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University of Hartford Magazine is published periodically for alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends.
Vice President for Marketing and Enrollment M O L LY P O L K Editor J O N AT H A N E A S T E R B R O O K ’ 87, M ’ 9 0 News Editor S U S A N WO L L S C H L AG E R Design ELIZABETH SCHNELLER KEVIN SEPE ’99 Art Direction A L I C I A P O S T L I N D S TA DT Contributing Writers KELLEY FREUND JOEL SAMBERG Photography N I CO L E B E DA R D N I C K C A I TO B R O DY M O N A R C A ’ 2 3 FA I T H N I N I VAG G I J O N AT H A N O L S O N MIKE ORAZZI JAYS O N A M E E R R A S H E E D U N I V E R S I T Y O F H A R T FO R D ARCHIVES & SPECIAL CO L L E C T I O N S
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H, UNIVERSIT Y OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE Office of Marketing and Communication, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117 editor@hartford.edu O N T H E C OV E R : S t u d e n t Te l e v i s i o n N e t w o r k s t u d i o . P h o t o g r a p hy by Nicole Bedard.
There’s nothing I would change about my college career. I feel all I have experienced has helped me become who I am today and will help me when I am in the workforce.” Reilly Keegan ’24, M’25 is a Barney School student enrolled in the 3+1 program, where she will receive both her bachelor’s degree and MBA in just four years. She is a marketing major and sports management minor, which led to her summer internship with the Hartford Yard Goats.
CONTENTS / VOL. 05 / ISSUE 01
F E ATU R E S
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Glass Half Full A UHart scholarship propels Devanney Do ’98 to prosper in America.
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Career Connection Alumni give back by mentoring and hiring today’s students.
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Collaborator & Scholar UHart’s Honors Program opens doors for Quimby Wechter ’20, M’23.
Nursing students work in the Hartford HealthCare Immersive Simulation Suite in the Hursey Center. Two new nursing degree options are among many in-demand academic programs recently launched; see page 3.
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The Student Television Network celebrates 30 years and an impressive list of alumni careers.
Studying abroad provides students with a newfound independence and world perspective.
Live, Local, and Career Shaping
The World’s a Classroom
DE PA R TM E N TS 0 2 O B S E R VAT I O N S Message from the president
4 1 H AW K N AT I O N Inside athletics
04 UHART IN THE NEWS Recent regional and national media coverage
44 MIXED MEDIA Recently released by alumni and faculty
07 UNOTES News from campus
UHart continues to introduce new academic programs, such as sports management, that emphasize hands-on experiences. Learn more on page 13.
45 ALUMNI NOTES News for and about alumni
16 FIRST CLASS Spotlight on faculty
W E WA N T TO H E A R F R O M YO U !
H welcomes and appreciates comments and thoughts from readers and alumni. Email editor@hartford.edu.
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Standing Still Is Not An Option I am truly inspired by the impact our faculty and students are making far beyond campus, such as working with our state’s Department of Transportation to support Connecticut’s bridges through artificial intelligence (page 8).
Stephen Mulready Dear Friends, As we look back at the summer months, and into my tenure as your leader this academic year, I am very pleased to be able to share so many notable events, updates, and stories in my first letter. I hope that my pride for the University of Hartford clearly shines through, not only as acting president but also as an alumnus. Without question, my education here helped me reach many personal and professional goals. As you will see in this issue of H magazine, I am not alone in making such a statement of UHart’s great influence on one’s career. You will read powerful examples of how our Student Television Network, celebrating its 30th anniversary, has launched careers in professional broadcasting; meet alumni who stay engaged with UHart by mentoring current students; and read the life-changing experiences of students who studied abroad. Meet one alumna who says that UHart’s Honors Program dictated the path of her professional journey—and another who emphasizes that a UHart scholarship helped her prosper in this country.
I want to welcome another proud University of Hartford alumnus, Donald Allan Jr. ’86, to his new role as chair of the University of Hartford Board of Regents. This year represents the first time that UHart’s leadership duo of president and board chair are both alumni. Don is currently president and CEO of Stanley Black & Decker, the world’s largest toolmaker. He was instrumental in launching the new Stanley Black & Decker Scholar program on campus, which you can read about on page 8 in this issue of H. Without question, the traditionally quieter summer months on campus were anything but. For the second time in a decade span, a sitting president of the United States came to our campus. President Biden spoke at The National Safer Communities Summit, an event covering bipartisan gun safety legislation, hosted on campus by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal. More than 100 media outlets were here, including CNN, The New York Times, USA Today, and NBC. The event garnered praise from attendees and accolades from organizers. Photos and video from the day, with captions and visuals identifying UHart, continued to surface in national and international media circles in the days and weeks that followed. It was a great opportunity to showcase
our vibrant campus community on a national stage. The Hartt School was recently host site for the Connecticut Summerfest, which paired talented emerging composers with some of the country’s most inventive chamber music ensembles. The weeklong festival of artistic exchange culminated in nine world premieres. For UHart’s Juneteenth celebration, the Office of Student Engagement and Inclusion brought faculty, staff, and students together to observe and celebrate, educating our community on the importance and history of June 19, 1865. And then there were our student Orientations, which, by virtue of nearly 1,400 new undergraduates and their families on site, provided a visual acknowledgement of our growing reputation as a college of choice. Campus was also energized with hundreds of Summer Place campers enjoying a range of stimulating enrichment courses and recreational activities, as well as 200 summer interns living in our renovated Village Apartments while working for regional corporate partners. The value of a University of Hartford education is evident throughout this issue of H magazine—and one that both Chair Allan and I can attest to. It is my objective, during this time of post-pandemic recovery and significant momentum, to strengthen our foundation and support an atmosphere of excellence through academics, experiences, and partnerships that will serve generations of UHart students and graduates—now and into the future. Stephen M. Mulready M’77 Acting President
Share your thoughts and follow the process as UHart selects its next president: hartford.edu/president-search
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UHART START IN MOTION The University of Hartford’s strategic action plan, UHart Start, was established to strengthen the institution, ensure excellence, and sustain success. Now in full swing, the University community is increasingly seeing the positive changes resulting from this five-year planning initiative—both in terms of academics and student life. STUDYING ON CAMPUS UHart has recently launched many new and in-demand undergraduate and graduate academic programs. There are increased online offerings and newly created ventures in corporate programming, professional certificates, and combined or accelerated degree programs. Among our newest programs:
• Animation and Game Art
• Integrated Communication (master’s)
• Business Analytics (master’s)
• Nursing
• Construction Management and Technology
• Nursing Practice (doctorate)
• Aerospace Engineering
• Computer Science (master’s)
• Occupational Therapy (master’s)
• Computer Science and Engineering
• Robotics Engineering
• Data Science
• Stage Management
• Digital Media and Journalism • Environmental Studies
• Supply Chain and Logistics Management
• Environmental Science
• Technical Theatre
• Sports Management
• Exercise Science
LIVING ON CAMPUS Enhancing the residential experience of our students As students moved back to campus for the fall 2022 semester, UHart debuted the newly renovated Village Apartments. More than 800 returning and graduate students were welcomed by new kitchens, bathrooms, furniture, and flooring. RESIDENCE HALL COMMON SPACES The basements of Residence Hall complexes A–D were overhauled and offer today’s students game rooms with pool tables, table tennis, TV lounge areas, and modernized laundry facilities. OUTDOOR SPACES New outdoor gathering spaces and seating areas have also been introduced in recent years, from community patios in the Village to a firepit and courtyard across from University Commons.
hartford.edu/uhart-start
UHART START: 2025
VILLAGE APARTMENTS
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UHart in the News Turn on local news, or scan articles over morning coffee, and you’ll often see familiar names—like University of Hartford educators, leaders, and students. UHart media coverage has ascended to new levels, as professors educate people beyond campus and big moments are shared across the state.
The you-had-to-see-it-to-believe-it project of Professor Katharine Owens—a life-size whale portrait made of plastic pollution hanging in the University library—garnered interest far and wide. She not only had the chance to showcase her work on TV stations and newspapers, but also to encourage everyday sustainable practices.
As manufacturing companies shift focus to highly advanced technology, UHart engineering graduates are filling more of their staff directories. The University’s state-of-the-art programs are preparing students for in-demand roles and assisting companies in the transition. News across Connecticut
highlighted UHart’s work in the movement, dubbed Industry 4.0.
go-to source for discussing elections and voting reform. He even took a seat at a TV anchor desk during primary elections for all-morning analysis. The Hartt School Professor Carrie Koffman reached the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and was elated. But there was more to do—she played her saxophone through freezing temperatures, extreme wind, and air pressure changes. The Hartford Courant profiled her performance art project, “Carries Weight,” as she explores what the phrase truly means while on summits across the world.
If you learned something fresh about politics in a news story, chances are Associate Professor Bilal Sekou played a role. A known political expert at UHart and throughout the region, Sekou is a
H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE
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Art is about pushing boundaries, and Hartford Art School students challenged everyone’s idea of photographs with help from Japanese artist Komatsu Hiroko. Together, they developed a 50-foot-long photo that took six hours and large horse troughs to come to life in the HAS darkroom, with local media in attendance.
MIC CHECK
If you’re Associate Professor Paul Slaboch, you could say staring off into space is a good thing. It’s why he’s featured in the news to explain the latest rocket launch, new images of space, upcoming NASA missions, and the future of space travel. Slaboch leads UHart’s aerospace engineering program—the only one in the state. This summer, he guided a UHart student team in preparing for the launch of a high-altitude balloon during the partial solar eclipse coming in October. It’s part of a research project that will take the group to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they will officially launch their balloon over 100,000 feet during the eclipse to gather data on weather. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Associate Professor Jilda Aliotta could be found on TV, in newspapers, and on the radio providing expert context and perspective that assisted the public in digesting the monumental announcement. Aliotta has extensively studied judicial decision-making as well as the Supreme Court.
In an era focused on speed and technology, Gage Robertson ’26 is helping others to appreciate time and history with his antique clock restoration business. His unique pastime—as well as some of his most historic pieces— earned newspaper and TV attention. While student loans dominated headlines, Katherine Presutti, director of Student Financial Aid at UHart, was there to explain government legislation and proposals every step of the way. She aided viewers of local TV stations through her interviews, and also spoke with U.S. News & World Report about important considerations for students and families. UHart is ready to bolster the state’s health-care workforce and was proud to show those efforts in news segments about labor shortages. Nevaeh McKinney ’23 and Cesarina Thompson, dean of UHart’s College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions, discussed the nursing program while also showing labs and simulation centers with life-like manikins in the Hursey Center.
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MEET BERNIE ROSEN ’61, M’66 HOW COULD I NOT GIVE BACK TO A UNIVERSITY THAT HAS GIVEN ME SO MUCH?”
DEDICATED HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER FOR 24 YEARS PASSION FOR SINGING AND THE ARTS 51 CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF GIVING FIRST GIFT WAS $100
BE BOLD. BE LIKE BERNIE. MAKE YOUR GIFT TODAY AND OPEN DOORS FOR UHART STUDENTS FOR DECADES TO COME. Scan the QR code to give online, go to hartford.edu/give, or call 860.768.2400 to make a difference.
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Connecticut’s 4,000+ bridges are getting special attention from Professor Clara Fang and Daniel Jimenez Gil ’24, as they show the state Department of Transportation how artificial intelligence can transform infrastructure plans. Learn about their research on page 8.
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Driving Progress with AI AI + DOT + CETA = A Winning Equation On an average day in Professor Clara Fang’s Transportation Lab, students might test their newest roadway designs in the driving simulator or discuss why round-abouts may benefit traffic. But Fang’s current project extends far beyond the state-of-the art simulator, beyond the classroom, beyond campus. Fang is working with the state Department of Transportation to support all of Connecticut’s 4,000+ bridges by utilizing an unexpected tool: artificial intelligence. With a $238,000 research grant from the DOT and Federal Highway Administration, Fang—along with a UHart team that includes student Daniel Jimenez Gil ’24—is using AI to create a highly advanced prediction model that will allow the state to better forecast bridge performance and deterioration. “The CT DOT has ‘big data’ on all of our bridges in a large database from their inspections and ratings. There are 20 million inspection records from the past 30 years,” explains Fang, a professor of civil engineering in UHart’s College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture. “Using AI will allow us to understand how a bridge performs and comprehend patterns to try and see how it will perform in the future and learn information about its lifespan, while predicting its next major rehab needs.” This is the first research agreement signed between UHart and the CT DOT, and the first grant directly made to UHart from the state agency. The project will use AI to acquire knowledge from the state’s existing data and then create algorithms to predict bridge conditions. The program model will take into account bridge geometry, design, construction, service, cost, weather, traffic dynamics, and other characteristics, and study their connections with bridge performance. National discussions of AI have led to mounting fears and warnings of its abilities. But Fang and Jimenez Gil are harnessing its power and potential for good. Jimenez Gil, who joined the project after Fang discussed it in class, has pointed out it’s an ethical and positive use of the technology that will make bridges safer and have an impact on everyone in Connecticut. The research team also includes Saleh Keshawarz, professor and chair of the Department of Civil, Environmental, Biomedical Engineering in CETA, Yang Yang, associate professor of civil engineering in CETA in a consultant role, and two research fellows from University of Auckland, New Zealand. Fang’s project will allow the state to take a more proactive approach to ensure bridges are safe and that infrastructure work is efficient and cost-effective. As those in technology industries like to remark, Fang explains, “predicting the future isn’t magic–it’s AI.”
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Tools of the Trade New scholarships and development opportunities are enriching the experiences of University of Hartford business students, all thanks to Stanley Black & Decker and CEO Donald Allan Jr. ’86. Stanley Black & Decker launched the “Be a Force for Good Scholarship” initiative this year with its inaugural class of six Barney School of Business students, and plans to add at least six more students each of the next three years. Allan, who recently became UHart’s Board of Regents chair, was instrumental in creating this transformative program for students of his alma mater. “At Stanley Black & Decker, we believe it is our role in society to be a force for good, and as a UHart alumnus, I am honored to help empower future leaders with real-world experiences,” says Allan.
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From left: Jacquelaine Anderson, De’kyiah Morey, Julian Spivey, Makaila Rodriguez, and Married Mesilien outside of UHart’s Barney School of Business. The five business majors, along with student Sarah Sprinthall (not pictured), were named Stanley Black & Decker Scholars.
“This scholarship means many things to me, like having the financial burden lifted off my family’s shoulders. However, what it also means is someone saw potential and believed in my capabilities… Being a first-generation college student is hard. Being awarded through such an intense scholarship process means I can get through anything if I want to.”
A UHart student has been awarded a prestigious international affairs fellowship, becoming the first from the University to earn the honor. Benedicta “Benie” Kwarteng ’23 received a 2023 Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship following a nationwide competition of nearly 900 highly qualified candidates. Just 45 were chosen. The program will allow the multi-lingual Kwarteng to pursue her master’s degree, work overseas and stateside with a member of Congress, and become a U.S. diplomat, as the fellowship supports extraordinary individuals pursuing careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State. Kwarteng graduated this spring as a double major in international studies and politics and government with a minor in French.
—DE’KYIAH MOREY ’24
Scholarships The Connecticut-based tool-manufacturing company is providing $600,000 in scholarships over four years, focusing on students underrepresented in business, including first-generation and BIPOC college students. Scholars will receive up to $10,000 toward their UHart education each year. Mentoring Programs Students will be paired with Stanley Black & Decker employees for monthly ment0ring sessions and company tours, as well as résumé-building workshops and mock interviews. All of this will also give students a sense of the company’s culture and expectations for employees, while making real-world connections to what they’re learning in the classroom. Early Career Opportunities Learning about Stanley Black & Decker is one thing. Experiencing its work firsthand is another. That’s why scholars will be guaranteed first-round interviews for internships. Meanwhile, Stanley Black & Decker is establishing an invested and experienced group of potential future employees and improving access to opportunities for underserved, diverse students.
A new documentary on Netflix celebrates the life of Katharine Hepburn and was created with some help from UHart. Call Me Kate includes films and footage that are from Hepburn’s personal collection and kept in UHart’s University Archives and Special Collections. While she had extensive ties to Connecticut, she also had a UHart connection: she lived in a home on Bloomfield Avenue by the entrance to campus. Hepburn’s personal films cover her life in Fenwick, Hartford, Hollywood, and abroad, and include behind-the-scenes footage of her work on The Little Minister and Sylvia Scarlett.
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Nursing students in the Class of 2023 made history as the first graduates in the University of Hartford’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Many chose UHart because the major was new in 2019 when they arrived as first-year students—they were excited to help shape the program for students of tomorrow. Students like Ryan Hegney ’23 knew they would make a difference on campus, and for their future patients. “I’ve always wanted to do something that created change,” Hegney says. “It’s hard to change the whole world. But I can change the world for every patient I have, and that’s something that’s so special to me."
