcement communities and are excited to immediately apply what they’ve learned in the program.

inspiringpossibleoftheartprovingtheseperformtocommunitiesfromandcreativeofwillprogrammingReversal’sbringahostcontemporarymindsscholarsdiversetalkandwithpopulations,thatcanpushboundarieswhat’swhilehope.

“40 Under 40” Class of 2022 in recognition of her prolific work as a researcher contributionsandtoforensicscienceandtheimpactshe’smadeonthelivesofherstudents.

Helping foster civic engagement between artists, educators, correction officials, and social justice networks, Dr. Horton is collaborating with Devin Brahja Waldman, a New York musician and fellow member of Heroes Are Gang Leaders, an experimental performance group. In addition, Dr. Horton has a longstanding relationship with organizations such as the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop and Writers Without Margins. Excited to expand the scope of the project, Dr. Horton also hopes to work with the Yale Prison Education Initiative at Dwight Hall at Yale.

Radical Reversal includes Randall Horton, Ph.D. (front), Devin Brahja Waldman, Melanie Dyer, and Tchester Holmes.

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forensic genetic genealogy, Dr. Glynn saw an opportunity to help educate the next generation of investigators. In response, she developed the University’s Graduate Certificate Program in Forensic Genetic Genealogy, for which she now serves as director

Keira Integlia ’23 M.S., part of a team of sport management students who participated in the Case Study Cup at the 2022 Commission on Sport Management Accreditation Conference, said, “I learned, yet again, that teamwork is key. My team mates and I bounced around a lot of ideas and went back and forth on which aspects to include in our presentation. Our ability to effectively work together and understand each other’s way of thinking ulti mately allowed us to present an excellent proposal that received great feedback from the judges.”

WHY COLLABORATION?

Although student centeredness has been a core University of New Haven value for more than 100 years, the new strategic plan, A Bold Path Forward, raises the bar on efforts to prepare students for a complex world. A key initiative that enhances students’ classroom and extracurricular experiences has been the kind of collaborative learning that takes place in group activity.

Senior and computer science major Charles Barone, a leader of several highly successful cybersecurity-focused teams, had this to say about his experience on the 2022 Collegiate Cyber

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It’s no surprise, then, that the University of New Haven joins many colleges and universities in promoting its commitment to providing students with collaborative learning and real-world problem-solving opportunities. What may be surprising, however, is the consistent and broadbased success the University has achieved in programs that complement classroom learning across multiple disciplines.

Shared

To hear students tell it, collaborating with their peers and utilizing skills from their classroom

settings in a competitive environment have been highlights of their time at the University.

Defense Competition team: “Although there is a shared skill set that is common among all the team members, each member of the team also brings their unique knowledge and experiences to the table. It is that combined shared experience that has allowed us to build team chemistry and communication.”

Employers want it. College-seeking families ask about it. Students who experience it value it.

The Cornell University Center for Teaching Innovation maintains that studies tell us that “educational experiences that are active, social, contextual, engaging, and student-owned lead to deeper learning” and, according to a leading job finder, lead to employment opportunities as well.

It’s not hard to find testimony to the benefits of collaborative and real-world education and evidence to support the University’s determina tion to “expand student internship programs, employment, and leadership opportunities to foster professional development.”

Communication majors blend their talents to turn the student-run newspaper, The Charger Bulletin, into an award-winning publication.

A National Education Association article concurs: “Collaborative learning has been shown to not only develop higher-level thinking skills in

PROOF IS IN THE PERFORMANCE

Affirming its belief in the value of giving students platforms for expressing their interests in collaborative and team settings, the University has created a wide spectrum of opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students across multiple programs and disciplines.

students but also boost their confidence and selfesteem. Group projects can maximize educational experience by demonstrating the material while improving social and interpersonal skills. Students learn how to work with various types of learners and develop their leadership skills.”

Echoing the strategic plan assumptions, an Indeed.com article said, “In a workplace, collaborative learning can translate to coworkers analyzing research, data, and client requests as a team and then working together to brainstorm creative solutions. Companies seek employees who display collaborative skills as they lead to higher morale, efficiency, and success in the workplace. Developing collaborative learning skills and using them at work can make you a more productive employee or a better job candidate.”

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Students studying cybersecurity and computer science lead highly ranked teams in national and international competitions. With backgrounds in business analytics, international affairs, and national security, Model United Nations (MUN) participants annually bring home impressive hardware from conferences around the world.

BY DOUG WHITING

Experiences

The Cornell Center says the benefits of collaborative learning are many: development of higher-level thinking, oral communication, self-management, and leadership skills; promotion of student-faculty interaction; increase in student retention, self-esteem, and responsibility; exposure to diverse perspectives; and preparation for reallife social and employment situations.

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However, a similar kind of phenomenon is happening on college campuses where the competition is no less fierce and the outcomes no less rewarding. It happens not on a playing field but in a chilly, empty classroom on a snowy day; in conference rooms in far-flung locations; and on

It is common to hear former collegiate athletes talk of their experiences as life changing, bonding them to teammates and coaches in remarkable ways not easily found in other endeavors. They speak fondly of locker room dynamics, camaraderie, and reliance on others to achieve success.