BY THE NUMBERS
A New Look for the Village Apartments When students returned to campus for the 2022–23 academic year, a familiar face was unrecognizable—but in all the best ways. The University of Hartford’s Village Apartments had undergone a transformational makeover during summer break. Gone were the vintage-looking kitchens, beyond-their-prime carpets, and furniture longing for retirement.
Photo credit: Brett Winter Lemon
Javon Jackson, director of Jackie McLean Jazz Studies Division at UHart, was nominated for a NAACP Image Award—and is believed to be the first from the University to be nominated. The nomination recognized his recent jazz album, “The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni,” in the category of Outstanding Jazz Album—Instrumental. He released the album last year with the pioneering poet, earning noteworthy accolades right away. Jackson is also a professor of jazz saxophone at The Hartt School at UHart.
When students unlocked their front doors, they walked on shiny new floors as modern kitchens beckoned them to cook with stainless steel appliances. Living rooms welcomed residents with upgraded furniture, and so did their bedrooms. Outside, just-installed community patios invited them to gather and celebrate.
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• $20 Million in renovations • 230 Refurbished apartments • 901 Undergraduate and graduate residents • 11 ADA units • 10 Kosher/Shabat units • 7 Patios • 216,930 Square feet of new flooring • 388 Bathrooms renovated
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Dressed for Success
#OOTD The Career Ready Closet offered close to 400 items when it reopens for the fall semester. More than 100 students borrowed items in the spring.
They’ve excelled in class, spruced up résumés, and scheduled interviews for internships and jobs. But there’s one more essential task on students’ to-do lists: Find something to wear for those all-important meetings with future employers. University of Hartford students have created the Career Ready Closet to iron out their peers’ clothing concerns. Enter the colorful space at Gengras Student Union, and you’ll see dresses upon dresses hanging from racks, suits and jackets, folded piles of collared shirts, ties in all patterns, high heels, flats, loafers, belts, and even accessories, all available to borrow for free. “You want to make a good first impression and dress to impress,” says Samuel Coates ’22, M’23, a student who earned his degrees in Barney’s accelerated 3+1 program and served as vice president of the Barney Leadership Council (BLC). “You can go to an event and stand out, and have conversations that can lead to new opportunities.”
Students used to bring their own furniture. Now, all University housing is furnished, and all students—no matter their travel or resources—will have furniture and supplies to make UHart their home.
“The new renovations made the Village a more welcoming and warmer environment for students. The Village gives students the chance to grow and be more independent while living in a new, fresh apartment.” —HARVEY GIBBS ’24
The BLC didn’t want dress-up dilemmas to ever put a wrinkle in student opportunities. So the group opened the closet to aid students who aren’t sure what to wear to interviews or networking events, can’t afford to buy professional clothes, or don’t have transportation to go shopping, especially on short notice. Clothes were donated by faculty, staff, and fellow students, and can be borrowed for free for short periods of time. Many items can even be purchased for a small fee, which is then used for dry cleaning or to buy items that are most needed. Barney ambassadors assist with closet operations by tracking inventory, completing the check-out process for student customers, and sorting and tagging donations— and are getting the real-world, hands-on experience of running a business. “We want to give students the opportunity to be as prepared as they can be,” says Maliqa Mosley-Williams, also a 3+1 Barney student who just completed her undergraduate senior year, and communications chair of the BLC. “It’s going really well so far. I don’t think we realized how popular it would be among students, but I love that it is.” FA L L 2 0 2 3
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Going the Distance With their immense expertise gained at the University of Hartford, students majoring in prosthetics and orthotics know they can make a difference for people across the country—even across the globe. So when dozens of youngsters experiencing limb loss needed help in Kenya this spring, UHart’s College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions said, “You can count on us.” Abigail Riley ’21, M’23 and Alexia Woodruff ’21, M’23 traveled more than 7,000 miles to AIC-CURE International Hospital with Associate Professor Duffy Felmlee. On a trip with the Limb Kind Foundation, they assessed the children, created their prostheses, and helped the pediatric patients learn to use them, all in just 10 days.
From left: Abigail Riley ’21, M’23 and Alexia Woodruff ’21, M’23
How was the trip overall? RILEY: It was just really inspiring to see the kids work so hard for where they wanted to be. They were super determined to get themselves moving. And for me, it confirmed, yes, I’m doing the right thing and exactly what I want to do in my life— work with the pediatric population. Did you have a goal to perform service work abroad when you chose UHart? WOODRUFF: Coming into college, it was more of a dream. I knew this was an opportunity here, and you’re working toward that the whole time. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. Which patient made the biggest impact on you? RILEY: We’d both agree we had this one special patient, Victor. He had a bilateral amputation and had them at a hard amputation level. He had previous prostheses, but they weren’t really functional for him. We saw how big of a difference the new prostheses made. He was up and moving all over the place as soon as he got his legs on. What were your days like? WOODRUFF: We worked about 10 hours every day. Our spe-
cific patient load was 10 kids. However, we did get to interact with the whole group, and were involved with 50 prostheses.
RILEY: We stayed in a guest house where different groups stay.
There was a hospital campus we walked through every morning. On the last day, they had a little “Show Your Shine” event, and the kids walked out and showed off their new prostheses.
Did this give you new insights on your careers? WOODRUFF: We feel more prepared. This gave us an oppor-
Riley and Woodruff graduated in May, and secured their residencies months before they completed their degrees. Riley is currently serving a residency in Virginia, primarily working with two local children’s hospitals. Woodruff is at a residency in Stratford with patients of all ages.
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tunity to be more independent in our work. I like to say that instead of being assistants, we were more the clinicians with an assistant. It was turning the tables a little bit.
Would you go back and help again in Kenya? WOODRUFF: Most definitely! RILEY: 100%!
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Class or Job? This program is both Take a quick look at the syllabus for a course called “The Agency,” and you might do a double take. “Client meeting and onboarding,” “client site visit,” and “client presentation” are all listed. The clients are real organizations from the local community, and student work is fully expected to be incorporated into their operations. That’s because the class involves managing the recently created Crested Communications agency, a student-run communications firm housed within the University of Hartford’s College of Arts and Sciences.
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With an eye toward industry transformations and evolving student interests, UHart continues developing new academic programs, particularly ones emphasizing hands-on experiences. A highly anticipated sports management program has launched at the Barney School of Business, led by John Papa ’96, a 25-year veteran of EPSN, where he worked at the executive level with the NBA, MLB, US Open, PGA Championship, Formula One, UFC, and other professional leagues. He got his start at ESPN through an internship while still a junior at UHart. Meanwhile, construction management and technology is now offered at the College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture. UHart also introduced the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions. Environmental science and environmental studies majors came to the College of Arts and Sciences this fall, along with a Master of Science in computer science.
In the 2022–23 academic year, Crested Communications partnered with the Hartford Land Bank and Metro Hartford Alliance/Hartford Chamber of Commerce. Students take on a lot of public relations work each semester for their local clients with Applied Assistant Professor Sarah Miner, who oversees Crested. Here’s a sneak peek at how it all gets done. Weeks 1–3: First days on the job include defining “staff” member roles and expectations, as well as team building. The client visits UHart for an initial meeting with Crested Communications for fact-finding and brainstorming. Weeks 4–7: The Crested team begins building proposals and audience targets, while conducting research, combing data, and creating case studies. Weeks 8–12: Now it’s Crested members’ turn to visit the client’s location. They begin presenting ideas to the organization’s leadership and mapping out media relations strategies. Weeks 13–16: Final proposals are prepared and presented to the client, followed by a Crested debriefing and evaluation. Students leave the course with hands-on, real-world experience as communications consultants, while business or nonprofit entities receive affordable services to advance their reputation—as well as a fresh set of eyes with innovative ideas. Students bring a unique perspective, both as colleagues and young consumers, and develop a portfolio of their work, from social media posts and media kits to fact sheets, case studies, and videos.
David A. Milton, aka @thedamgram on social media, is a known expert in Connecticut’s foodie scene, but UHart invited him to a different kind of tasting this year—one in Commons dining hall with some unique and favorite dishes. Alongside students eager to welcome Milton to UHart, Dining Services presented: sushi (a Friday tradition), hamburger sliders with buns made of fried mac and cheese, Oreo cheesecake cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies, and s’mores bars (sweet treats all came from UHart’s own Park River Bakery). Students enjoyed learning about Milton’s experience with restaurants around the state, cooking, career paths, and more, while he learned about their majors and campus involvement.
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Dozens of media members set up in Lincoln Theater, from national TV networks and newspapers, to local radio and TV stations.
A Rare Opportunity for Students
The University of Hartford welcomed President Joe Biden to campus in June, marking the second time a sitting president has visited the University in the past decade. Biden addressed gun safety legislation in a packed Lincoln Theater, as a crowd of nearly 700 people—including legislators from across the country—convened for the all-day National Safer Communities Summit. U.S. Senator Chris Murphy spearheaded the event and selected UHart as its location. Hosting the program required community members from all corners of campus, including two student ambassadors. David Leal ’26 and Farah Suede ’26 served on a volunteer team to welcome guests and answer questions. It was a historic day for all involved, but an especially unique moment for the two politically minded students, who worked as interns this summer for local legislators and have been deeply involved in their communities.
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Nelba Márquez-Greene ’97 reflects on the experiences of gun violence survivors alongside husband Jimmy Greene ’97 (left). Their daughter, Ana Grace Márquez-Greene, was killed in the Sandy Hook school shooting. Isaiah Márquez-Greene (right),Z their Z Z son, / Zsurvived Z Z / the 1 5 tragedy.
Panelists, including City of Hartford Chief Operating Officer Thea Montañez (far right), discuss community programs that have benefited from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
David Leal ’26 As a proud University of Hartford student, it was an absolute joy to volunteer at the National Safer Communities Summit. I was taken aback by the powerful speeches and different perspectives that were delivered. There were so many experts and advocates across our community and country who attended the event, and I am thrilled that the University could host it. It was also incredible to see President Joe Biden and U.S. Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, as well as Congresswoman Lucy McBath. This moment felt like the culmination of my hard work as a legislative intern at the State Capitol, a Red Key tour guide for the UHart admission office, and a student studying political science. I was able to meet administrative figures who will assist with my short-term goals for this upcoming semester. Additionally, by attending this event, I was able to connect with some local leaders in Connecticut's legislature— Connecticut’s Capitol is a place where I hope to end up working in and around one day. I’m grateful for this incredible opportunity. It was an unforgettable experience.
Farah Suede ’26
Executive Vice President, Student Government Association It was such a pleasure to welcome President Joe Biden as well as Senator Chris Murphy and other advocacy groups to the University of Hartford campus for the National Safer Communities Summit. I spent the day helping with guest check-in and managing a packed atrium of guests while tuning in for a tactful day of events surrounding gun violence and legislation. It was beyond incredible to be present. Hearing notable figures, the president included, left me feeling empowered for the legislation to come. As a student, being able to see in real time how generational change really takes root was awe-inspiring. Spanning the entire day, panel discussions featured wonderful speakers deftly handling incredibly difficult conversations surrounding gun violence. The audience listened intently, as speakers educated and empowered the crowd. Being able to represent the University on this day, as well as function as a welcoming ambassador for guests, was an honor and I believe UHart did a stellar job hosting the event. Another great day in the books for UHart!
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TESTI THE WATE Professor Bin Zhu shares his ecological passions with students With wading boots up to his knees and a metal test sieve in his hand, Professor Bin Zhu is surrounded by students in the Park River on campus. Crayfish, water pennies, and other invertebrate are revealed as water pours out of the sieve, holding the answers to a question Zhu’s biology classes study year after year: How healthy is the waterway? On this day and so many others, students see the value of accessing a natural resource in their backyard. And, even more, in having Zhu guide them in their field work. Zhu’s professional profile at the University of Hartford has been expanding as his reputation as an outstanding researcher and scientific author has grown. His influence on campus goes beyond the biology courses he teaches and the environmental research he conducts as part of his work at the College of H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE
Arts & Sciences: He’s helped launch two new undergraduate degrees that will be offered this fall, significantly augmenting UHart’s status as a major university with a highly regarded focus on the sciences. Throughout his 14 years at the University, Zhu has encouraged hundreds of students to explore the vital and intriguing world of ecological and environmental biology through his teaching (both in the classroom and in nature) and project mentoring. The enthusiasm and commitment he has for his field and students are well-utilized at the University. Zhu’s research concerns aquatic species and water quality. His selected focus is on invasive species such as the European frogbit which, he points out, poses an ecological threat throughout the United States and Canada. “I study ecology and management strategies of invasive animals and plants, and I investigate impacts of human activities, such as urbanization and land use, on water quality,” Zhu explains, “specifically water pollution associated with
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NG RS excessive nitrogen and phosphorus, chemical waste, and heavy metals.” While such specialized scientific verbiage may be a bit beyond the scope of the average person, it is second nature to Zhu’s UHart students, who benefit from his eagerness to involve them in his research.
the University,” Zhu says. “When I became the biology program director in 2017, I received many inquiries from prospective students about our majors in environmental studies. So I consulted with my colleagues, organized a committee, and helped create these two new majors. It was a long process, but we succeeded.” Students in environmental science can now elect to concentrate on either environmental biology or environmental chemistry, and students in environmental studies have the option to specialize either in environmental communication or environmental policy. “These two majors will prepare tomorrow’s professionals to use interdisciplinary approaches to gather knowledge, develop skills, and conduct critical analysis to help solve environmental problems, all of which will enable them to pursue advanced degrees and to look forward to exciting careers,” Zhu says. “They will be required to participate in undergraduate research and internships, and will work with faculty members who not only are experts in the environment, but have strong track records in terms of student involvement. In our program, we imprint into our students’ thinking the notion both of environment and sustainability in hopes they will pursue active careers in these fields. And even when they pursue other careers,” he adds, “their training here will make them informed citizens who care about the environment and the sustainability of our society.” Zhu also states that no matter which concentration a student chooses, there
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will be opportunities to complete internships at news organizations or government agencies, or to conduct research with a faculty expert or an environmental organization. “These experiences will help prepare them for careers or for graduate school, and the interdisciplinary nature of the new majors will provide them critical thinking and problem-solving skills for many different subjects.” In his native China, Zhu received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in ecology from Nanjing University, then earned a PhD from Syracuse University. Following Syracuse, he worked on a number of postdoctoral assignments at Cornell University and also at the Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Beyond the classroom, his work includes chapters in four books and nearly two dozen articles in respected science journals. Colleagues at the University and in professional environmental biology circles are well aware that he has added valuable data to available literature in the field. Zhu also served as an associate editor for the Journal of Aquatic Plant Management and the Journal of Plant Ecology, both of them highly esteemed scientific periodicals. “Achieving sustainability should always be a goal of society. Jobs in the sustainability field are increasing in demand,” Zhu notes. “Our program, especially now with our two new degrees, will give students the knowledge, training, and skills they need to make a positive difference in this essential field and in their community.” H
Between his classroom instruction and field projects, Zhu was a natural choice to receive the distinguished Humphrey R. Tonkin Award from UHart this spring, an award that honors full-time faculty members for scholarly and/or artistic creativity. “It was my idea to bring an interdisciplinary B.S. in environmental science and a B.A. in environmental studies to
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HAWK ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP
WE WANT OUR HAWKS TO CONTINUE TO SOAR...
That is why we have created a scholarship for alumni to attend UHart for their graduate studies. We want to be a continued destination in your educational journey! The Hawk Alumni Scholarship provides a scholarship equivalent to a 25% tuition discount for UHart alumni entering select graduate degree programs.
HARTFORD.EDU/ALUMNI-SCHOLARSHIP H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE
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Devanney Do ’98 credits a positive attitude and a UHart scholarship in helping her prosper in America
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or Devanney Do ’98, the tranquil and picturesque campus at the University of Hartford was not only an oasis of calm after a harrowing journey to get to America from her native Vietnam, but also a beacon of hope and optimism.