Students who participate in these kinds of endeavors reap untold benefits.

Sport management students gain valuable real-world experience and learn from one another at the Winter X Games or by presenting research at a major needsintersectmarketinhighertounusuallyandanddedicatedintentionalitUniversitywork?Howconference.doesitallAccordingtoleadership,istheresultofanstrategy,students,facultymentorsadvisorsdevotedtheinitiatives.Thefutureofeducationastronglaborwillheavilytheofbusinessand

Left to right: Victoria Cagley ’22, Tiara Starks ’22, Kayla Mutchler ’22, and Joseph Klaus ’23.

Others can match their talents with the country’s best. After capturing second place in a New England Regional Competition hosted by the University’s Connecticut Institute of Technology (CIT), a seven-member team tested their cyber skills against a who’s who of technology giants (Carnegie Mellon, Stanford, Drexel, and the Rochester Institute of Technology) in the international finals of the Collegiate Penetration Testing Competition.

pandemic-induced Zoom calls at all hours of the day and night.

purpose. As part of her senior thesis project, Amanda Castro ’22 created the Charger Bulletin Magazine, giving students from myriad disciplines the chance to challenge one theexecutivesbeforeteamandtest’22,Jenelleandsetting.skillsthinking,creativity,another’scriticalandwritinginacollaborativeForhospitalitytourismstudentJohnsonthechancetoherknowledgecreativitywithmembersMoheganSun“reinforcedimportanceofcollaboration

EXPERIENCES OF A LIFETIME

Some get to travel, like a MUN team that attended a national conference in Washington, DC, and networked with University MUN alumni who work there. Sport management majors visited

and teamwork.”

The cohort model of the University’s Executive MBA Program provides students opportunities to collaborate with and learn from one another, build leadership skills, and develop teambeingandinitiativesforbecomeAmbassador(JEDI)Diversity,inrelationships.importantParticipantstheJustice,Equity,andInclusionStudentProgrampowerfulforcesdiversityandinclusiononcampusenjoythebenefitsofpartofadynamicwithacommon

their dedication to hard work and perseverance. That University of New Haven teams consistently outperform institutions with bigger reputations and more resources reflects the University’s commitment to providing a quality education, where faculty teach the students to work hard, have fun, and help others.

Aspen, Colorado, meeting with industry professionals and gaining live work experience at the Winter X Games while earning Impact Awards recognizing their grit and dedication. In Houston, Texas, another sport management group visited Space Center Houston when not presenting research at the 2022 Commission on Sport Management Accreditation Conference. A Master’s in Public Health Program team presented research findings at a prestigious conference in Baltimore, Maryland.

Josie Schmidt ’22 and Nic Demichele ’22 in Aspen, Colorado.

But almost without exception, students and faculty tout the value of teamwork,ofarehighinexcellenceteamoffacultyCompetitionyear’shallmarksdevelopmentandandnetworkingcollaboration,withpeersprofessionals,leadershipskillsastheofinvolvement.SpeakingofthisCyberDefenseteam,CITsaidthesuccessUNewHaven’sexemplifiestheweinstillourstudents,thelevelofskilltheygaininginandouttheclassroom,and

industry. The University strives to give students an opportunity to have professional experiences through internships, clinical placements, and experiential learning opportunities; to give students an opportunity to learn on the job; and to develop work-ready skills. When students graduate, they are quickly snatched up by employers who recognize the qualities U New Haven alumni embody. Experiential learning not only benefits students, but also benefits those industries they are placed in.

“I have seen extremely quiet students find their voice. I have witnessed countless students who lack confidence find it. I have seen students who cower at giving a public speech not only give one in front of hundreds of people but give it passionately, over and over again.

and improvement-focused culture. We have come to a point where it feels like everyone is ‘rowing together’ toward the same goal. At this point, our MUN program, or family as we like to call it, feels like a mature, well-oiled machine, churning out regular alwaysconferencesnationalbringofsuchprofileUniversity’sstudentmoreDelegationOutstandingteamsandimportant,countlesssuccessstories.”MUNisarguablythemosthigh-andsuccessfulprogram.TeamsstudentsconsistentlyhomeawardsatandinternationalandalmostcreditHayneswith

to trust your teammates and build a relationship with them that allows you to get the work done,” she told the Charger Blog.

In yet another CIT opportunity, undergraduate and graduate students engaged in advanced cybersecurity research, part of the Cyber Operative Research Scholars (CORES) Program funded by the Office of Naval Research to meet a growing need for STEM expertise.

SUCCESS BUT SO MUCH MORE In 2020–2021, the American Scholastic Press Association honored The Charger Bulletin with a first-place award, recognizing the student staff for “creativity and journalistic knowledge” and acknowledging their fortitude in continuing to publish during the pandemic.

Providing a collaborative learning environment and professional experiential opportunities is a two-way street, with the University building strong partnerships into the workforce and creating bridges from the workforce into the University to give opportunities for current students and for the already employed to continue their education, upskill, or reskill while they are working. It is a way to help people make career transitions, to do their jobs better, and to become more fulfilled, contributing to an overall stronger workforce.

The goal of MUN, Haynes said, “is to leave each student more developed, confident, self-aware, team-oriented, and self-reflective than when they entered the program. We have found that this also leads to fantastic student whothetransformationinprogramdedicatescountlessenthusiasmoutcomes.”employmentHaynes’sforthehourshetothecomesseeingtheoflivesofstudentsparticipate.Hesaid,

Karrie LeDuc-Santoro ’23, a cybersecurity and networks major who participated in the “Iatmomenthasfield,bysymposiuminauguralattendedleadersinthesaidCORESbeenthebestofhertimetheUniversity.learnedthatitisimportant

people but give it passionately, over and over again. I have observed students who lack professional polish mature right before my eyes.”

University of New Haven students recently attended a National Model United Nations Conference in New York City.

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Family is a consistent theme in discussions of collaborative learning. Chris Haynes, Ph.D., political science and national security professor and director of the MUN program, attributes its success to a “team and goal-oriented, selfless,

Left to right: Mohammed Anas Ali, Keira Integlia, Andreas Xenofontos, and Josie Schmidt.

At the end of the day, outcomes matter, says Haynes. Through programs like MUN and others, students gain self-confidence; learn to take calculated, goal-oriented risks; and improve on multiple skill sets from problem-solving to networking and from intercultural communication to writing, research, public speaking and persuasion, leadership, critical thinking, and teamwork. They also gain a greater understanding of challenges and opportunities in the world beyondAftercampus.theygraduate, Haynes said, he has “the privilege of watching them blossom and apply their newfound skills, confidence, and knowledge to their careers and life.”

“I have seen extremely quiet students find their voice. I have witnessed countless students who lack confidence find it. I have seen students who cower at giving a public speech not only give one in front of hundreds of

their successes and development as students and soon-to-be professionals.

Content and quotes for this story were contributed by the University’s digital content creator Renee Chmiel.

Sports editor and communications major Joseph Klaus ’23 wrote enthusiastically about the benefits of his experience in a Charger Blog post:

I have observed students who lack professional polish mature right before my eyes. I have the privilege of watching students blossom and apply their newfound skills, confidence, and knowledge to their careers and life.”

CHRIS HAYNES, PH.D., POLITICAL SCIENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF THE MUN PROGRAM

“The most important thing about working with the Bulletin is that it isn’t just another club. This is, in fact, a big family. We have succeeded because it’s not a ‘me’ project; it’s a ‘we’ project. We are a family, and we help one another grow as individuals, students, and writers.”

EMBRACING

BY DOUG PHOTOGRAPHYWHITINGBY DON HAMERMAN

A 26 ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 SPOTLIGHTALUMNI

PURPOSEFUL LIFE

What it boils down to is this: Mack is a man on a mission who won’t be stopped and who is constantly in search of the platforms and tools that will help him positively alter the lives of the young people who, to their good fortune, find themselves in hisAnorbit.educator for more than 30 years, Mack describes himself as a “man of purpose and vision [who] continues to lead by example and seizes every opportunity presented to him through which he can empower his community.” He is a firm believer that knowledge acquisition is the key to Thoughsuccess.his life may seem complicated — the whirl of his activity would seem unimaginable to many — Mack, at his core, is not a complicated man. Since graduating from the University of New Haven in 1991, he has pursued an unusually focused and successful course, devoting his life, professional and personal, to using education as a driving force to better the lives of young people, especially young men and most specifically young men of color, “so they can realize their full potential and embrace their purpose in life.”

It didn’t start out that way. Mack attended the well-regarded Saunders Trade and Technical High School in his hometown of Yonkers, New York, but would not get the chance to attend his dream college, the University of Delaware. Then he was given an opportunity to study and play football at the University of New Haven.

“I wasn’t motivated in high school.” Then the light bulb turned on.

Hang around Darryl Mack ’91 for any length of time and one quickly understands the rhythm of his being. He’ll use words like “passion” and “purpose” and “love” and “fortunate” freely. Others talk about his inspiration, infectious enthusiasm, and determination.

“The wake-up call for me came on a recruiting visit to Delaware when I found out I didn’t meet their academic credentials,” Mack says.

ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 NEWHAVEN.EDU/MAGAZINE 27

“The community, the class sizes, it was a perfect fit and match for me. I could envision myself fitting in academically and athletically, and attending the University was one of the smartest decisions I ever made.” It was there that he made lifelong friends — “friendships that are dear to my heart” — remaining especially close to other football alumni. He still attends as many homecoming games as he can, and he is both grateful for and proud of his membership on the University’s Alumni Association Board of Directors, where he enjoys getting to know today’s students and helping “improve U New Haven and enrich the experience for current and future students.”