Devanney—known as Dev to her friends and close associates—was given a math scholarship to UHart after proving her natural ability in mathematics at Hartford High School, which she entered shortly after arriving in Connecticut. This was despite her struggles with English, which neither she nor her parents or six siblings spoke back home. “I ended up studying engineering because my language skills were not very good but my math skills were excellent,” Dev says with understated modesty. When she left the University, she joined technology giant Pratt & Whitney as a quality supervisor and material engineer. More recently, she decided to explore one of her other interests, semipermanent makeup, and opened a salon and training institute in Avon, Connecticut, called Chic Spa Microblading Academy. Between continuing to assist Pratt & Whitney in many quality initiatives on a part-time basis, running her successful spa, and raising her 13-year-old son and FA L L 2 0 2 3
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12-year-old daughter, Dev can proclaim that she has established a successful work-life balance—and what’s more, she can now proclaim it in perfect English. “When you walk and fall down, you get up and keep walking,” she says, recalling one of the many personal mottos that followed her from planting fields in Southeast Asia to engineering laboratories in Connecticut. It was Dev’s parents, both farmers, who insisted that she leave communist Vietnam for a better life. They saved their money to finance an escape. Dev left home by boat when she was 14, but was turned back. Two years later, she tried again, and this time got lost in the ocean for more than a week with a small group of similarly desperate strangers. The passengers were without food and drink for most of those harrowing days at sea. The boat struck an oil rig, and the oil workers fed them and led the vessel to Malaysia, where she lived for a year. From Malaysia, Dev was finally able to fly to the United States. “Once I got here,” she says, “I wanted more than anything to become something respectable
I’ve always been one to keep trying, to be assertive, and to network with people who can help. I’ve always focused on the positive and considered myself a glass-half-full kind of person.” helped her move through her academic track with few, if any, issues. She credits the engineering department for helping her navigate her way through a student project that ultimately led to a Pratt & Whitney internship. After Dev graduated, Pratt & Whitney supported her decision to work towards a master’s degree in engineering and management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Hartford campus. “I had to work twice as hard because of the language,” she recalls, “but I’ve always been one to keep trying, to be assertive, and to network with people who can help. I’ve always focused on the positive and considered myself a glasshalf-full kind of person.”
so that my parents would know their hard-earned money was well spent. I wanted them to be proud of me.” It became clear soon after Dev’s arrival that such a goal was attainable. High school calculus came to her easily, and her math SAT scores were exemplary. She went on to receive a scholarship to study at UHart’s College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture. There, she was involved in many projects that garnered the attention not just of her professors, but also executives at Pratt & Whitney, the aviation and aeronautics engineering leader based in East Hartford, Connecticut, known for its proactive stance in supporting future engineers through events, sponsorships, and internships. Although still struggling with English, Dev’s UHart professors, advisors, and classmates were patient and supportive, which H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE
It’s that attitude that not only sparked Dev’s success at Pratt & Whitney for the last 23 years, but also enabled her to launch a business of her own that’s based on her longtime interest in semipermanent makeup, particularly microblading eyebrows and eyeliner. It’s a specialized field in which Dev is trained and licensed, and she brings the same level of detail and accuracy to her clients that she brings to each of the jet engine components she still works on at Pratt & Whitney. “My customers love the fact that I’m an engineer, because they know that I’ll do their eyebrows, for example, with complete precision,” Dev says. She also teaches many aspiring artists how to become experts in the process. The spa started small, but word of mouth, referrals, and social media helped its reputation expand rapidly and impressively.
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It’s still growing exponentially. Several relatives help Dev out in this entrepreneurial venture, and many clients have become friends. About 15 miles east, more than a handful of colleagues at Pratt & Whitney maintain the greatest respect for her engineering expertise. With all that in her corner, it’s easy for Dev to look back on her earlier days—alone on a ship lost at sea, and then on an American campus knowing virtually no English— with wonder and pride. “When you’re determined, and when you put your heart and your mind into your work, you will succeed,” she proudly says. Dev readily credits the many influences that helped bring it all about, including her family, her colleagues, and her clients. What’s more, she never forgets to acknowledge her professors and classmates from the University of Hartford, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Phibrows (microblading training) for helping to make her story such a special one. H
When you’re determined, and when you put your heart and your mind into your work, you will succeed.”
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CAREER CONNECTION What so many students love about the University of Hartford is the sense of community: how people reach out to help their classmates or take the time to guide younger students. But that mindset doesn’t stop with graduation. Even after saying goodbye to campus, UHart alumni want to give back. That generosity, whether it’s helping a student land an internship or sharing professional experiences, has helped prepare students for their futures and establish meaningful relationships across generations.
After graduation, alumni find a new way to stay engaged with UHart by mentoring current students
Here, alumni and students share what they’ve enjoyed about those connections.
MARTIN JOHN ’92, M’94 For Martin John ’92, M’94 giving of his time to help the University of Hartford community has been an important part of his life after graduation. Not only does he serve on the Barney School of Business Board of Visitors and the University’s Board of Regents, but John has used his more than 20 years in the insurance finance field to guide current students who are interested in the industry. Currently, John serves as the senior vice president and head of financial planning analysis for HSB—Hartford Steam Boiler, a leading engineering and technical risk insurer. He also is the line of business oversight for one of the company’s business units, HSB Solomon Associates. In 2018, John and HSB hosted a group of Barney School students for one of the University’s Corporate Visit Day series. And last year, John took the time to offer his advice to three UHart students competing in a case competition for the National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA), a long-standing partner of HSB.
Photo courtesy of HSB—Hartford Steam Boiler
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For the past seven years, the NAAIA has held its talent development competition where students from universities across the country are asked to develop a strategy for a hypothetical insurance company and present their work. John says the competition is comparable to an internship— the six-month project provides students with another credible item to add to their résumé before they graduate.
Driver: Mason Holt ’21 Third from right: Ali Geci ’23
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MASON HOLT ’21 Each year, the University of Hartford’s Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (FSAE) designs, builds, and ultimately races a Formula SAE race car in an international competition. According to Mason Holt ’21, who served as a captain of the team, the organization is an outlet for engineering students to get hands-on experience and apply what they’ve learned in the classroom. But it’s also a valuable way for students to make connections. Holt first met Ali Geci ’23 through FSAE. With Holt as captain and Geci as a team lead, Holt became very familiar with his classmate’s capabilities as an engineer. The summer before his junior year, Holt landed an internship with Bauer, a company that designs and builds test equipment for commercial and military aerospace industries. Following graduation, he began working full time for Bauer as a mechanical engineer, and shared his experiences with Geci. Not only was Bauer a sponsor for UHart’s FSAE team, but the positive working environment Holt described piqued Geci’s interest. When an internship opportunity opened up, Holt was able to recommend Geci for the position because of their shared experience in FSAE.
This year’s prompt was to create a diversity, equity, and inclusion program to address a company’s recruiting and talent gaps. UHart’s team, made up of Lillian Bertram, Anita Moodie, and Maliqa Mosley-Williams, placed ninth out of 22 teams. They had a group meeting with John over the summer to go over their plan for the competition. “I remember his joy and passion for justice, as well as his excitement to see that UHart students were involved in creating initiatives to diversify the workforce,” Bertram says. For John, the best part of the experience was seeing the talent and diversity of the students coming out of the University today; he says it made him very proud to be a UHart graduate. John and HSB hope to partner with NAAIA’s competition in the coming years. “I was glad our company was able to help with that opportunity,” says John. “No one has gotten to where they are by themselves, including me. Everyone needs help. There is a lot the University has given to me as an alumnus, and I feel it’s my duty to help current students.”
During his time with Bauer in 2022, Geci worked with the hydraulic team, which specializes in designing test stands for commercial and military hydraulic aircraft components. “My summer at Bauer taught me many things, but the one that has had a lasting impact is giving me a great introduction to a professional engineering working environment,” Geci says. “I was included in daily team meetings and had a first hand look at how a great group of engineers work together to tackle complex problems.” Geci and Holt were able to work on a couple of projects together, and for Geci, that campus connection was a rewarding part of the job. He says that he felt he grew closer with his co-workers and fellow alumni by exchanging stories about their time on campus. As for Holt, he enjoyed passing down his knowledge, something he took away from his FSAE experience, where seniors passed down information to help the younger students. Holt still serves as a mentor for UHart’s FSAE team, working with the next generation on engineering design and fabrication as much as his time allows, occasionally traveling to their end-of-year competition. “Everyone sees things differently, especially with engineering,” Holt says. “Everyone has their own perspective on how something should be designed, built, or used. Letting students know how you went about a project might change how they think about something.” FA L L 2 0 2 3
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JAMES BRINO ’20 James Brino ’20 says that if he wasn’t an engineer, then he probably would be a teacher. The enjoyment he gets out of interacting with young adults led him to a position last year as an adjunct professor in the Barney School of Business, and previously he served as a mentor in UHart’s College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture (CETA).
From left: James Brino ’20, Raffaele Di Vita ’22
It was through CETA’s mentoring program that Brino met Raffaele Di Vita ’22. A few years later, the two found themselves working as colleagues for PIC Design, the precision gearing and mechanical components division of RBC Bearings, a multinational corporation that creates products for aerospace customers like Boeing and Airbus. After interning at PIC, Brino took on his first full-time gig as an applications engineer before transitioning to a management role in May 2022. Today, Brino oversees PIC’s engineering department. Each year, RBC hires recently graduated engineering students to go through its Manufacturing Engineer Training program. Brino thought UHart grads might be a good fit. “Because I went through the engineering program at UHart, I know its rigor and I know what students have to go through to graduate,” Brino says. “So to recruit some applicants from UHart, I reached out to the communications person at CETA and asked her to put the job posting in CETA’s weekly newsletter.” Di Vita saw the posting and applied.
Even though you’ve graduated, you’ve moved into your career or industry, people seem to find their way back in trying to assist the University of Hartford community. That’s something I’ve always liked about UHart.
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“I knew that there would be great job security in an industry like this,” he says. “And as I did more research on PIC Design, I learned that we make a lot of mechanical components that I was familiar with. I would be able to learn the backend of how a lot of these components are manufactured, apply the engineering knowledge I acquired at UHart to improve the future of precision components, and possibly have my foot in the door for better opportunities here at RBC.” Di Vita began the training program last July, and he says having another UHart alumnus around has helped him get comfortable with the work environment and accustomed to dealing with any day-to-day challenges. During his time with PIC, Di Vita has been able to attend a number of industry training sessions and learn more about CNC machining and metal-working processes that will help him further his career. Brino would like to see PIC recruit more from UHart, and is pushing the HR staff to attend the University’s career fairs. It’s important for Brino to help the next generation of students because he says UHart has given him so much.
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NICOLE MORROW ’08 When Nicole Morrow ’08 was hired at GO, a full-service marketing communications agency based in Hartford, she was the company’s first full-time hire from UHart. “But since then, it’s been a sort of landslide,” she says. Since her hiring in 2010, Morrow has witnessed GO establish a relationship with the University of Hartford’s Hartford Art School, an alliance that began when GO’s staff began attending the University’s senior art shows. “Attending those shows was a way for us to foster a sense of community by giving students an opportunity to discuss their work,” says Morrow, now a brand director for the company. “But we also realized there was a pool of talent being developed right down the road. I wasn’t afraid of bringing on interns from the art school because of how much I respect the program.” Erin Kelly ’15 became GO’s first intern from the University of Hartford. As a senior in her final semester, she was only taking a few classes and wanted to use her free time to gain experience and build her résumé. From her first interview, Kelly knew she was in the right place.
“I immediately loved their culture, the people, and how much responsibility I was handed,” she says. “GO gives so much room for growth and allows you to make your own path depending on what you love to do.” Today, Kelly is a lead designer for GO, one of many interns who have gone on to be full-time employees for the company. At one point, GO had four designers who had graduated from the University of Hartford, all about five years apart. “It was this beautiful generational thing,” Morrow says. “We all had slightly different experiences, but there’s still this foundation that is the same, a shared experience that tethers us together. I love building that community at our company.” Two years ago, GO formalized an intern program with the University of Hartford. A contact from the art school nominates a few students and GO chooses an applicant after conducting a portfolio review with each one. Hanna Ramsey ’23 is the company’s current intern, and she says sharing a UHart connection with other employees has helped her feel supported. During her time with the company, she’s had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, including digital and print ads, social media posts, and one sheets.
From left: Heather Bosusquet ’18, Hanna Ramsey ’23, Nicole Morrow ’08, and Greg Norton ’08
“I have learned so many tips and tricks that I had yet to learn in school from this internship,” she says. “I have learned how to effectively collaborate with a team to deliver the best work for our clients, and I really feel prepared to further my career as a graphic designer.”
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QUIMBY WECHTER ‘20, M’23
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COLLABORATOR SCHOLAR UHart’s Honors program altered the trajectory of Quimby Wechter’s college and professional journey
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he University of Hartford provides numerous opportunities and pathways for students to take advantage of to launch them into successful and inspiring careers. Many students focus on one path, and then there are select others like Quimby Wechter ’20, M’23 who immerse themselves with a host of valuable experiences outside the classroom that quickly pay dividends after graduation.
Wechter, a graduate of the University of Hartford’s Honors Program with a bachelor’s degree in health science and minors in biology and business management, is starting to make her mark in one of the most important fields in the nation: biotechnology. This follows her time on campus, during which she made an equally vibrant mark with her research, collaboration, and forward-thinking disposition. A resident of Boston, Wechter is a project manager with a highly committed biotech startup called TransCode Therapeutics. And even while working on potentially lifesaving and lifeimproving technologies at TransCode, her UHart education continued; she received her MBA this past May. Wechter originally selected UHart for her undergraduate career because she wanted a modest-sized school where she felt she would be able to make many
personal connections with professors, administrators, and classmates. Once on campus, she made it a point to become involved with its independent research program.
“That gave me the ability to develop my own research study, manage a team, test the device, analyze the results, and publish the findings.” Her UHart experience resulted in a long list of accolades reserved for high achievers, including the Ribicoff Prize (awarded annually to an exemplary graduating senior who has demonstrated academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, originality of thought, and a commitment to extracurricular activities and community service), a Regents Honor Award, the Solomon Elsner Award (presented to graduating seniors with a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA), and selection by The Women’s Advancement Initiative as a 2019–20 Dorothy Goodwin Scholar. Goodwin scholarships are given to female students who conduct innovative research or creative projects in collaboration with a faculty mentor. In addition to a financial component, winners also receive professional and personal development training.
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One of Wechter’s primary projects “Quimby was a remarkable student in so focused on a device to help children with many ways,” says Claudia Oakes, assocerebral palsy. Children with comprociate professor of health sciences and mised spinal flexibility need assistance— director of the Honors Program. mechanical, surgical, or otherwise—to “She took the initiative to get the most help them move in safer and more out of her academic experience as an effectual ways. In medical circles, this is undergraduate and used the freedom referred to as axial rotation. The basis that she was given to create her own of Wechter’s research was to determine projects to the best advantage. Quimby through extensive measurements if an embodied the ideal undergraduate axial rotation device would be reliable experience, seeing it as a time to for children with cerebral palsy. She explore her academic strengths and led a three-person research team that professional interests.” assisted with equipment development, Institutional Review Board approval, Oakes further notes that Wechter was scheduling, data collection, video known for her collaborative spirit. She behavior coding, and statistical analysis. sought classmates and other fellow Her pilot study determined that the undergrads to join her research team, measurement device she developed is and by doing so, effectively allowed well-disposed for a larger study. That’s a them to do what they thought necessary big step in this field. to achieve their own successes. Wechter’s first published study, titled “Determining the Reliability of an Axial Rotation Measure for Children,” was a well-received professional discourse on that work. Thanks to her research, there is reason to believe that empowering far greater activity for these children can be a highly achievable outcome. In impressive detail, the published study documents the claim. “It was truly a delight to have Quimby as one of our Goodwin Scholars,” recalls Dina Morris, director of The Women’s Advancement Initiative.
She entered each professional development session with an open and optimistic mindset, connected with her peers, and truly absorbed how adaptability in research, as in life, is imperative because of all the unforeseeable challenges that will arise and the modifications that will need to made. Not only did she advance her skills as a scholar and researcher, but she grew as a woman as she discovered her strengths—and she empowered others through mentorship.”
“When I began, there was no clinically utilized measurement device, so I was eager to create one,” Wechter explains.
“I am passionate about helping others, so it was fulfilling to develop something that’s reliable and accurate in measuring axial rotation. Originally, I wanted to research something involving dance, as that is one of my passions. I realized that many dance moves require axial rotation, something that many children with cerebral palsy lack.” That was one of the motivational forces that, in collaboration with Associate Professor of Physical Therapy Sandra Saavedra, led to the creation of the device. It wasn’t all research and analysis for Wechter during her undergraduate years on campus. She was involved in many activities that helped round out her campus life in highly engaging ways.
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Wechter was a senior resident assistant in the Village Apartments, a tour guide for the Red Key Society, a chemistry teaching assistant, a member of the dance team, and a volunteer with Accessibility Services, the UHart group that assists peers with disabilities. Not long ago, Oakes requested that Wechter submit an article to the Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council about her experience in UHart’s Honors Program. The article was accepted, and Wechter became one of the youngest alumni to be published in the prestigious journal. In her essay titled “Is Honors Worth the Extra Effort?” she details how the Honors Program changed the trajectory of her college and professional journey. She explains how she initially planned to complete a physical therapy program, and how circumstances compelled her to move in a different direction. That new direction led to her axial rotation work that, as much as anything else, defined her exemplary undergraduate research career at the University of Hartford. Wechter’s honors project opened doors in the neuromuscular research world, which ultimately led to her first job as a clinical research coordinator in the neuromuscular program at Boston Children’s Hospital. The involvement and success of Quimby Wechter as a UHart student is a clear illustration that one does not need to make a choice between great achievements in the classroom, participation in diverse areas of campus life, innovative research, and helping others. With a positive attitude, unbounded energy, and a commitment to excellence, one can do it all. H
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Through 30 years, STN has provided students with valuable media experience from their first days on campus
Courtesy of University of Hartford Archives and Special Collections.