It was also at the University that Mack met two individuals who would have a lasting impact on his life and values — former head football coach Chris Palmer and the late Tony Sporano ’84, then the offensive line coach. Some years after Mack graduated, Sporano became U New Haven’s head coach and a coach at other universities and in theMack’sNFL. original plan was to major in business administration and return to Yonkers to be a plumbing contractor. There were thoughts of a career on Wall Street. But in what would become a theme of his career — an understanding that young people often need the guidance and support of others to find their purpose — mentors would step in and “plant the seed” in him to become an educator.

“I fell in love with U New Haven,” he says now.

But that only tells part of the story. Mack’s talents and passions have led to appointments, assignments, and volunteer gigs that run the gamut from teacher, coach, and administrator to mentor, facilitator, manager of after-school and weekend programs, and community leader as well as oversight and supervisor of special education, athletics, safety and security, mathematics assessment, PTA, Business Olympics, at-risk programs, and school assessments.Thoughnot

“I ALWAYS WANTED TO COME BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I GREW UP TO EMPOWER MY COMMUNITY AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.”

his goal, Mack has been widely recognized for his work with Yonkers youth. He has received numerous citations and proclamations from city, county, state, and congressional leaders for his community work, including the Community

After the years teaching special education, Mack was asked to run the Project Second Chance Program for at-risk students. Ultimately, he moved into school administration, becoming an assistant principal at numerous Yonkers schools and working with students from elementary school through high school. He assumed his current post as

assistant principal at Yonkers Middle/High School in August 2020.

Farmer would later hire Mack as a substitute teacher after he graduated from U New Haven and then presented Mack with another opportunity. Manhattan College was looking for young African American men to enter their master’s program in special education. With that degree and an advanced degree in school administration and supervision from Mercy College, he was off to the races, spending the next 13 years teaching special education while also coaching football and track and field.

During his U New Haven years, Mack would return to Yonkers for summer employment. After his sophomore year, he took a job in a bank, where he got his first taste of corporate America, and the world of stocks and bonds looked appealing. But his high school principal, Joe Farmer, who later became Yonkers’ superintendent of schools, called Mack to his office and asked, “What’s the plan?” “When I told him I was considering being a stockbroker, he just said no, we need more young African American men to teach in our schools.” Another enormous influence on Mack was Ed Frazier, an African American teacher who became Mack’s mentor. That was when the direction of Mack’s life changed.

Service Award of the Year from the Yonkers Women’s Civic Club and a 2018 Black Enterprise Modern Man of Distinction honor, which, according to Black Enterprise, is an “integrative program that honors the essence, image, and accomplishments of today’s man of color.” His work was featured in an HBO-produced video with Black Enterprise that highlights how mentors and role models can impact the lives of young Black men.

A defining achievement has been his oversight of the Yonkers-area My Brother’s Keeper program,

28 ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022

“I always wanted to come back to the neighborhood where I grew up to empower my community and make a difference,” he says. Literally thousands of young people are grateful that he has. He is unabashedly proud that he returned to his beloved Yonkers to help the people of his community. Living in Yonkers, he says, has benefits: “I run into my students all the time. I am part of the village it takes to raise a child.”

Mack’s reputation for getting things done has led others to seek his council and leadership, including serving on the board of directors of the Police Athletic League of Yonkers and the Yonkers Arts Foundation. He also is a proud member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

an initiative of former President Barack Obama that addresses the opportunity gaps that young men of color face. Mack is proud that the program inspired teens to get out of bed on Saturday mornings to interface with role models and educators who encouraged them to build self-confidence and character, find their passions and purpose, and live life to its Yonkersfullest.accepted the MBK challenge in 2016, and Mack, based on his history of involvement and getting things done, was asked by the district’s superintendent to oversee its implementation.

ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 NEWHAVEN.EDU/MAGAZINE 29

by Black Enterprise magazine as a Modern Man of Distinction at a Florida awards ceremony.

For his efforts in turning the program from its original six-week plan into a nine-month, biweekly gathering, Mack was the only educator recognized

Zenger, the son of two educators, called Mack “a special person.” He continued, “I am so inspired by what he does with his life to help others,” and added that young men need more role models like Mack in the K–12 system.

For his part, Mack says simply, “My career is a blessing, and I am very fortunate. I have a deep love for education.” He is particularly proud that many former students have gone on to become educators themselves.

The goal was to change the narrative for young men of color, change outcomes, expose them to postsecondary

opportunities, and help them transition from teens to young men.

“It was right up my alley,” he says, and he became intimately involved in the program, creating the MBK Future Leaders Academy, a Saturday program for grades 7–12 with a nontraditional curriculum focused on character and civics education, STEM instruction, computer design and graphics programs, and college and career readiness. Mack developed a series of empowerment speakers — successful people he knew “who could see the value in these kids and were willing to invest their time in them. These are doctors, police, firefighters, lawyers, accountants — they were once adrift like these kids today.”

is visiting Charger friends in West Haven or running toy drives in Yonkers, his 13-year-old son, Darryl Mack Jr., is often at his side. The two are unusually close, and Mack says, “I’ve wanted to expose him to the work I do, and so he’s been intimately involved in my social action and community work. He’s learning that you always have to give back; it’s a responsibility, and he loves it. I want him to be a young man of integrity; to have compassion for mankind; and to be a good, productive human being. He’s able to see my passion and love for what I do because he’s a part of Whatit.” does Mack get from all of this? For the son whose parents left Alabama for a better life in New York, the simple “Thank you” he hears from former students, now parents and leaders in the community who he bumps into in the neighborhood, are enough. “And,” he says quietly, “I get great satisfaction from witnessing their growth and knowing I played a small part in helping them refocus at a time when they needed that.”

In each of these endeavors, Mack’s laser focus has been on developing avenues through education for young people to become successful and productiveAppearingcitizens.ona recent Dr. Z and JDub podcast with then University of New Haven athletic director and now Interim President Sheahon Zenger, Ph.D., Mack said, “I want students to find their passion and make a commitment to it. Being an educator is often a thankless job; it comes from the heart, and it’s all about making a difference. Education is not a 7:30–3 job, and you must work after hours, making home visits, meeting parents where they are.”

He told Black Enterprise that the impact he’s made “is working with high school students. These students exhibit poor attendance, they are underperforming academically and/or have behavioral issues. For over 25 years, I have worked with ‘at risk’ students by helping them build selfconfidence and improve in the areas in which they are struggling.”WhetherMack

Finally, the Oral History Project has had great participation to date. Thank you for your continued support of this important project. It is a great way to capture how the University has influenced your life.

Board diversity is the best way to reflect the diversity of our student population and is thus a top priority. As we actively recruit new board members for the coming term, we are working alongside the University’s various diversity, equity, and inclusion programs to accomplish this goal.

Dear University of New Haven Alumni and Families,

Ben Robert '81, '83 MBA*

. Leah Myers '18*

Ronald Pierce II ’16

. Miki Katz ’98 MBA/MPA

George Melanson '83*

30 ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022

. Darryl Mack ’91

Returning to campus has felt amazing — most recently on Founders Day when we exceeded expectations and more than 1,100 Chargers donated a total greater than $140,000! The energy was palpable, and all in attendance were eager to be a part of the day’s activities.

Board members are actively involved in mentorship programs with our students and faculty, yielding positive feedback from all involved. These programs are a great way to support the development and transition of our students as we work alongside University faculty to facilitate their ambitious work. A shining example of this is Darryl Mack ’91 (spotlighted on page 26), a former member of the Charger football team and current Alumni Board member who is collaborating with the University’s College of Arts and Sciences to support transformative student experiences and research.

Secretary Meghan Kelly ’10, ’13 M.S.

. Samantha Williams ’10 M.S.

University@UNewHavenAlumni@UNewHavenAlumni@UNewHavenAlumniofNewHavenAlumniAssociation STAY CONNECTED ALUMNI NEWS From the Alumni Association ALUMNI2022–2023BOARDOFDIRECTORS

Together Again

* Indicates newly inducted member as of July 1, 2022

BoardAssociationdiversity

’99 ’03 M.S. President, University of New Haven Alumni is the best way to reflect the diversity of our student population and is thus a top priority.

. Richard Steeves ’77, ’80 MBA

Joseph Cieplak ’72

. Colin Weber ’17

Chrissy Falcha ’09 M.A.

I am excited to update you on what the University of New Haven Alumni Association Board of Directors has been working on for the past few months. We were thrilled to engage with our fellow Chargers in person once again and to feel the positive energy of being safely back together for live and on-campus activities.

DawnSincerely,Alderman

Treasurer Eric St. Amand ’15

. Frank Harper ’79, ’85 M.S., ’85 MBA

. Michelle Stephens ’17

. Lindsay Melanson '13*

Throughout the spring semester, the Alumni Board has been working diligently to honor our alumni while supporting our students.

Pat Cassella ’94 M.S.

President Dawn Alderman ’99, ’03 M.S.

Scott Brazis ’83

. Djuana Beamon '08 MBA*

Christopher McWilliams ’93 Nicole Pacapelli ’14, ’16 MBA

Vice President Reece Gleadle ’14

Michael Spaziani ’99

As we honor the past and embrace the future, when is your next trip to the University of New Haven campus? What is your next opportunity to create amazing memories?

Getalumni@newhaven.eduSocial

Join the Crowd!

Always

Speak Up!

University of New Haven students and faculty are involved in crowdfunding projects across many disciplines, from science, technology, and engineering to sports, entertainment, and entrepreneurship. You can support these students and University initiatives by contributing to causes you find compelling. Support a Charger today and help shape the future! Visit newhaven.edu/crowdfunding.

Locally and abroad, our alumni enjoy countless opportunities to stay connected with one another and their alma mater. Read on to learn more about just a few of the many ways you can engage with Charger Nation.

You can help us extend our reach by becoming a University of New Haven Social Media Ambassador. Ambassadors are alumni who are passionate about the University and want to show their support by sharing positive experiences, alumni social events, and Charger pride across social media channels. Join our Facebook group #UNewHavenSocial, and follow that same hashtag on Instagram. We’ll share content with you that you can share on your own pages.