When asked how his experience with the University of Hartford’s Student Television Network (STN) prepared him for his career, Chuck King ’91, M’97 likes to joke that it ruined him. That is, it ruined him because he had such a good time doing it. When King graduated from UHart and took a job with IBM as a multimedia producer, he says he definitely was not having as much fun. King helped launch STN 30 years ago, when he proposed a live weekly newscast as his master’s project. Today, the organization has more than 200 alumni who have covered everything from breaking news and presidential elections to sports and campus events. These alumni have gone on to notable media careers at the likes of CNN, ESPN, and NBC—some now running their own media companies—thanks to the educational foundation and hands-on experience that STN provided.
The organization has come a long way in 30 years. King remembers early broadcasts that were far too long because, as King puts it, “We had to fill a half hour and the University of Hartford is not that big.” And then, of course, they had to do it all over again the following week. “That first show was kind of easy because you had all that time to build up to it,” King says. “But then, suddenly, you’ve got to do it again in a week. And then you’ve got to do it again next year, when all the people who were doing those different jobs have graduated. A lot of us left after that first year, and the organization could have fallen apart right there, but those who came after made it better than I could have imagined. The broadcast is shockingly good compared to when we started.” It has taken a special group of students to keep STN going. Jack Banks, who joined the UHart faculty shortly before
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STN launched, began noticing these students in his media studies courses.
Banks puts them in touch with the STN general manager.
“They were very responsible, intelligent, interesting, funny, and they always wanted to do media-related projects for assignments,” he recalls. “It turned out they were STN students, and I felt an immediate affinity for them.”
Today, that’s Tom Giuffre ’24, who discovered STN at a 2020 club fair.
In addition to his role as the director of the School of Communication, Banks is now the faculty advisor for the organization, and although he can’t remember the exact year he took on the role, he’s been doing it for at least 20 years. Because STN is student-run, Banks has no editorial involvement. A part of his role is advocacy, working to get funding for things like equipment or upgrades to the TV studio. But his main job is to encourage students in UHart’s academic programs to get involved with STN. Anytime a new student expresses interest in digital media and journalism,
For Giuffre, that tone is friendly and inviting and says anybody can get involved. He’s doing a great job— STN has increased its membership from 20 students pre-COVID to 56 today.
STN provides a lot of practical experience— from shooting and editing video to working on voiceovers and graphics—that helps graduates take those first steps in their careers. Although a music education major, Giuffre took media classes in high school and decided to join up. Giuffre began at STN as a photographer before being elected chief photographer and now general manager. “To quote a general manager before me, ‘The general manager’s biggest job is to set the tone for the organization,’” he says.
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“I love that we’re essentially a bunch of friends who come together and make something we’re proud of,” Giuffre says. “Having a creative outlet is important, and STN provides one of the best outlets for community engagement and creativity.” That creativity has led to some innovative segments over the years. King
More than 100 alumni from across the country reunited at an April 22 event on campus to celebrate STN's 30th anniversary.
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remembers Dave’s Auto Tips, which offered advice for students to maintain their cars, and a weather segment that invited local celebrities to perform the show’s weathercast. Banks recalls a film review segment, a cooking show, and a ghost hunter show. A favorite of Giuffre’s is “Derek on the Streets,” where STN’s current sports director literally sprints around campus, asking students sports trivia questions. But serious news is also a key component of the weekly broadcast. When Russia launched the War in Ukraine last February, Giuffre stayed overnight in the STN office monitoring the news so that week’s broadcast could be updated. When two Bristol, Connecticut, police officers were killed last year, STN covered the story and included the body camera footage that a UHart alum helped them attain. At a Bans Off Our Bodies rally, the STN crew had the chance to interview the lieutenant
governor and attorney general of Connecticut. “I’m very proud of them because they’re not stenographers for the University,” Banks says. “Sometimes at universities, there’s subtle pressure to toe the line—but they are fearless. They cover important, sometimes controversial topics in ways that take them where the facts lead them. In that sense, they practice very authentic journalism. I’m very impressed by that.” STN also provides a lot of practical experience—from shooting and editing video to working on voiceovers and graphics—that helps graduates take those first steps in their careers. King’s work with STN earned him a job with IBM before he moved on to a CBS affiliate. Today, he is a freelance multimedia consultant. One of his big projects is a site called Applause Break, which covers the south Florida standup comedy scene.
But his best assignment is covering four baseball teams for the Associated Press during spring training. As for Giuffre, he says STN has taught him three very valuable things: how to sell yourself, how to be really good at emails, and how to enjoy yourself during times that seem a little tough. Following graduation, he’s considering three career paths: middle school music education teacher, media teacher, or going into TV. He’s added a digital media and journalism minor, a program Banks launched in 2018 thanks to the inspiration of STN. “STN had been working on its own, outside of an academic curriculum,” Banks explains. “What I wanted to do was somehow bottle that energy and motivation and bring it into an academic program.”
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director during his four years with the organization. “It was great to think about that powerful connection: that you can affect so many people by what you’re broadcasting to them.”
Banks hopes that in the future, STN can offer more types of programming and be a full-service network for the University, maybe someday being shown on monitors in buildings across campus. In the
Today, Melick and his wife run their own production company based out of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He appreciates being able to make his own schedule, especially with four kids. The company provides everything from live-event production and content development to webcasts and set construction. Their clients include CBS, ABC, and CNN, and they broadcast more than 200 hours of content a month on all major networks. Melick credits STN with providing a foundation for his success in the industry.
meantime, he and Giuffre are focusing on growing the membership. At admission events, STN members put on mock shows with local high schoolers visiting the University as a way to engage prospective students who are sure to keep the organization going another 30 years. “The University of Hartford is a relatively young school, and I don’t know much on campus that’s been around for 30 years,” King says. “To know that you started something that has lasted means a lot, but that 30 years isn’t me. The people who kept it going—who improved it—deserve the credit.” Here, four alumni from varying decades share how their STN experiences helped launch their careers.
ROB MELICK ’98 When a major blizzard hit the Northeast in 1996, Rob Melick found himself outside in the snow, broadcasting live weather updates with his STN team. It was one of those moments when he found himself appreciating the rewards of providing breaking news. “We knew other students were watching the coverage in their dorm rooms,” says Melick, who served mainly as an STN
STN was a big reason Melick came to the University of Hartford in the first place. Knowing he wanted a career in television and media, he set out to find a college that would provide him with hands-on experience in the field right away. “The University of Hartford was the only place where I could become involved my first year on campus,” he says. “All the other schools I looked at didn’t offer anything until junior year. But I knew what I wanted to do for a career, and I wanted to learn as much as possible. The University of Hartford and STN provided me that opportunity.” The experience Melick gained landed him a part-time job at the local Fox affiliate while he was still a student. Following graduation, he went on to work for some local television stations before joining Fox News, where he directed “Fox News Sunday,” among other Fox News shows. From there, he went to NBC, where he directed “Meet the Press,” and MSNBC daytime and primetime shows, as well as the network’s Olympic coverage.
“The fact that I was able to touch the equipment right away launched me into a career,” he says. “That hands-on experience absolutely put me above other job candidates who graduated from other schools.”
BRAD CHENEY ’00 It was Rob Melick who helped sell Brad Cheney on the University of Hartford and STN. While on a campus tour,
“The beauty of STN is you have a chance to learn anything you want. Being part of an organization that allowed me to try anything, to figure out how I might fit best in the real world was a building block for my success.” — Brad Cheney ’00
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Cheney had the opportunity to see the TV studio and meet Melick, who gave him a rundown of all the things he would be able to do as a firstyear student. “I appreciated that hands-on curriculum,” Cheney says. “I always knew I wanted to be in broadcasting, and here was a place that allowed me to experience that in my first year, which was uncommon at the time.” As a member of STN, Cheney shot and edited stories, served as the technical director and chief engineer, and rose to the role of general manager his junior year. “The beauty of STN is you have a chance to learn anything you want,” Cheney says. “Being part of an organization that allowed me to try anything, to figure out how I might fit best in the real world was a building block for my success.” The first job Cheney landed because of his experience and contacts with STN was a weekend gig with Fox 61 in Hartford the summer between his sophomore and junior year. After graduation, he went on to work for Cox Cable in Rhode Island, followed by stints with Game Creek Video and the “David Letterman Show.” Cheney joined the launch team of the MLB network before joining Fox Sports in 2014. In his role with Fox, Cheney manages the technical and operations side of a number of sports within the network, working alongside producers and directors to make sure the right cameras, audio, and technology are supporting the broadcast. As a sports fan, Cheney says it’s a dream career. Through his job, he’s attended Super Bowls and BCS championships, and helped produce a “Field of Dreams” game on a new field built near the site of the movie. Cheney points out it’s not a 9 to 5 job. But that’s the advice he has for current students: “Be ready to work the other hours. There aren’t a lot of jobs in this
industry that are 9 to 5. There are some, but they’re not the fun ones.” Luckily, Cheney says, STN instills a drive in its members to work hard and execute at a high level. He continues to be impressed with the people who come out of the program. “Many of the alumni are in live TV on a daily basis, but there are also many who are not. It’s funny how close those people are to doing the same things I do, but doing it through some other medium. It just shows you that STN teaches you so many things you use no matter what your career.”
JA’SHELL SMITH ’13 As a kid growing up in Hartford, Ja’shell Smith ’13 remembers MTV’s show “The Challenge” being one of her favorites. Years later, she had the opportunity to work on the show (and its spinoff, “The Challenge: All Stars”) as a field producer. “I loved being behind the scenes and seeing how everything worked on
this show I watched when I was 11,” she says. “I used to joke that if I ever could get on ‘The Challenge,’ I’d retire from television.” Smith didn’t retire, but instead continues to work as a freelance field producer for reality TV shows. She credits STN as providing a solid foundation for her career. Smith first
heard about the organization when she took a campus tour, and joined the organization as a sophomore. She worked her way up to senior producer her senior year and created producer meetings to go over the show’s writing. Smith turned the meetings into tea parties, which became very popular among the STN members. “It got to the point where other departments were trying to crash the meetings,” Smith says. “I told them that if they wanted to come, they had to write one package.” Smith’s STN experience helped her land an internship with NBC her junior year. Following graduation, she began applying to jobs on Staff Me Up, a resource for TV and film gigs, and landed one as a production assistant for “American Idol.” Since then Smith has gone on to work on a variety of reality TV shows, including “Dancing With the Stars,” “Wife Swap,” “Southern Charm,” “Wild ’N Out,” and “The Rap Game.” Smith no longer applies for jobs, but is hired through the network she’s created. If she’s hired as a segment producer,
Smith creates the setup for a scene. For example, if cast members will be filmed going out to lunch, she finds the location. Other times she decorates the background for a scene. Or as a story producer, Smith takes notes on a scene and writes a time code so the editor can find it later, then writes a summary. This helps editors understand what’s happening and helps them figure out
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what scene should come next. For “The Challenge,” Smith put her journalism education to use, writing interview questions for up to 28 cast members. It’s this mixture of responsibilities that Smith appreciates about her career. “I like the freedom of being freelance,” Smith says. “I also enjoy moving from one project to another. I always learn something new on every set.”
MEGHAN LENZ ’21 Meghan Lenz learned about STN before she was even officially enrolled at the University of Hartford. She first heard about the organization during a campus tour and made a mental note to look into the group if she came to UHart. “I knew earlier on I wanted to go into this field, so I wanted to direct my extracurricular activities towards that,” she says. After attending her first meeting, Lenz knew the group was the right fit, and each week thereafter she started getting even more involved. As a cinema and communications major, she was taking production courses, and STN provided her an outlet to practice what she was learning in the classroom. During the week leading up to the show, she filmed interviews and recorded b-roll for news packages, and then edited them. And on Friday during the live broadcast, she did everything from camera work to controlling audio and graphics. “I tried to switch it up and do different things so I could see what I liked best and really get more experience,” she says. That broad experience landed Lenz a job in the field just a month after graduation. She joined Fox Weather in New York City, first as a production assistant and now an associate producer. In her role, Lenz writes and produces reporter and guest segments for the channel’s daytime and weekend programming, gathers soundbites and visuals for the segments, and creates banners during breaking news. “Having that STN experience was a huge advantage,” Lenz says. Just knowing the industry terminology has been helpful, but I’ve also noticed the workflow is similar, and I still use the same practices I learned at STN. Overall it was a very valuable experience that had a part in shaping my journalistic skills.”
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POWER OF THE PRESS
SIDEBAR
For three decades, Student Television Network alumni have established a range of impressive communications-related careers. Below is a sampling; for a more comprehensive list, visit hartford.edu/STNalumni.
Chad Charette ’22 Reporter, WWNY-TV 7 News Aidan Graham ’22 Producer, Fox 61 Derek Bennett ’22 Production Assistant, ESPN Colin Whitehill ’21 Production Engineer, NBC Sports Deliann Tirado Torres ’21 News Photographer, Fox 61 Lucrezia Mozzato ’21 Video Editor, NBC Connecticut Kyle Corbliss ’20 Broadcast Associate, MLB Erin Austin ’20 Producer, Fox 61/CW20 Marceline De Angelis ’20 Camera Operator and Photographer, StarQuest Dance Competitions Patrick Grady ’20 Associate Producer/Video Editor, Newsmax Media Emma Palumbo ’18 Creative Producer, RD Content Ryan James ’17 Social Video Producer, Sports Illustrated Alex Young ’17 Associate Video Coordinator, NBA Matthew Brown ’17 Producer, The Productive Conversations Podcast with Matt Brown
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R Joseph Sciancalepore ’17 Post production Coordinator, ITV America
Gregg Katzman ’07 Exclusive Content & PR Manager, Comic Book Resources
Scott Roberts Jr. ’16 Executive Producer, Fox 61, TEGNA
Erica Boutselis ’07 Director, NBC10 Boston
Charles Garnar ’95 Multimedia Producer/CLE Content Manager, ALM
Brenden Madonia ’16 Sub Clipper/Logger, NBC Sports
Lee Simmons ’06 Owner and President of Event Resources
David Finer ’95 Communication Technology Manager, City of Pittsburgh
Dave Seperson ’06 Coordinating Producer, Sports Illustrated
John Pence ’95 Senior Manager, Content Operations at Curiosity Stream
Aaron Fellman ’06 Integration Producer, ESPN
David Mongeau ’95 Videographer, WCVB-TV 5
Jeffery Kolan ’04 Photographer/Editor - News, WFSB-TV
John Mongeau ’94 Owner, Monageau Productions LLC
Mary Murphy ’04 Line Producer, MSNBC
Michael Cohen ’94 Multimedia Producer, CineMed
Michael McCarthy ’03 Maintenance Engineer, Hawaii News Now
AJ Vittone ’94 Executive Producer/VP of Content, K5IVE Media
Jeff Dougherty ’03 Senior Editor/Graphics Designer, NBC Sports Philadelphia
David Festa ’93 Supervising Broadcast Engineer, The Walt Disney Company
Sean Duffy ’15 Video Editor, NBC Sports Philadelphia (Emmy Nominated) Andrew Mannino ’15 Manager, Production Application Engineer, NBCUniversal Spencer Allan Brooks ’13 Assistant Director of Multi-Platform Content, WUSA, TEGNA Ben Wilcox ’13 Senior Managing Editor, Spectrum News 1 Craig Stewart Jr. ’12 Producer, The Steve Wilkos Show, NBCUniversal Media Kim Salazar-Bifulco ’12 Production Coordinator, Impossible Objects Luke Sherman ’11 Engineering Technician at WPTZ Ashley Mason ’10 Voiceover Talent Liason, In Both Ears Suzie Hunter ’10 Multimedia Journalist/Digital Producer, WTNH-TV Michael Rosenbloom ’10 Content Editor, PGA Tour Matthew Parlapiano ’09 Video Producer, CBS Interactive Rebekah Katzman ’09 Producer & Editor, MTV/VH1/CMT & Logo Brand Creative, Viacom
Andrew Pometti ’03 Transmission Specialist II, ESPN Tim Robinson ’02 Owner, MoodUS Media Rob Blanchard ’01 Manager, Title Readiness, Global Operations & Partner Services, A+E Networks Kevin Bilodeau ’01 Sports Director, WCSC-TV Live 5 News Ronald Bishow ’00 Video Producer, CBS Interactive | Producer/Writer - Ball or Nothin', ESPN | Video Editor/Videographer, Live Planet, Inc.
David Honeywell ’08 Chief Engineer, WTNH News 8
Jason Powell ’98 Area Manager, QVC | Remote Camera Operator, LiveControl
Calvin Williams ’08 Technical Director & Host of Lush Vibes Radio, Radio Free Brooklyn
Barry Papish ’98 Director, WTNH-TV
Kevin Callahan ’07 Senior Director, System Design Engineering at NBC Sports and Olympics
Albert Filino Hutagalung ’97 Video Engineer, ESPN
Thank you to current STN GM Tom Giuffre ’24 for his research help in compiling the detailed list of 132 former STN members that is available at hartford.edu/STNalumni. We know that there are more STN alumni out there for whom it was difficult to track down information. Please update us at editor@hartford.edu.