Once a Charger a

people-group handshake-angle thumbs-up podium-star comments-dollar JOIN AN ALUMNI NETWORK BECOME A MENTOR OR VOLUNTEER GET SOCIAL JOINCROWD!THE Join an Alumni Network As a member of the Alumni Association, you are part of a group of more than 60,000 proud alumni who hail from across the country and around the globe. There are many alumni networks — based on interest and geographical location — that you are welcome to join! Do you know of a University of New Haven alumni group? Email us at alumni@newhaven.edu. AffinityAlumniNetworksLawyers LinkedIn Group Art and Design Alumni LinkedIn Group Black Alumni Network Life Sciences Alumni Facebook Group | LinkedIn Group Student Government Association Facebook Group Veteran Alumni and Students LinkedIn Group WNHU Alumni Facebook Group Young Alumni Network Facebook Group RegionalBostonNetworksAlumni Facebook Group Georgia Alumni Facebook Group Israel Alumni Facebook Group Malaysia Alumni Facebook Group NYC Alumni Facebook Group | LinkedIn Group Turkey Alumni Facebook Group Washington, D.C., Alumni Facebook Group Become a Mentor or Volunteer SUCCESS Mentorship Program The SUCCESS (Successfully Uniting, Connecting, Creating, Engaging, and Serving Students) Mentorship Program — launched in fall 2021 by the Myatt Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion — is designed to help incoming underrepresented students successfully transition to the University of New Haven. Students who participate in the SUCCESS program have a strong knowledge of University resources, which helps increase their satisfaction and expand their academic and personal networks. Mentoring also enhances confidence and provides encouragement, psychosocial support, and an opportunity for diverse perspectives and experiences. Learn more at newhaven.edu/SUCCESS.

We welcome our alumni to visit campus — either in person or virtually — to speak with students and share their life and career experiences and advice. One of the best ways we can teach our students is by facilitating their ability to learn directly from our knowledgeable, experienced alumni. To find out more about opportunities for formal speaking engagements and panel participation, email us at

Charger! SPEAK UP! ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 NEWHAVEN.EDU/MAGAZINE 31 ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONALUMNI NEWS

EVENTSALUMNI NEWS ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 NEWHAVEN.EDU/MAGAZINE 33

Save the Date! Black Student Union 50th Anniversary Celebration

Be Our Guest

Follow us on Facebook @UNewHavenAlumni for frequent updates and event invitations and visit newhaven.edu/alumni/events for a schedule of what’s on deck. Have a great idea for an event? Email us at alumni@newhaven.edu

Back to Campus

For more information or to RSVP for an upcoming regional reception, email Brittany Stanchak at bstanchak@newhaven.edu

Meghan Morgan ’18, ’19 MBA (campaign specialist for HBO Max); Paul Lenahan ’17 (human resources generalist for Fairfax County government in Virginia); and Alphonse Lustrino ’22 (recent sport management graduate) participated in Meaningful Mentorship: Making the Most of Your Charger Connections, an alumni panel discussion hosted by the Mentor Collective, a third-party partnering with the Pompea College of Business.

Ivy Watts ’15, a dedicated mental health advocate, business owner, and motivational speaker, delivered the keynote address for the 2022 Celebration of Excellence, an annual event that honors the achievements of multicultural graduates.

COMING SOON

Black and Latino WeekendAlumni2022

WHERE WILL WE BE NEXT?

Michelle Stephens ’17 discussed her career in aquaculture as part of the Department of Biology and Environmental Science’s Seminar in Marine Biology lecture. This course features invited speakers from marine-related careers to talk with first-year students.

With a schedulefullof events celebrating partwerestudentsandformerfashionincludingonorganizationsclubsmulticulturaltheandcampus—ashow!—Chargerscurrentalikeabletotakein

We hope to see you on the road!

Dave Galla ’99, a former president of the University of New Haven Alumni Association, participated in a Financial Literacy Committee series called CASHparency. His presentation was called Saving for Success, targeted to current students and alumni.

Charging Into a City Near You!

The University will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Black Student Union — the first student organization on campus for students of color — April 21–23, 2023!

We brought the University of New Haven to you in 2022 with regional alumni receptions in The Villages, Florida (Wolfgang Puck Kitchen + Bar, March) and San Francisco, California (Hard Rock Café, May), where we reconnected with alumni and friends, enjoyed delicious food and cocktails, and celebrated Charger Nation.

Update your information to learn more about this event at newhaven.edu/BSU50

34 ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 ALUMNI NEWS

but they’re stars in their own right and in their justcommunities.ownSobeingableto

My ultimate goal is to create media learning centers for young inner-city kids to learn how to write, produce, direct, and edit, and just learn how to use a camera from an early age like I was able to do. I constantly mentor; I’m always going back to the University to speak to the students and share my story and inspire them a bit. Giving back is something I’m really passionate about.

I left MTV in December 2008 and went full steam into KUAMP. Now, our team is made-up of award-winning artists recognized for creating engaging video content for multi-platforms, including television, film, digital, mobile, and radio.

ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 NEWHAVEN.EDU/MAGAZINE 35

It ended up paying off. I got an internship at WTNH NewsChannel 8, an ABC affiliate in Connecticut. I worked in the promos department, which I hadn’t even really thought about, and I was able to build up my resume. I also went on spring break that year to Cancun and filmed some cool footage. I was able to turn that into an internship with MTV. They loved the reel, they loved my resume and my experience from NewsChannel 8, and when I graduated from U New Haven in 2001, MTV hired me right away.

ALUMNI NEWS

I was the president of the Communications Club and ended up starting and populating two closed-circuit television networks on campus, creating everything from sports shows to lifestyle shows. I did a music video as an independent study, too, and just immersed myself in that world.

InnovativeFuturistic,McDonald:“Tronic”Progressive,

And now it’s been 20 years that my true passion project, KUAMP, has been around. I was in the on-air promos department for MTV, where I was responsible for the branded entertainment, tune-ins, and tentpole events like the Video Music Awards, and I formed this group of people within MTV moonlighting as KUAMP to offer a new approach to production, entertainment, and advertising that was seen through a cultural lens.

Photographer: Mariana Feely

Talking To Antonio

AS TOLD TO: STEVE NEUMANN

Having so many Fortune 100 companies as clients, like HP, Google, and Viacom, has really been the biggest accomplishment for KUAMP. And of course, within that, there are other projects we’ve worked on. We’ve told the stories of not only celebrities; but engaging people that are doing amazing work as well. Their stories need to be amplified because they’re not necessarily famous,

I always wanted to be a producer. I saw it as something that just came naturally to me. My mom bought me a video camera when I was 9 or 10 years old, and I would film birthday parties and Later,christenings.Iwanted to create beats like Puff Daddy. I wanted to be the next big producer. So I applied to the University of New Haven, which had a music and sound recording program. After speaking to professors in the sound recording department, I decided to get a minor in it and major in communications because that was something I was passionate about as well.

Antonio “Tronic” McDonald ’01 says he was born to be a producer, someone who tells authentic, engaging stories on multiple platforms. Here, he reflects on the past 20 years as executive producer, live-action director, chief creative officer, and CEO of his content-agnostic, transmedia company KUAMP, which stands for “keep up and make progress.”

spotlight people and initiatives that we feel are important has really been fulfilling to me personally. For Moms of Black Boys, dedicated to positively influencing how Black boys and men are perceived and treated by law enforcement and in society, we created a short film called “Tyler Gordon: I’m Still a King,” telling the story of this teen prodigy painter and his disability, his obstacles, and what he’s overcome to be where he is now.

But challenges are part of the game. I think being a Black-owned creative production studio in 2022 can be tough. After the murder of George Floyd, brands started to understand that they had to do better, and I think that they've led the charge now on really trying to bring diversity into the workplace and with supplier partners. I think some of those challenges have eased somewhat, but they’re obviously not completely gone. But as our name says, it’s about keeping up and making progress, taking those little steps every day.

The Peterson Performance Center will transform the way that Charger student-athletes train, recover, and perform. The 30,000-square-foot facility will include a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning center, hydrotherapy recovery tubs, and meeting spaces designed to optimize team film sessions. All 500+ student-athletes across 20 varsity sports will benefit from the new facility, which is scheduled to be completed by spring 2023.

Highlights

A SYMBOL FOR THE FUTURE OF CHARGER ATHLETICS

36 ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 SPORTS DESK

ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 NEWHAVEN.EDU/MAGAZINE 37 HIGHLIGHTS

The men’s track and field team enjoyed one of its most successful showings at the NE10 Outdoor Championships, finishing third overall after earning the most points in program history.

Men’s Track and Field

Season Recap

Six members of the baseball team earned All-Conference honors from the Northeast-10 after the Chargers finished the year with a 24-19 overall record. Leading the way was pitcher Thomas Eletto ’22 and utility player Andrew Cain ’23, who both earned a spot on the NE10 All-Conference Second Team. In addition to conference accolades, Tyler Wells ’23 and Andrew Bianco ’23 received CoSIDA Academic All-District honors.

Baseball

Under first-year head coach Don Justus, the softball team was led by a pair of NE10 All-Conference selections in middle infielders Mya Case ’22 and Nahtali Simpson ’22. Case closed her career among the top 10 in program history in stolen bases and assists while fellow senior Mel Bike capped off her time at U New Haven fifth all-time in putouts with 990.

SPRING2022

Zerion Montgomery ’25 made it a clean sweep of the Rookie of the Year category for the Blue and Gold, taking home the distinction following the outdoor campaign while teammate Jordany Dely ’24 earned the honors following the indoor season.

Kristen Washington ’22 capped off a successful spring season for the Chargers by qualifying for the NCAA Division II National Championships as one of 24 athletes selected to compete in the triple jump. She is the first U New Haven women’s track and field athlete to qualify for nationals since 2018. In addition, Neva Bostic ’23 won a Northeast-10 Conference Championship contest in the javelin throw, taking home medalist honors for the first time in her career.