Lon Seidman ’98 Host & CEO, Lon.TV
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The World’s a Classroom UHart students have life-changing experiences across the globe
For students looking to explore beyond cultural gems in Hartford such as the Mark Twain House and Wadsworth Atheneum, the University of Hartford offers study abroad programs spanning 50 countries. UHart students can travel to see Big Ben in London, the Colosseum in Rome, and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. But a study abroad experience is not just about visiting the world’s most famous landmarks. Whether they choose a semester-long trip or a short-term one, students have the opportunity to conduct research and volunteer. They navigate a new city and explore a different culture. They learn to speak another language and build lasting relationships. And when they return to the UHart campus, they have a new-found independence and world perspective to guide the rest of their studies and launch them into the next chapter of their lives. Here, three student travelers discuss why their study abroad experience was a valuable addition to their UHart education.
Jasmine Foote ’25 Jasmine Foote had been studying health sciences at the University of Hartford when she decided to switch her major to international studies along with politics and government. As someone who enjoys helping people, she thought a career spent in global development would be rewarding. Foote had never left the country. But once she switched majors and thought about how much travel might be required for her future career, she decided a study abroad trip would be a good way to start preparing for that. She chose to travel to Granada, Spain, during her spring break in 2022. While there, Foote had the opportunity to not only see historic landmarks across the city, such as the city’s palace and the Arab baths, but also participate in a service day at a local bee farm. Another highlight for Foote, who loves the outdoors, was a hike from the highest village on the nearby mountains down to its lowest. “There was no one up there except the locals and their sheep,” Foote says.
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It was so serene and peaceful, and also a great bonding opportunity for the program’s participants.” Foote says she didn’t know many of the people on the spring break trip beforehand. But having those experiences together, from climbing down a mountain to working on a bee farm, formed new friendships, ones that Foote believes will last beyond graduation. And although some of the things about the Spanish culture surprised her (like how everything shuts down in the middle of the day so people can take a nap), Foote says her trip to Granada made her excited to travel again. She participated in UHart’s spring break trip to Costa Rica earlier this year, and next year she plans to head to London. “This was the perfect warm-up round for the other trips,” says Foote of her Granada experience. “It helped me understand the little things about traveling, like going through customs, which I had never done before, but also learn about cultural differences, which will be valuable as I travel in my career.”
Aaron Weiner ’23 Even before he entered the University of Hartford, Aaron Weiner knew he wanted to make travel a part of his college experience. Shortly after he arrived on campus, he had a conversation with his advisor: the classes he planned to take for his psychology major had to align with a study abroad trip. Weiner thought his trip would be to Australia. But when that was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he reapplied for a program in Florence, Italy, for the spring 2022 semester. “I didn’t speak the language at all,” he says. “I remember being in the airport and trying to think of the Italian word for ‘hello.’”
Not only did Weiner not know the language, but he didn’t know anybody else on the trip. He says those circumstances forced him to be more independent. “I was always someone who just wanted to go talk to people,” Weiner says. “But that especially came out when I was in Europe. The experience really made me more outgoing.” That outgoingness earned Weiner some new lifelong friends, including people from South Africa, Ireland, and Poland who weren’t even in his program. While his group of American friends spent time together by hanging out in bars, the friends he made from other countries hosted family-style dinners where they played games.
I just loved getting exposure to other cultures, and now I have a desire to experience even more of that,” Weiner says. He is still in touch with his new friends. Last October, someone from the program had a birthday party in Rhode Island, and 10 people from the study abroad program showed up to celebrate, traveling from places as far away as California and London. Eventually, Weiner plans to head to grad school for social work, but first, after graduating from UHart, he’ll take a gap year and travel to Southeast Asia or Australia. But wherever he decides to travel, Weiner likes to think that, thanks to his study abroad experience, he now has connections all over the globe. “The experiences you have in another country and the people you meet can
shape you in so many ways,” says Weiner. “It can make you a more independent person and give you an eagerness for life. It’s hard to put into words what you’ve gained from this experience until you’ve actually done it. And everyone should.”
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Study Abroad Opportunities Grow with Donor Gift The ornate, sky-high cathedrals left a grand impression. But the tiny bees in need of assistance did, too. Jasmine Foote ’25 saw the big, the small, and everything in between during her trip to Spain (read more about Foote’s experience on page 38). “When I think Spain, I don’t think bees. But we did a service-learning activity in the mountains to learn from beekeepers and see how they build hives, and we built hives with them,” she explained in a recent recap of her 2022 travels through the University of Hartford’s study abroad office. “They’re trying to build the population back up. It was something really different to do, and I liked that.” An unforgettable moment, the kind that even more UHart students can now enjoy—a West Hartford couple gifted $1.8 million for study abroad scholarships, granting access to so many students who never imagined extending their education to another country. The Gladys B. M’60 and Robert E. Dunn Fund for International Study was created for UHart students by the late Gladys and Robert Dunn, who lived and taught in West Hartford and were world travelers. Robert Dunn also taught graduate courses at UHart. They established the fund at UHart in 2007, and the new gift has been made through their estate after they each passed away. The couple hoped to aid students with the greatest need of financial assistance. “We’ve always had a study abroad program, but we’ve expanded it thanks to this fund,” says Nicole Kurker-Stewart, director of UHart’s International Center. “Some students have never been on a plane, they haven’t traveled out of the state. For some students, funding can make or break their plans. A lot of conversations we are having are with families to say, ‘This is possible from both a timing and finance perspective.’ There’s been a lot of work to make these experiences more accessible to all students, including those who wouldn’t be able to go abroad or wouldn’t have considered it. The Dunn family has made it all possible.”
Destiny Weekes ’23 Destiny Weekes had been taking Spanish language courses when a friend introduced her to K-pop, a form of popular music originating in South Korea. Weekes, a psychology major, was so inspired by the genre that she decided to drop Spanish and learn Korean. In fall 2021, Weekes took an opportunity to dive even deeper into the culture: she decided to participate in the University of Hartford’s study abroad trip to Seoul. Every weekend during her time in South Korea, Weekes visited new places and participated in the local customs that gave her a true understanding of how Koreans live. She visited the country’s iconic Namsan Seoul Tower, which offers an unobstructed view of the city, and the National Palace Museum of Korea, which houses more than 40,000 artifacts, and took a workshop where she learned to make rice cakes. But she also had time to have her own experiences outside the program. For Weekes, a favorite was her visit to a beachside town where she ate traditional Korean seafood.
The study abroad trip was not Weekes’ first experience visiting another country. She’s also traveled to Canada, England, and
France. But this trip was different, not just because of the length of time she was abroad, but because of the impact this experience had in shaping her personal beliefs and learning about people different from herself. “Making friends wasn’t exactly difficult, but it was new to me because I’m very shy,” Weekes says. “I don’t always put myself out there. But that’s what studying abroad taught me. It really influenced who I am.” Weekes says her time in South Korea also allowed her to gain a multicultural perspective.
So often in America, we don’t realize there are different cultures, traditions, and values out in the world,” Weekes says. “I really got to understand that during my trip. And as a psychologist, when I’m eventually working in that field, I will understand that people have cultural differences that can affect how they are treated.” H
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HAWK NATION
UP FRONT
Recipe for Success Baseball Head Coach Steve Malinowski strives for the optimal balance of sports and academics As a boy, like countless others coast to coast through the generations, Steve Malinowski dreamt of being a big-league ballplayer when he grew up. Most people, of course, eventually take career paths far removed from the fields and courts of competitive sports. But Malinowski never gave up the dream of devoting his vocational life to baseball. Today, he is head baseball coach at the University of Hartford.
players under his charge, with extra emphasis given to batting and to all his catchers, which were two of his strengths as a player growing up. It is having a good sense both of the team as a whole and of the individual players—who they really are, what drives them, where their strengths and opportunities for improvement lie— that makes Malinowski a successful coach. “In my younger days, coaches like Bill Belichick, Nick Saban, and Terry Francona were the guys who really made an impression on me,” he says. “They were experts at taking the pulse of their teams. I believe that’s what made them effective in getting them to perform at the highest levels.”
“I played sports my whole life, but the truth is that I never really considered coaching until I actually got into it,” says the University of Connecticut graduate who now has 15 years of college coaching behind him. “Maybe being a pro athlete wasn’t meant to be, but I’ve been very lucky to have had great coaches my entire life, from little league and midget football all the way up through college. That made me realize that coaching is what I was meant to do.”
As a college coach, Malinowski is exceedingly aware of how important it is to equate success on the field with diligence in the classroom. “I’m always looking for the right balance to promote,” he shares, addressing the sometimes-challenging intersection of sports and academics. “We tell our student-athletes that while spending time on the field is terrific, if the time spent learning and studying isn’t going well, then it’s playing ball that could go away first. That’s our job as coaches.”
Malinowski, whose degree is in coaching and administration, is in his 12th season with the Hawks. He was an assistant coach for 10 years before being tapped to be head Hawk in summer 2021. He consistently works very closely with all the
As a student, Malinowski played two seasons with UConn’s Huskies. Then he spent a season as an assistant coach at Bryant University in Rhode Island, followed by a similar stint with the Pittsfield Dukes in the New England Collegiate
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Baseball League. The next year he was an assistant with the former collegiate summer baseball team, the Manchester Silkworms. When he joined UConn’s coaching staff, he helped the Huskies achieve their most successful seasons, with 48 victories in 2010 and back-to-back NCAA Tournament wins. The 2011 Huskies advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals for the first time in program history. While he’s had many impressive years at UHart, 2018 stands out for the way Malinowski helped the Hawks to their first-ever America East regular season and tournament championship. The University begins competition as a member of the Commonwealth Coast Conference this year, an important step in UHart’s transition to an NCAA Division III athletics model. Malinowski maintains that he is far more concerned with building an effective team than he is about conference names and categories. “I know we’ll build a championship program no matter what. For me, it’s the students who are important. It’s good to think big, but it’s better to be wellrounded—in the classroom as well as on the field.”
Aaron Toomey Selected to Lead Men's Basketball Aaron Toomey, who has established an impressive coaching résumé on the heels of a standout playing career, was named the new head men’s basketball coach at the University of Hartford this past April. Toomey served as interim head coach at Amherst College during the 2019–20 season, guiding the Mammoths to a stellar 18–8 record. He was selected to the Under Armour 30-Under-30 Team in 2019, which honors the nation’s most outstanding men’s basketball coaches under the age of 30. As an assistant coach at Amherst from 2015–19, Toomey coached under David Hixon, one of the winningest college basketball coaches in NCAA history. Toomey also served as an assistant coach at Vassar College (2020–21) before spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Rochester, where he helped lead the Yellowjackets to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2022, the Rochester men’s basketball coaches were honored as the D3hoops.com Region 3 Coaching Staff of the Year. The all-time leading scorer at Amherst, Toomey was named the 2013 AP National Player of the Year and 2014 D3hoops.com Player of the Year. The Mammoths reached the NCAA Tournament each year of Toomey’s undergraduate career, winning the national title in 2013. He is Amherst’s all-time leading scorer (2,033 points) and is at the top of the Amherst record book in free throws and three-pointers made. Such an illustrious playing career led to his selection to the D3hoops.com All-Decade First Team for the 2010s.
WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM VISITS COSTA RICA
Having grown up in a Hartford suburb, Malinowski feels right at home in his role as Hartford Baseball’s head coach, especially since he still resides close to campus with his wife, Elizabeth; daughter, Sawyer; and son, Everett. Undoubtedly, he is doing what he can to instill sportsmindedness into his growing family, though he’s the first to admit that when he’s not coaching or watching games, one of his favorite off-hour activities is cooking. On the job, the talk is mostly about the game. Cooking might come up now and again, but it’s baseball that everyone has in common. It’s the defining factor that motivates and excites the entire team. “After all,” he adds, “if you enjoy each other’s company, it makes the job that much easier.”
The Hartford Women’s Soccer team enjoyed a stellar 10-3-1 record last season, led by a breakout year for Imani Jenkins ’24, who became the highest scoring Hawk of the past decade while finishing among the top 10 nationally in goals scored. In November, the team quickly changed its focus and perspective, bonding with youngsters at a school in Costa Rica. All 21 Hawks visited the country for a longawaited trip that included service work at an
SPORTS T IC K E R:
under-resourced elementary school, a soccer game against a local club team, hiking, and a visit to a wildlife sanctuary. The school children greeted the Hawks with homemade cards that thanked them for visiting, before everyone broke into groups to practice soccer fundamentals, Jenkins recalls. “It was us sharing something we love with kids who don’t have as many opportunities as they should,” says teammate Christina Stone ’24.
Men’s Lacrosse sets four individual season records during undefeated season / Softball finishes with .500 or better record for first time in 16 years
BY THE BOOKS Spring semester, 2023
3.39 Combined GPA for student-athletes
80
Percentage of student-athletes with 3.0 or above GPA
39
Number of Hawks posting a perfect 4.0 GPA
3.68 Combined GPA for women’s soccer, tops among all sports
Campus Camaraderie Intramural sports growing in popularity throughout campus community One day in the future, Cam Kratovil ’23, who graduated in May from the Barney School of Business as a business management major, may be asked to prepare a biography to use at a function or in a publication. When people read the part about his college activities, some may wonder when he had time to study business. That’s because Kratovil, in addition to working hard on all his courses, took full advantage of the University’s intramural sports program, having played soccer, basketball, flag football, and softball, in addition to being on the collegiate golf team and serving as captain of the softball and flag football teams. “Many of my friends and I are student-athletes on varsity teams, but we do intramural sports to relax, have fun, and connect with the rest of the school community,” says Kratovil, who plans to return to UHart in the fall to work toward an MBA. He says that when he meets a new student who seems a little melancholy, or winded just from walking across campus, he feels compelled to recommend intramurals. “Whether you’re an amazing athlete or have never done sports before, participating in intramurals is a wonderful experience,” Kratovil says. “It’s a great way to laugh and make new friends.” Kyle Wasilkowski, UHart’s director of recreation, emphasizes that students, faculty, and staff alike can sign on to as many intramural teams as they’d like—bringing all segments of the campus community together in an atmosphere of camaraderie and friendly competition. “Before COVID, people worked out on their own,” Wasilkowski says. “Now that everyone feels safer, they’re looking for more activities—and we certainly have a wide range of offerings. Wasilkowski’s arrival on campus a year ago as the school’s first director of recreation boosted the University’s campus-wide effort to enhance wellness in multiple ways. A Pennsylvania native, he played mostly baseball and football as a youth, and says he always knew he wanted to be in athletics administration when he grew up. Wasilkowski has a bachelor’s degree in sports management from York College and a master’s degree in the same field from California University of Pennsylvania. His previous positions included overseeing the largest adult recreation league in Pennsylvania, being assistant director of athletics for a large high school district, and managing the sports program for a YMCA—all before being attracted to the University of Hartford. “During the height of the pandemic, few students took part in intramurals,” Wasilkowski explains. “This past spring, we had more than 640 participants. We look forward to University of Hartford students, faculty, and staff taking advantage of intramurals more than ever in the years to come.”
/ Women’s Lacrosse leaps forward as a young program, recording first winning season and shattering 11 single-season records
SUMMER 2023
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WORKS
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RECENTLY PUBLISHED
Books by members of the UHart community
Share your newly released book, album, or film with the UHart community. Email editor@hartford.edu.
Dan Blanchard ’95 (ENHP) has published his inspirational memoir, A Fighting Chance: A 40-Year Journey from My Birth until My Brother’s Death, sharing some truly troubling details of his childhood in an effort to move forward in life and achieve a positive outcome. Kimberly Burns M’96 (Barney) has won multiple awards and honors for her debut Victorian-era novel, The Mrs. Tabor. Based on a true story, the book explores the life of Colorado's notorious Silver Queen, Baby Doe Tabor, and illustrates that the laws of survival always trump the rules of etiquette. Amy Calder ’82 (A&S) has published a new book, Comfort Is An Old Barn, a curated collection of columns that she has written for two Maine publications through the years. The book includes sketches of the colorful characters, quirky animals she has encountered, special moments, and personal stories that make living in Maine special.
Mary Fister (Hillyer), associate professor of English, has published Quick to Bolt, a collection of poems that celebrates the sense of mystery, wonder, and comfort that is integral to the natural world as well as relations with others. Amanda Freeman (A&S), assistant professor of sociology, explores the way the American dream is built on the backs of working poor women in her first published book, Getting Me Cheap: How Low-Wage Work Traps Women and Girls in Poverty. Freeman produced the work with Lisa Dodson, research professor emerita at Boston College. Curtis Gross ’79 (A&S) recently published Go to Health!, a new book designed to help readers change unhealthy habits and achieve lasting health results using alternate methods. Gross has been in private practice as a chiropractor in Middlebury, Vt., for close to four decades.
/ UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE
Jennifer Rosado ’94 (ENHP) has published My Alternate Universe: Anxiety, Autism, and Adventure in a Parallel Reality, telling the story of her son’s challenging childhood years, her own need for control and lifelong battles with anxiety, and the ways that her son’s diagnosis of autism changed her perspective and view of the world. Julie Rumrill (ENHP), a current doctoral student in the educational leadership program, has published Finding Mary, the story of one sister's journey through the dark confines of unresolved grief toward forgiveness and understanding. Part mystery and part reclamation, the memoir was completed the same year that Rumrill enrolled at UHart. April (Cech) Tucker ’02 (Hartt) has published her first book, Finding Your Career in the Modern Audio Industry, providing insight for aspiring professionals seeking audio-related opportunities in entertainment, technology, and education. It includes more than 70 interviews with professionals from over 20 countries.
When Frank Hursey ’77 (CETA) toiled away in a West Hartford basement experimenting with a simple mineral, he never could have predicted the journey that awaited him. Hursey’s discovery led to his invention of QuikClot, a product that stops life-threatening bleeds in military action and traumatic events. Now, he and his business partner are looking back on the product’s impact, the lives it saved, their battle in convincing the Army to use it, and much more in a recently published book, In the Blood: How Two Outsiders Solved a Centuries-Old Medical Mystery and Took on the US Army. Hursey, collaborator Bart Gullong, and author Charles Barber celebrated the launch of the new book with the campus community last spring during a panel discussion and book signing in the Hursey Center.
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WEDDINGS
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ALUMNI NOTES
HAW KTOBER Our beloved tradition had an incredible post-pandemic return to campus last fall with more than 1,000 alumni, families, and students taking part in a wide range of programs and activities. Hope to see you at Hawktober 2023, Oct. 20–22.
SGA Past and Present: In early March, SGA was back in session, with throwback leaders and current members coming together for a lively reunion and evening of networking. Anchor Awards: Last year’s Anchor Awards celebration was special. The group of honorees included Bernie Rosen ’61, M’66, officially given the Impact on UHart award in 2020 and finally recognized in person—and without a dry eye in the audience. Hawk Pride Socials: Last spring, we gathered with Hawks across New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut to celebrate Hawk Pride and support UHart’s annual Day of Giving.
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FROM
HEL LO, F EL LOW H AWKS I am beyond excited to be in my second year chairing the newly renamed Alumni Advisory Council and representing more than 80,000 alumni worldwide. Hartford has always been a second home to me and my belief in the power of staying connected to this incredible University has only increased through my service and support of our alumni and student communities. The stories in this—and every—issue of H magazine are an inspiration and a reminder of the special bond that we have as University of Hartford alumni. Each story I read in the magazine brings back a great memory I have from my student days, whether during my time as a Red Cap, tutor, president of Program Council, or founding committee member of our campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity. These experiences—and the friendships I formed through being part of such groups as Brothers and Sisters United and the Gospel Choir, remain a great influence today. Many alums have powerful and compelling stories, and I encourage you to share yours on our website or with an Alumni Advisory Council member. Find your preferred way of giving back and getting involved—we are proud of the events, programs, and volunteer opportunities that exist for all ages and interests and hope to continue to see them grow. In recent months, I have experienced firsthand the impact that UHart alumni make both on campus and in everyday life, volunteering for the A&S Career Readiness Academy, attending Hawktober Reunion and Family weekend, and seeing Ryan Speedo Green ’08 perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City with a small group of fellow alums. These experiences have energized me and I am eager to work with all of you in our shared commitment to help grow and shape UHart’s future. Kristen Harris A’00, ’02 Chair Alumni Advisory Council
ALUMS
Contribute a Note! The University of Hartford alumni network is vast, with a diverse community of more than 80,000 strong throughout the United States and around the globe. UHart alumni are making their marks everywhere—in the arts, in business, in STEM, in government, and more— and have incredible stories to tell. You were once students, and now you’re alumni for life. Keep those bonds strong and stay connected. Class notes are posted throughout the year online. A selection of recently submitted class notes is included in this issue. M A I L : Class Notes Editor, Development and Alumni Affairs,
200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117
ON L I N E: hartford.edu/submit-note
1965
Marilyn (Kraj) Sanford (A&S) has been honored by the Military Officers Association of America’s Cape Canaveral chapter for her volunteer work as the organization’s media relations liaison.
1966
The oil paintings of Mary (Zeigler) Beagle (HAS) are now represented by Jane Hamilton Fine Art in Tucson, Ariz.
1972
Alan Gertner (A&S), was appointed executive director of the School of Communication Disorders and Deafness in the Nathan Weiss Graduate College of Kean University, Union, N.J. Gertner has been a professor at Kean University for the past 25 years. Prior to his tenure at Kean University, Gertner was an assistant professor at College of New Jersey and an instructor at Teachers College, Columbia University. Gertner’s book Auditory Disorders in the Classroom: A Guide for Speech Language Pathologists, Audiologists, and Educators, is available through Amazon or Charles C. Thomas Publishers.
DEGREE KEY A Associate Degree AD Artist Diploma C Sixth-Year Certificate D Doctorate GPD Graduate Professional Diploma
FOLLOW THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION: Instagram.com/UHartAlumni twitter.com/UHartfordAlumni
H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE
1976
Scott Kalicki (Barney) is a part-time faculty member at American Public University and a former chief student affairs officer. Kalicki was one of two student affairs professionals recently interviewed by Bethany Hansen for the Online Teaching Lounge podcast.
1979
Curtis Gross (A&S), see recently published book, page 44.
After 30 years of leadership of the Texas Property & Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association, Marvin Kelly (Barney) received the Gates-Marchman Award, which is the highest recognition of the National Conference of Insurance Guaranty Fund for exemplary service.
1982
Amy Calder (A&S), see recently published book, page 44.
Jeffrey Wolf (A&S), a partner at the law firm of Quarles & Brady, was named to the Franchise Times Legal Eagle class of 2022, which highlights attorneys who
M Master’s Degree No letter designation adjacent to the school/college name indicates a bachelor’s degree P indicates the parent of a student or alumna/us. indicates photo.
B E I N TH E S POTLIG HT UHart’s alumni website highlights alumni who are impacting the world in meaningful and interesting ways. Have a story to tell? Access spotlights at hartford.edu/alumni-spotlights.
ALUMNI NOTES / NEWS
understand the nuances of the franchise business model and are star legal professionals in the franchise industry.
1983
Teri (Bradley) Kulakowski (CETA, M’10 Barney) was nominated for the prestigious Stellar Award, presented by the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Foundation. The nomination was in recognition of her work on the oxygen generation system for the International Space Station. She is a senior principal engineer at Collins Aerospace, and is the lead electrical engineer supporting International Space Station electronics for Collins. Marion (Costen) McParland (A&S) joined Rainforest Trust in January 2022 as digital writer and editor. She has dedicated her career to the environment, arts, and culture at organizations including The Maritime Aquarium, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and Princeton HealthCare System Foundation. Most recently, McParland worked with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society as a writer, where she promoted the Philadelphia Flower Show. Her articles have appeared in Redbook, Boston magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Boston Herald Sunday magazine, Practical Homeowner, Marblehead Magazine, and Green Scene. Salvatore Ranniello (Hartt) played drums for Goodspeed Musicals’ production of Anne of Green Gables in the summer of 2022.
1984
Randall Gordon (Hartt) recently published a piece titled “Through the Looking Glass: The Context of Out-of-Tune Data” in The Data Administration Newsletter. Gordon has served in data governance leadership roles for the last decade, and worked in the financial industry for more than 20 years. He currently works at Citi Private BankEO.
1985
Edward Anthony Chesky (A&S) retired to Tampa, Fla., following 24 years
of military service as a senior intelligence officer, 10 years of law enforcement service, and five years of service as an advanced biotech farm designer and operator. Chesky is currently active in community service and helped establish a multimillion-dollar, faith-based refuge center for Ukrainian refugees in northern Vermont. Michelle (Guillet) Helmin (Barney, M’94 Barney) earned her doctorate in education in Higher Education Leadership from Johnson & Wales University. Helmin is the senior director of advancement communications and stewardship at Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I. She and her husband, Dave ’84, reside in Woodstock, Conn. Anthony Susi (Hartt) had five of his eight new published releases of music for 2023 recognized with the JW Pepper Editors Choice designation. They are as follows: for jazz band, an original Motown style chart “Go Big or Go Home” and his swing waltz arrangement of “Coventry Carol”; for concert band, his original programmatic piece, “The Race” and his arrangement of two European rounds for beginning band “Round and Round”; for string orchestra, his clever contemporary pairing of “Carol of the Bells” and “We Three Kings” in “Carol of the Kings.” Susi’s published march “First Responders” that was first premiered by Capital Winds is a national semi-finalist in the 2023 American Prize for pops/light composition.
1986
Artist and painter Barbara Lussier (HAS) recently exhibited her landscapes, “Serene Skies” at the Geary Gallery in Darien, Conn. Lussier is a signature member of New England Plein Air Painters, and her work has been exhibited throughout New England and internationally.
Jane (Knox) Mills (Hartt) recently had her beginning band composition, “Courage to Persevere,” published by GPG Music. The cover art for the composition was created by her son, Stephen Mills, an undergraduate at the Hartford Art School. In 2021, Mills, along with the Connecticut Music Educators Association,
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received a grant from The Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Eastern Region Program, facilitated by Waynesburg University, for The Virtual Ensemble Project, the result of an idea that Mills had to help music education during the pandemic. For the grant, Hartt and SUNY Fredonia composition students created arrangements of public domain music from The Library of Congress as well as program notes using primary sources for teachers to use nationally, in class or online, at no cost.
1987
Anthony D’Amico (Hartt) was part of a mini Hartt reunion at the Boston Opera House during the summer of 2022 when the national touring production of Wicked rolled in for a seven-week stay.
1988
Kimberly Ann Tryba (HAS) was promoted to managing partner at Martha Schwartz Partners, an international landscape architecture practice with offices in London, Shanghai, and New York City. #1
1989
Ethan David Bickel (HAS) had 10 of his photographs included in the 2023 Pacific Northwest Drawers showcase at the Blue Sky Gallery, part of the Oregon Center for the Photographic Arts. The photos are from his series entitled “Open Water,” which he began two years ago to capture the feeling of swimming in Lake Washington, which he had been doing as part of the healing process following a cancer diagnosis in 2019. #2 Betsy (Grossman) Robinson (ENHP) earned her Distinguished Toastmaster designation. It is the highest designation one can achieve through Toastmasters International.
1990
Lauren Bernofsky (Hartt) had her opera MOOCH THE MAGNIFICENT performed at the 2022 Festival Internacional de Artes Vivas in Loja, Ecuador. #3
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SNAPSHOTS 13 1 Kimberly Ann Tryba (HAS) 2 Ethan David Bickel (HAS) 3 Lauren Bernofsky (Hartt) 4 Kathleen Ann O’Reilly (M Barney) 5 A.J. Vittone (A&S) 6 Richard Waters (M Hartt) 7 William “Bill” Rood Jr. (Hartt) 8 Marc Meyers (A&S) 9 Quantavia L Hilbert (ENHP) 10 Ariana Straznicky (Hartt, M’15 Hartt) 11 Sydney Anderson (Hartt) 12 Mary Matthews (D Hartt) 13 Kaitlin Olson Cuas (M ENHP) 14 Muhammad Malloy (M Barney)
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ALUMNI NOTES / NEWS
Dave Christensen (CETA) joined the law firm of McCarter & English as a partner in its Hartford office. David Sitver (A’89 Hillyer, Barney) recently was promoted to senior vice president of enterprise data operations at Cedar Gate Technologies, a value- based healthcare company based in Greenwich, Conn.
1991
Illustrator Mark Penta (HAS) signed a three-book publishing deal to co-create and illustrate the Totally Weird Activity Books series for kids. The first two books, Super Strange Story Starters and Creative Coloring and Far-Out Fun! were released in October 2022. A third book, Unusual Objects in Fantastic Places, is scheduled for 2023 release.
Herman “Herm” Sorcher (A&S) is the managing partner of the Danbury Ice Arena’s ownership group. He serves as the game-night master of ceremonies and is the person most responsible for returning Danbury Hat Tricks pro hockey to the arena after a two-year hiatus. Todd Stephen Zavorskas (A&S) is a candidate for the 2022 Greater Connecticut Man of the Year award from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This cause is dear to Zavorskas because his grandmother, Anne, passed away several years ago from Hodgkin’s disease, a form of leukemia. For the past 27 years, Todd’s team, Zombie Leader, has raised more than $245,000 for this worthy cause in her honor and is closing in on his lifetime goal of $250,000!
1992
Kathleen Ann O’Reilly (M Barney) earned a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology from the University of Connecticut and is now a Connecticut certified special education teacher and case manager at Farmington High School in Farmington, Conn. #4
Erin Proctor (ENHP) is a playwright, actor, and dramaturg based in New York City. The Saugerties’ Round the Bend Theatre recently staged a one-night-only reading of Proctor’s play Alternative Canon: A Sacrilegious Romp at the Bridge Street Theatre in Catskill, N.Y.
Eric Weisblum (Barney) is CEO and founder of Silo Pharma, a developmental stage biopharmaceutical company merging traditional therapeutics with psychedelic research to help treat post-traumatic stress disorder, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other rare neurological disorders.
1993
Jocelyn Shepard Feder (A&S) recently started as vice president of human resources, Americas at Lectra, Inc., an international company. Feder handles a team of five and oversees offices in Tolland, Conn., Smyrna, Ga., Mexico City, Brazil, and Chile.
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1995
Lester L. Arnold Sr. (M Barney) was appointed vice president of human resources at RAND in January of 2023. Dan Blanchard (M ENHP), see recently published book, page 44.
1997
Michele Jaquis (HAS), Jeremy J. Quinn ’98 (CETA, HAS), and Keith Walsh ’85 (HAS) had work included in the group exhibition Un-Civil War! (An Election Special) at Torrance Art Museum in Torrance, Calif., last fall.
Michael Menapace (Hartt) has been named co-chair of the insurance practice group at Wiggin and Dana LLP and is the current chair of the American Bar Association TIPS Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Committee.
1994
George Kostelis (A’91 Hillyer, ENHP) was one of eight people inducted into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame’s class of 2022. Kostelis is a former standout at both Hall High School and the University of Hartford, in addition to holding coaching positions at both the collegiate and pro levels. Scott Lamlein (Hartt) has begun an adjunct faculty position at Hartt, teaching a beginner’s course on the pipe organ to undergrad and grad pianists, giving them tools to enter the church workforce. He has been director of music and organist at West Hartford’s St. John’s Episcopal Church since 2014.
Jaimee Roberts (Barney) joined Boehringer Ingelheim in Ridgefield, Conn., as senior associate director, leading the strategy and execution of the U.S. region’s internal communications and employee engagement. Jennifer Rosado (ENHP), see recently published book, page 44. A.J. Vittone (A&S) is an executive producer on Lies My Sister Told Me, a thriller film that premiered on Lifetime Network. #5
ABOVE Clockwise: Michele Jaquis, American (a complicated mess), 2022, embroidery on altered American Flag; Keith Walsh, SWP and its Descendants, 2021, mixed media; Jeremy J. Quinn, Parley, 2022, sound installation with flag and fan. Richard Waters (M Hartt) is in his 12th year as professor of music and director of choral activities at Eastern Kentucky University. An active conductor, composer, and clinician, he received the 2022 Robert K. Baar Choral Excellence Award from the Kentucky chapter of the American Choral Directors Association in recognition of his service to the choral art and dedication to the promotion of music education director of choral activities at Eastern Kentucky University. An active conductor, composer, and clinician, he received the 2022 Robert K. Baar Choral Excellence Award from the Kentucky chapter of the American Choral Directors Association in recognition of his service to the choral art and dedication to #6 the promotion of music education.
U PDATE YOU R I N FO at hartford.edu/alumni-update to stay connected with the UHart network.
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Lessons for a Lifetime Decades later, many students still have fond memories of their favorite or most influential professor. In each issue of H, we look back at a past UHart professor who impacted multiple generations of students.
REMEM BERI N G W I C K GR I SWO L D
Retired Associate Professor Renwick Griswold, a pillar within the University of Hartford as both an alumnus and decades-long faculty member, died this past January.
Affectionately known on campus as “Gris” or “Wick,” Griswold capped off his higher education career in December 2018 after teaching sociology at Hillyer College since the 1980s. He earned his undergraduate degree in 1973, and his master’s in 1990, but even long before that, his family members taught at UHart. He also received emeritus status upon retiring. Fellow Hillyer Professor Woody Doane, a close friend of Griswold’s on campus and in retirement, said “Wick” had an irrepressible spirit and will always be remembered for his unique greeting—he would exclaim, “Roarrrr!” with both hands raised above his head. “As a teacher, I think we all like to think we have an impact on our students—and that you were somebody’s favorite,” Doane says. “But Wick was transformational in so many lives. Former students say, ’He changed my life,’ not just, ’He was the best professor I’ve had.’ He let them see a whole other way of looking at the world.” Griswold had a distinct teaching style, incorporating real-world connections and off-campus projects into his courses before service and experiential learning became a higher education mainstay. He brought his students to clean up the Connecticut River each year, taught classes from a canoe while traveling down the Connecticut River, brought a group to New Orleans to help others after Hurricane Katrina, connected UHart students with a Hartford schools tutoring program, and empowered others to make a difference in their community and the world.