Softball

Women’s Lacrosse

The women’s lacrosse team continued its run of qualifying for the Northeast-10 Conference Championships, a streak that began in 2009 with the program’s inaugural conference season and now stands at 13 straight years. Highlighting the 11-7 record for the Chargers were three wins over ranked opponents: No. 5 Le Moyne, No. 18 Assumption, and No. 20 Saint Anselm. Individually, six Chargers claimed postseason honors, including a pair of major awards with Gabby Buscemi ’24 earning Goalkeeper of the Year and Raegan Bailey ’25 taking Rookie of the Year. The pair joined Marina Skelly and Laura Agbayani in earning IWLCA All-Region honors.

Women’s Track and Field

38 ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 SPORTS DESK

Charger Roundup

“As we look back at the 2021 football season, we are reminded of the 22 seniors that dedicated their entire year in hopes of accomplishing one goal, winning the NE10

The Department of Athletics held its annual Athletics and Senior Awards Banquet on Sunday, May 1 on the blue and gold turf of Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium where approximately 500 people gathered to celebrate the accomplishments

of U New Haven's student-athletes during the 2021-22 academic year.

Male Rookie of the Year Gold Standard Award Jessica Akiona

“With fall 2021 being our fourth season competing as an NCAA DII program in the Northeast-10 Conference, we had great experience and leadership,” said head field hockey coach Kelsi Lykens. “We finished seventh in the conference after regular season play and made the playoffs for the first time in the program’s history, where we upset No. 2 Bentley in a shootout in the first round. Moving into fall 2022, the expectation is to not only make the NE10 Playoffs but also win a championship. Although we will be young, our team understands what it takes to compete and win. They are a dedicated and motivated group that is eager to continue making history.”

ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 NEWHAVEN.EDU/MAGAZINE 39 CHARGER ROUNDUPSPORTS DESK

Kristen Washington

Male Athlete of the Year ConnorFootballDegenhardt

FallBuildingExcitementfor2022

With the construction of the Peterson Performance Center sparking major growth on North Campus, the anticipation level for the Chargers in the fall is through the roof.

a student-athlete who displays all the characteristics of a Charger by enjoying exceptional success in their sport, in the classroom, and in the community.

Championship,” said head coach Chris Pincince.

“A miraculous run that began after a 637-day layoff due to the COVID-19 virus, we are excited about the 2022 season and what lies in front of us. Our experienced leaders are looking to improve upon our second round NCAA tournament appear ance, and with the help of our new additions, the future is bright.”

Female Athlete of the Year

Women’s Lacrosse

Women’s Volleyball

appearance in 11 years after recording its first .500 or better season in 21 years.

The Blue and Gold are looking to build on a 2021 fall season that saw five teams make the postseason, including an NCAA Division II Playoff run for the football team after going undefeated in the Northeast-10 to win the program’s first conference championship since 2012.

The Department of Athletics is excited to announce the addition of men’s and women’s varsity golf programs, which will compete this fall. Under the leadership of Coach Matt Ward, the teams will call Race Brook Country Club home and bring the total count for Charger varsity sports to 20.

Recognitions included, among others, the Female and Male Athlete and Rookie of the Year awards as well as two new honors — the Gold Standard Award and the True Blue Award. The Gold Standard Award is presented to

Female Rookie of the Year Raegan Bailey

Amber Suits Field Hockey

True Blue Award

In addition to football, the women’s volleyball team advanced to the NE10 Championship match while also making its 15th straight appearance in the NCAA Division II East Regional Championships. Two other programs made an impact — the field hockey team qualifying for the conference championships for the first time in program history and the men’s soccer team making its first NE10

AWARDS SEASON

The True Blue Award is selected by the studentathletes and represents an individual who embodies the Charger spirit by overcoming adversity to achieve success.

40 ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022

PERSPECTIVE

• The Esports Academy prepares high school students for the business of esports with an emphasis on academics and competitive gameplay exploration and strategy.

• Our interdisciplinary major in esports and gaming provides a holistic and dollarunderstandingwell-roundedofthesemultibillion-industries.

• Our Esports Club and our esports varsity team enjoy a state-of-the-art 1,300 square-foot esports training and competition center called The Stable.

Paving the Way in Esports Academics

The University of New Haven offers a variety of innovative ways to pursue your passion in this high-growth field:

• Our esports concentrationmanagement as part of our business management major is the first such program in the country accredited by AACSB, the leading organizationaccreditingforbusiness schools.

• Our Master of Science in Esports Business, taught by renowned faculty and industry leaders, is the first graduate program of its kind in North America and the first 100% online program of its kind worldwide.

Esports

ESPORTS ISSUE 08 SUMMER 2022 NEWHAVEN.EDU/MAGAZINE

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Shelton, CT Permit No. 100Alumni Magazine 300 Boston Post Road West Haven, CT 06516 Visit newhaven.edu/homecoming or contact the Office of Alumni Relations at foralumni@newhaven.edumoredetails. We can’t wait to see you there! Save the Date! Homecoming Weekend 2022 · #TheBlueout · November 4–6 Gift$100Card Enter to win a $100 gift card for the Campus Store when you take our Alumni Magazine reader survey! newhaven.edu/ReaderSurvey