Life with Wick— you just never knew what would come next. He was engaged by everything—a very free spirit, very spontaneous. Those of us who got to be along for the ride, we really enjoyed it.” — Professor Woody Doane
It wasn’t unusual to find students who decided to major in sociology after taking one of Griswold’s courses. It was also likely not a surprise for many to see him posing in the inaugural issue of H magazine in 2018 in a pirate costume, a nod to his research of pirates, travelers on Long Island Sound and the Connecticut River, and historical facts and myths. Griswold’s passion for the environment also prompted him to monitor piping plovers and least terns, vulnerable species of birds who inhabit beaches in Connecticut and nest near the mouth of the Connecticut River, where he lived.
His varied expertise and unbridled enthusiasm for his research transformed into books, radio broadcasts, documentaries, and collaborations with community groups. Griswold penned books including A History of the Connecticut River, Connecticut Pirates and Privateers, A History of Griswold Point, Connecticut River Shipbuilding, and Connecticut River Ferries, and created a documentary entitled “Ferryboats of the Connecticut River” to air on public broadcasting, which he hoped would advocate for the continued operation of the vessels. Griswold retired from UHart in 2018 with plans to take on more projects like these. “Wick’s interests always engaged students. We give a loud ROAR in celebration of his work with us and his life; he will be sorely missed,” says Frances Altvater, interim dean of Hillyer College. “He was a tremendous presence in our college.” Griswold will long be remembered at the University for his impact on students, faculty, and staff. Hillyer had already been honoring faculty members with the Renwick “Wick” Griswold Award for Service to recognize faculty work outside the classroom, and countless students credit him with inspiring their career paths and service to the community.
H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE
1998
Virnitia Hendricks (HCW, M’04 Barney) has been named chief diversity officer and head of diversity, equity, and inclusion for Santander US, a subsidiary of Banco Santander, S.A. global banking group with 153 million customers across the United States, Europe, and Latin America.
Artist Scott Meier (HAS) exhibited his oil paintings at the Sunbury Art Center in Sunbury, Pa. His artwork is inspired by a life of service and his observations of human nature while working as a police detective. Russell Shannon (CETA) has been selected as a Technical Fellow of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) in the field of cybersecurity research and development. This honor is reserved for the top 0.75% of NAWCAD engineering staff. Rachel Sokolow (Hartt) and her partner Carol Ann Cheung have launched a career advice column for professional musicians called, “Asking for a Friend.” Sokolow is an artist manager at MKI Artists and previously served as promotion director at G. Schirmer, where she signed Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Du Yun and worked on the acquisition of the Florence Price catalog.
1999
William “Bill” Rood Jr. (Hartt), his wife Melissa Rood, and their 22-year-old son, Will Rood, make up the Connecticutbased, indie-pop trio November Sound. This musical family has been rocking New England since 2014 and just released its fourth studio album, Centurions. #7 Stacy Simon Schechter (A&S) is now a case manager for a nonprofit organization in Hypoluxo, Fla.
2001
Marc Meyers (A&S) was recently appointed city manager for the City of Bath, Maine. Meyers has worked for the city in various capacities since 2012, including assistant city manager and director of community development. He also serves as the president of #8 Midcoast Council of Governments.
ALUMNI NOTES / NEWS
2002
Brian Howells (ENHP) was recently named administrator for Wamego Health Center in Wamego, Kansas, which is part of the Ascension healthcare system. Howells previously served as director of rehabilitation services for Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan and has been on the Wamego Hospital Authority Board since 2017.
Ian Quinn (Hartt) has been promoted to professor of organ at Florida State University. Two new books of his will be published in 2023: Music and Religion in the writings of Ian McEwan (Boydell & Brewer) and Rudolph Ganz, Patriotism, and Standardization of The Star-Spangled Banner, 1907–1958 (Routledge). April (Cech) Tucker (Hartt), see recently published book, page 44. Francis Rexford Cooley (ENHP) was elected state representative for the 22nd district in Connecticut’s General Assembly.
2003
Chad Austein (A&S) started a new job as a client services account manager at 3 Enrollment Marketing. Danielle (Freni) Beaton (A&S) and her husband, Josh, co-founded a nonprofit organization that helps tweens and teens recapture their confidence and self-esteem through portrait photography. The Tween Esteem Project is currently operational in Chicago with plans to expand nationally. Beaton is also the senior director of organizational communication at the YMCA’s BELOW national office in Chicago.
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2004
officer and vice president of patient care services of the Fairfield Region of Hartford HealthCare at the only magnet organization of Hartford HealthCare, St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, Conn.
2006
Scott Greenberg (Hartt) released his third full-length album, under the Scott Making Cents moniker, called Sad Songs That Suck last fall. It is a collection of fun and sometimes funny indie rock songs and is available on all major streaming services.
Jennifer (Albert) Kaufman (A&S) has written a children’s book titled It Seems to Me You Can Be.
Rose (Kearney) Herr (A&S) launched her mobile app, Polished, which helps users find their next manicure inspiration and keeps track of the polishes they have already tried.
Jennifer Levins (CETA) currently works as a regional manager of building and construction acoustics for Intertek, a multinational quality assurance company. Levins has more than 15 years of experience working in architectural acoustics and has completed acoustic field-testing programs throughout the country for general contractors, architects, developers, and manufacturers. Julia Ann Mattingly (M ENHP) is currently an assistant professor of nursing at one of the regional campuses for Indiana University. She recently published an article in Contemporary Nursing on promoting cultural safety in nursing education through a service learning experience at an American Indian reservation in South Dakota. Phil Salathé (M Hartt, ArtDipl’07 Hartt) co-authored a book called Pink Floyd: BBC Radio 1967–1971 in conjunction with British music researcher Ian Priston. The new book, published last year in both hard cover and paperback editions, provides interesting new details on the English rock group’s appearances on television in the U.K. during their early years, which is often said to have been characterized by musical experimentation.
2008
Thomas Barker (A&S) has launched a new legal firm in the District of Columbia focused on federal Intellectual Property and DC Real Property named TG Barker Law PLLC. Teresa Calendrillo-Fuller (M ENHP) was promoted in July of 2022 to chief nursing
Paul John Rudoi (Hartt) premiered a new concert-length musical work entitled Our Transcendental Passion last year. The piece, which in various configurations features vocal and instrumental segments, chronicles the rise, fall, and legacy of the Transcendental movement of 19th-century America. It was performed by The Boston Cecilia, a community chorus renowned for being in existence for more than 140 years.
2009
Burak Konuk (M Barney, M CETA) was named the traffic design section manager in the Tampa, Fla., office of HDR, one of the world’s leading global design firms specializing in engineering, architecture, environmental, and construction services.
2010
Quantavia L Hilbert (ENHP) celebrated a political victory in 2022 as the new councilwoman in the City of Orange #9 Township, N.J.
Ariana Straznicky (Hartt, M’15 Hartt) is the founder and owner of Ariana Strings LLC. The company has grown over the last 10 years to a full team of professional musicians, many of whom are also Hartt School graduates, and has provided entertainment for more than 600 weddings and events. Among the highlights: a string performance for the British Consulate’s celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee. Ariana Strings LLC is the proud recipient of many industry awards. (Photo)—Straznicky and fellow Hartt alumna Jaclyn Jones ’12 with a violin and guitar duet featured on the cover of #10 Connecticut Bride magazine.
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2012
William A. Davila (D ENHP) was named president and chief executive officer of Villa of Hope, a nonprofit organization that provides education, treatment, and services for youth, adults, and families struggling with mental health and substance use.
2013
Stephanie Hanson (ENHP, D’16 ENHP) took home three gold medals for the USA in the 2022 IPL Drug Tested World Powerlifting Championships in Gold Coast, Australia.
2014
Sydney Anderson (Hartt) founded an interdisciplinary arts collective named The Why Collective, which after a successful launch project in 2022, was granted a residency at Nancy Manocherian’s the cell theatre, a renowned experimental theatre 11 in Chelsea, New York City. Camilo Garcia (CETA) has been admitted to Columbia University’s Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science as a candidate in the Civil Engineering Master of Science program beginning in the fall of 2023. Mary Matthews (D Hartt) was appointed assistant professor of flute at Florida State University’s College of Music beginning in #11 fall 2023. Kyle Rodgers (A&S) premiered his film The Universe is Under No Obligation to Make Sense to You recently at the Strand Theater in Seymour, Conn. The Connecticut-based independent filmmaker wrote, shot, and edited the short
PL AN FOR TH E F UTU R E Now is the perfect opportunity for you to create a plan for the future you wish to see for yourself, your loved ones, and even UHart. Take advantage of this moment and create or update your will at no cost thanks to our partnership with FreeWill. Scan to start planning today or visit:
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drama, which focuses on the stigma of mental health and the ways in which some people struggle with emotions.
2015
Kaitlin Olson Cuas (M ENHP) was recognized last year through a citation by the Connecticut General Assembly for being a tireless advocate for the public health of Connecticut’s residents and the nursing profession from State Representative Gary Turco. She is an active member of the Connecticut Nurses Association (CNA) and the American Nurses Association. Most recently, she represented Connecticut in the American Nurses Advocacy Institute for 2021–22. Cuas serves on the CNA’s Government Relations Committee and was formerly on the Nominations Committee before accepting the role of secretary for CNA in 2022. #12
2016
Trevis Busteed (A&S) has joined the Manhattan law firm of Foran Glennon as an associate, focusing on general and professional liability defense and subrogation. Previously, he was with another New York firm assisting with prelitigation research and preparation. After graduating from UHart, Busteed received his Juris Doctor degree from Hofstra University. Caitlin Izzo (A’14 Hillyer, A&S) has joined Fletcher Tilton as a commercial finance and real estate attorney in the firm’s Worcester office. She is a member of the firm’s transactional group, concentrating on commercial and residential real estate matters. She represents buyers, sellers, and lenders in the acquisition and disposition of real estate.
RJ LaRussa (A&S), an alum of UHart’s film program, was the cinematographer on The Mundanes, a short film that premiered this past March. Muhammad Malloy (M Barney) was elected to the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants board of directors for the 2022–23 activity year Malloy is a tax manager at CohnReznick LLP in Hartford. #13 Kyle Wernke (D Hartt) won the American Prize in Composition, 2022, in orchestral music, professional division.
H AWK TO H AWK PODCAST Listen to what UHart graduates are up to after leaving the nest. UHart Alumni Stories Fun Memories Career Tips Hosted by UHart School of Communication graduate student and teaching intern Eden Fritz Aguiar ’24. Have a great story for the podcast? Email us at alumni@hartford.edu. hartford.edu/alumni-podcasts
2017
Charlie Savage (Hartt) made his Broadway debut in December 2021 playing keyboard/organ in the band for Diana: The Musical. He has been with the company since its 2019 regional run at La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, Calif.
2018
Kelly Tischbein (University Studies) graduated from the Technology Leadership Development Program at Travelers Insurance and started as agile coach in October of 2022. Tischbein was named Firefighter of the Year for the town of Vernon, Conn., in February of 2022. She has sworn her oath to the United States Military and took basic training in July of 2022.
2019
Max Kile (Hartt) has recent credits that include An American Tail (Children’s Theatre Company); Escape to Margaritaville (Old Log Theatre); Once Upon a Mattress (Old Log Theatre); Night of the Living Dead! (Minneapolis Musical Theatre); Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (Sidekick Theatre), and The Wedding Singer (Lyric Arts Theatre).
2022
John P. Pereira (University Studies) was recently promoted to legal support manager at All Waste, Inc.
ALUMN A IL U NM ON TE I SN O / TNEESW/S I F N RM O EMM A O LR UI A MM S
We Remember... 1940s Selma Milkofsky Schwartz A’43 (HCW) New Britain, Conn., 4.11.2023 Janice A. Falkin A’45, M’56 (HCW) West Hartford, Conn., 4.29.2022 Lillian Kamins Hilbert A’45 (HCW) Bloomfield, Conn., 3.6.2022 Louise Petersen Lostocco A’45, P’89, G’15 (BARNEY) Simsbury, Conn., 10.29.2022 Mildred E. Reed M’58 (ENHP) Bristol, Conn., 3.25.2023 Pearl Ginsberg Jacobson A’46, M’67 (HCW) Bloomfield, Conn., 1.6.2022 Irma Klein Schachter A’47 (HCW) Westport, Conn., 5.11.2023 Mildred Barretta Brayman A’48 (HILLYER) Plainville, Conn., 4.2.2023 William M. Griffin A’49 (HILLYER) Hartford, Conn., 11.20.2022 Richard C. Harvey A’49 (BARNEY) East Hartford, Conn., 10.29.2022 M. Gloria McKinnon Perret A’49 (HCW) Torrington, Conn., 5.19.2023 1950s Dorothy Manocchio Campanelli A’50 (BARNEY) Wethersfield, Conn., 5.16.2022 Muriel K. Nelson A’50 (HILLYER) Englewood, Fla., 1.1.2023 Robert K. Hughey ’51, M’59 (A&S) Cheshire, Conn., 1.24.2022 Ronald A. Matthewson A’51 (HILLYER) Mystic, Conn., 1.29.2023 Patricia Parsons-Tomita A’51 (HILLYER) Tampa, Fla., 5.6.2022 Charles W. Slate ’51 (BARNEY) New Britain, Conn., 9.2.2022 Donald Cagenello A’50, ’52 (BARNEY) Bloomfield, Conn., 8.14.2022 Frances Boyle Griffin A’52 (HILLYER) West Hartford, Conn., 3.20.2023 Iris Schlank A’52 (BARNEY) Manchester, Conn., 4.12.2023
Glorianna Hill Wholley A’52 (HCW) South Hadley, Mass., 2.22.2023
Edward T. Van Keuren C’58 (WARD) East Falmouth, Mass., 4.26.2022
Barbara Hayes Smith ’53 (HARTT) West Hartford, Conn., 8.8.2022
Walter G. Cogswell ’59, M’61 (HARTT) Chippewa Falls, Wisc., 1.13.2022
John J. Monti A’54 (ENHP) Dade City, Fla., 11.13.2022
Robert J. Cronin A’59 (A&S) Berlin, Conn., 4.23.2022
Valentino J. Pattavina C’55 (WARD) Middletown, Conn., 5.10.2023
Andrew A. Dirga ’59 (HARTT) Milford, Conn., 2.5.2023
Janet Peterson Wanik A’55 (HILLYER) West Palm Beach, Fla., 1.18.2022 Charles W. Austin Jr. ’56 (HILLYER) Windsor, Conn., 4.14.2022 Richard B. Belkin ’56 (HILLYER) Tucson, Ariz., 7.7.2022 Jay A. Hickerson ’56 (HARTT) Leesburg, Fla., 8.3.2022
Michael J. Dirrigl ’59, M’65 (A&S) Farmington, Conn., 1.15.2022 William H. Griswold A’49, ’59, M’67 (ENHP) Livingston, Tex., 9.7.2022 1960s Patricia Scott Dygert M’60 (HARTT) Uncasville, Conn., 4.12.2022
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John A. Bruno ’62, M’68 (HARTT) Westerly, R.I., 4.22.2022
Alexandrine R. West M’63 (ENHP) Simsbury, Conn., 4.27.2022
Carmelo J. Butera A’58, ’62 (BARNEY) Glastonbury, Conn., 5.12.2023
Elizabeth J. Collamore ’64 (A&S) Naples, Fla., 9.11.2022
Carol Hastings Butterworth A’62 (HCW) Tolland, Conn., 1.14.2023
Raymond G. Gaylord ’64 (BARNEY) Windsor, Conn., 1.31.2023
William S. Crosson C’62 (WARD) Windsor, Conn., 8.27.2022
Frank J. Grano ’64 (CETA) Suffield, Conn., 6.29.2022
Sandra Rohan Enstam ’62 (HAS) Portola Valley, Calif., 4.27.2023 Richard P. Erickson ’62 (BARNEY) Southport, N.C., 1.28.2022 John C. Garber ’62 (HARTT) Cheshire, Conn., 5.14.2023 Barbara Cushing Hoffman A’62 (A&S) Southington, Conn., 10.5.2022 Carl H. Josephson ’62 (CETA) Canyon Lake, Tex., 8.24.2022
Thomas Haggerty ’64 (CETA) Manchester, Conn., 1.19.2022 Raymond F. Holland ’64 (CETA) Cheshire, Conn., 4.30.2023 Ginger K. Horton ’64, M’66 (ENHP) Fort Myers, Fla., 11.12.2022 Joseph V. Maggipinto M’64 (ENHP) Bristol, Conn., 8.29.2022 Frank D. Marcou ’64 (CETA) Colchester, Vt., 10.6.2022
Donald R. Marsh ’62 (CETA) Middletown, Conn., 4.11.2022
Ronald E. Martino M’64 (ENHP) Niantic, Conn., 7.16.2022
Robert G. Nystrom ’62 (CETA) Dover, Mass., 8.25.2022
William J. McNamara M’64 (ENHP) New Britain, Conn., 4.16.2023
Bruno Lukas ’60 (BARNEY) New Britain, Conn., 4.22.2023
Sandra Luckman Rotman A’60, ’62 (ENHP) West Hartford, Conn., 4.12.2022
Douglas C. Nelson A’64 (CETA) Southington, Conn., 2.5.2023
David S. MacDonald C’60 (HILLYER) Cheshire, Conn., 1.12.2022
Warren E. Schultz ’62 (A&S) Highlands Ranch, Colo., 5.28.2022
Lucy Poli C’59, M’64 (ENHP) Saco, Maine, 7.8.2022
Richard C. Provost ’60 (HARTT) Bloomfield, Conn., 5.29.2022
Julia Deltenno Segalla ’62, M’69, C’75 (ENHP) Brookfield, Conn., 1.12.2023
Edward F. Simmons ’60 (A&S) Simsbury, Conn., 9.23.2022
Russell E. Tweeddale ’62, M’74 (CETA) Nantucket, Mass., 3.11.2023
Kenneth E. Beyer ’61, P’87 (A&S) West Hartford, Conn., 7.7.2022
Lawrence Cassells C’63 (WARD) Bolton, Conn., 6.29.2022
Richard P. Kane ’57 (WARD) Norwich, Conn., 4.2.2022
Robert S. Goettlich ’61 (BARNEY) Las Vegas, Nev., 1.1.2022
David L. Cattanach M’63 (ENHP) Waterford, Conn., 5.12.2022
Donald F. Mills M’57 (ENHP) South Windsor, Conn., 12.8.2022
Roberta Harris M’61 (ENHP) Grafton, Wisc., 3.19.2023
James M. Keane ’63 (A&S) Collinsville, Conn., 9.20.2022
Helen M. Morrisey M’57 (ENHP) Wethersfield, Conn., 1.5.2023
Herbert D. Welte Jr. M’61 (ENHP) Larimore, N.Dak., 10.21.2022
Kenneth M. Killer ’63, M’70 (ENHP) Waterbury, Conn., 1.21.2023
Joseph P. Namnoum Jr. ’57 (BARNEY) Palm City, Fla., 7.8.2022
Iva M. Yates M’61 (ENHP) Southington, Conn., 3.27.2023
Nicholas H. Panke ’63 (HAS) Bloomfield, Conn., 1.6.2022
Harry P. Yorgensen Jr. A’57, ’61 (CETA) Mount Dora, Fla., 2.25.2023
Walter C. Simon ’63 (CETA) Cocoa Beach, Fla., 3.7.2023
Dorothy Pearson Jensen A’56 (HILLYER) Old Saybrook, Conn., 11.5.2022 Edith Pisetsky Levin A’56 (HILLYER) Newington, Conn., 3.14.2023 Kenneth D. Margelot A’56 (HILLYER) Watertown, Conn., 1.26.2022 John G. Massimino ’56 (HAS) East Haven, Conn., 1.25.2022 Joseph F. Perzanowski ’56 (BARNEY) South Windsor, Conn., 2.25.2022 Donald L. Fay A’50, ’57 (BARNEY) Hartford, Conn., 1.30.2023 Norman Hanenbaum ’57 (HARTT) Middletown, Conn., 9.11.2022
Lucy Mangiafico Devin A’55, ’58 (BARNEY) Unionville, Conn., 4.24.2022 Dominic Ragaglia C’58 (WARD) Farmington, Conn., 11.30.2022 E C. Starr ’58 (HAS) Windsor, Colo., 2.19.2022
Richard M. Harrison C’60 (WARD) Broad Brook, Conn., 1.18.2022 Kenneth J. La Pier C’60 (WARD) Glastonbury, Conn., 3.12.2022
Joseph J. Amato A’62 (BARNEY) BRADENTON, Fla., 6.30.2022 Gary I. Barton C’62 (WARD) Murfreesboro, Tenn., 12.26.2022
Eleanor V. Taylor ’63 (HARTT) Hartford, Conn., 8.8.2022 Richard L. Tingley Jr. M’63 (ENHP) Ocala, Fla., 4.19.2022
Eleanore A. Simpatico M’64 (ENHP) Bennington, Vt., 3.18.2022 James R. Smith ’64, P’00 (BARNEY) Vernon, Conn., 2.11.2022 Sue Reneker Steinmeyer ’64 (HARTT) Hebron, Conn., 8.3.2022 M. R. Swift ’64 (BARNEY) Ledyard, Conn., 11.3.2022 David L. Talbott ’64 (A&S) Arlington, Va., 3.12.2022 Charles A. Venturi ’64 (HAS) Plainville, Conn., 5.17.2023 Donald F. Albert A’65 (WARD) Middletown, Conn., 4.3.2022 Timothy T. Curtis ’65 (A&S) Colchester, Conn., 5.18.2023 Frank S. Gilchrest Jr. ’65 (BARNEY) Old Saybrook, Conn., 10.7.2022 Marjorie B. Glater ’65 (ENHP) South Windsor, Conn., 2.26.2022
John N. Harris ’65 (BARNEY) East Hartford, Conn., 11.22.2022 Joseph T. Kasulis ’65 (ENHP) Kensington, Conn., 12.20.2022
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Patricia A. Langley A’65 (BARNEY) Ellington, Conn., 1.28.2022 Jack Lopes Jr. A’65 (BARNEY) Somers, Conn., 10.8.2022 Terence F. McNulty M’65 (ENHP) West Hartford, Conn., 4.10.2022 James S. Tashjian A’65 (WARD) Windsor, Conn., 8.5.2022 Irene M. Visintainer M’65 (ENHP) Glastonbury, Conn., 2.7.2023 H R. West ’65 (BARNEY) Lexington, Ky., 4.24.2022 Bert H. Abbey ’66 (A&S) Raleigh, N.C., 10.31.2022 Frederick W. Bishop Jr. ’66 (BARNEY) Old Saybrook, Conn., 12.27.2022 Walter E. Blake Jr. M’66, C’75 (ENHP) Port St Lucie, Fla., 12.13.2022 Mary A. Borla M’66 (ENHP) Torrington, Conn., 6.13.2022 Peter C. Budlong ’66 (A&S) El Cerrito, Calif., 4.19.2023 John T. Dillon ’66 (BARNEY) Greenwich, Conn., 2.28.2023 Joseph R. Ganem M’66, M’75 (ENHP) Barkhamsted, Conn., 2.18.2022 Rochelle Platt Gershman M’66 (ENHP) West Hartford, Conn., 1.4.2022 Antoinette Laskus Hourihan ’66 (A&S) Somers, Conn., 5.9.2023 Sally Aspinwall Kamerer ’66 (A&S) Bradenton, Fla., 4.1.2022 Albert Krivickas ’66 (CETA) Suffield, Conn., 5.29.2022 G. Robert O’Brien M’66 (BARNEY) Niantic, Conn., 12.26.2022 Mark Schwartz M’66 (ENHP) Westminster, Colo., 12.5.2022 Charles R. Cox ’67 (BARNEY) Graham, N.C., 5.17.2022 Peter J. Cronin ’67 (A&S) Brookfield, Conn., 3.3.2022 Mary Anne Galuska M’67 (ENHP) Vernon, Conn., 2.3.2023 James B. Griffin M’67 (ENHP) Torrington, Conn., 1.6.2023 Robert A. Griffith ’67 (BARNEY) Berlin, Conn., 8.18.2022 Carmel Lucibello New Haven, Conn., 1.1.2022
Richard M. Mather ’67 (A&S) East Haven, Conn., 1.12.2023
Elizabeth A. Elia M’70 (ENHP) Old Saybrook, Conn., 2.14.2023
Mildred Y. Sprague M’67 (ENHP) Farmington, Conn., 10.22.2022
Robert L. Haven ’70 (CETA) Labelle, Fla., 11.13.2022
Michael M. Walsh ’67 (CETA) Fairfield, Conn., 2.7.2022
Prisca L. Kenison M’70 (ENHP) Brunswick, Maine, 7.21.2022
Christina Wileikis ’67 (HARTT) Peekskill, N.Y., 5.9.2022
Gloria E. Matthews M’70 (ENHP) Tolland, Conn., 7.6.2022
Robert F. Gaynor M’68 (BARNEY) Wethersfield, Conn., 8.11.2022
Esther Souza McCune ’70, P’87 (A&S) Everett, Mass., 1.1.2022
Barbara E. Gilson ’68 (HAS) Windsorville, Conn., 9.2.2022
Marliss Murphy Pavano ’70, M’73 (A&S) Plainville, Conn., 3.20.2022
Nancy Levy Goodman ’68 (ENHP) West Hartford, Conn., 9.21.2022
Joseph W. Salvatore ’70, P’93, ’93, ’97 (ENHP) Bristol, Conn., 8.7.2022
Sandra Wolf M’71, P’96 (ENHP) Unionville, Conn., 2.7.2022
Kenneth N. Goldberg ’74 (A&S) South Windsor, Conn., 7.20.2022
Eleanor Emerson Zajac M’71 (ENHP) Middlefield, Conn., 1.10.2022
Catharine Durdan Howell A’65 (HCW), ’74 (A&S) Hendersonville, N.C., 6.27.2022
David R. Acquaotta A’72 (HILLYER) Lakewood, Colo., 9.5.2022
Paul A. Mayotte ’74, M’78 (BARNEY) Plainville, Conn., 1.28.2022
Richard L. Butler M’72 (BARNEY) Groton, Conn., 5.21.2023
Albert S. Wachsman A’72, ’74 (A&S) Ellington, Conn., 3.11.2022
Sister Marylouise Fennell M’72, C’73, Hon. ’08 (ENHP)
Sheila H. Walton ’74 (A&S) Tomball, Tex., 7.15.2022
West Palm Beach, Fla., 10.12.2022
Daniel H. Warner ’74 (CETA) Indianapolis, Ind., 5.8.2022
Sydney J. Hoffmann A’72 (HCW) Chevy Chase, Md., 11.9.2022
Paul B. Smith ’70 (ENHP) Niantic, Conn., 1.7.2022
David A. Monroe ’72, C’79 (ENHP) Hartford, Conn., 7.30.2022
David F. Hall ’68 (A&S) Belfast, Maine, 7.20.2022
Robert J. Sullivan A’70 (A&S) Killingworth, Conn., 9.6.2022
Charles R. Ohmen ’72 (A&S) Chester, Conn., 3.27.2023
Rocco A. Lapenta ’68 (BARNEY) Plantsville, Conn., 11.15.2022
Jeffrey C. Watkins ’70 (HAS) Northborough, Mass., 1.14.2022
Terry J. O’Neill A’66, ’72 (BARNEY) Enfield, Conn., 10.20.2022
Mr. Richard Griffin Sr. 1968 (ENHP) Avon, Conn., 5.1.2022
Edwin J. Rosenbaum M’68 (ENHP) Boca Raton, Fla., 4.16.2022 Richard E. Szecsy M’68 (BARNEY) San Antonio, Tex., 8.18.2022 Shirley Kendig Tillman ’68 (ENHP) Fredericksburg, Tex., 7.2.2022 Judith Williams Vince A’68 (A&S) Woodbridge, Conn., 12.28.2022 Wayne B. Huck M’69 (BARNEY) Rocky Hill, Conn., 10.2.2022 John R. Johnson M’69 (BARNEY) Watertown, Conn., 7.29.2022 Marshall D. Kalin ’69 (CETA) Waterbury, Conn., 11.26.2022 Joseph B. Kerel M’69 (BARNEY) Newington, Conn., 12.24.2022 Sandra P. Macaione M’69 (ENHP) Satellite Beach, Fla., 5.28.2022 Richard J. Miecznikowski M’69 (ENHP) Bristol, Conn., 4.24.2022 Robert E. Paulson ’69 (BARNEY) Southington, Conn., 5.12.2023 1970s Leo J. Bravakis Jr. M’70, P’93 (ENHP) Windsor Locks, Conn., 3.4.2023 Sally A. Collins M’70 (ENHP) Rocky Hill, Conn., 5.16.2022
H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE
Harold W. Watson Jr. M’70 (BARNEY) Westbrook, Conn., 3.16.2022 Thomas E. Worth ’70, M’73 (A&S) Hartford, Conn., 4.26.2022 Ronald H. Carr ’71 (BARNEY) Grantham, N.H., 1.8.2023 Roger K. Clark ’71 (BARNEY) Boone, N.C., 4.19.2023 Patrick F. Foster ’71, M’81 (BARNEY) Knoxville, Tenn., 10.28.2022 Edward A. Hagelstein ’71 (A&S) Florence, Mass., 7.10.2022 James J. Joy M’71 (BARNEY) West Hartford, Conn., 4.12.2023 Eunice J. Kingsley M’71 (A&S) Ventura, Calif., 5.13.2022 Charles F. Mazzola M’71 (ENHP) Wethersfield, Conn., 3.30.2022 Eric S. Norman ’71 (Hartt) Atlanta, Ga., 7.2.2022 Gloria D. Oliver A’71, C’96, P’95 (HCW) Bloomfield, Conn., 11.23.2022 Valerie A. Sady M’71 (ENHP) East Longmeadow, Mass., 1.18.2022
Marilyn Riquier Pardus ’72 (ENHP) West Palm Beach, Fla., 4.18.2022
Thomas F. Wolfinger ’74 (A&S) North Andover, Mass., 5.21.2022 Kang S. Yi A’73, ’74 (CETA) Seymour, Conn., 3.13.2022 Patricia Klimczak Andersen A’75 (HCW) Canton, Conn., 11.25.2022 Regina W. Barall ’75, M’79 (ENHP) East Hartford, Conn., 5.21.2023 Robert C. Berner ’75 (A&S) Belford, N.J., 3.10.2023
Alphonso Patrick M’72 (BARNEY) Salisbury, N.C., 11.27.2022
Robert L. Farrington M’75 (BARNEY) Vernon, Conn., 1.5.2023
Paula Wood Petersen ’72 Burnsville, N.C., 2.14.2023
Neil K. Keen ’75 (HARTT) Delmar, N.Y., 8.27.2022
Robert A. Scalise ’72 (CETA) Feeding Hills, Mass., 11.14.2022
Michael A. Krieger M’75 (ENHP) Colchester, Conn., 3.31.2022
Marcia J. Brookins-Deleon M’73 (ENHP) Hartford, Conn., 7.9.2022 Robert R. Devaux C’59, A’73 (WARD) Torrington, Conn., 4.7.2022 Dean A. Goldsmith M’73 (BARNEY) Plainville, Conn., 2.16.2022 Renwick C. Griswold ’73 (A&S) Chester, Conn., 1.21.2023 Elizabeth Meyer Hill ’73 (HAS) Avon, Conn., 1.23.2022 Pamela R. Lavalley M’73 (ENHP) East Hampton, Conn., 6.29.2022 Karen S. Nobumoto ’73 (A&S) Las Vegas, Nev., 5.10.2022
Frank G. Savoy ’71 (ENHP) North Chesterfield, Va., 2.28.2023
Franklin Aiudi Sr. A’71, ’74 (CETA) Tolland, Conn., 12.1.2022
John W. Swanson M’71 (BARNEY) Reno, Nev., 6.21.2022
Edward R. Duffy M’74 (BARNEY) Middletown, Conn., 6.15.2022
David Williams M’71 (BARNEY) Glastonbury, Conn., 12.3.2022
David Gewanter ’74 (ENHP) Washington, Conn., 4.15.2022
George R. Tuxbury A’75 (WARD) Torrington, Conn., 8.15.2022 Robert P. Anderson A’73, ’76 (BARNEY) Windsor Locks, Conn., 6.8.2022 Ronald Blanchette M’76 (BARNEY) Ellington, Conn., 5.1.2023 Thomas S. Bozak M’76 (BARNEY) Saint Augustine, Fla., 9.20.2022 William D. Everett Jr. ’76 (CETA) Chester, Conn., 12.12.2022 Merry Levenson (A&S) Naples, Fla., 5.3.2022 Valerio P. Mongillo ’76 (HARTT) Kennebunk, Maine, 10.24.2022 Patrick J. O’Donnell ’76 (BARNEY) Manorville, N.Y., 2.11.2022 Henry A. Palka ’76 (A&S) Farmington, Conn., 11.29.2022 Richard S. Pulito ’76 (BARNEY) Hackensack, Minn., 1.31.2022
ALUMN A IL U NM ON TE I SN O / TNEESW/S I F N RM O EMM A O LR UI A MM S
Louis J. Sapienza ’76 (BARNEY) East Hampton, N.Y., 1.8.2023 Peter M. Dudis ’77 (BARNEY) Rocky Hill, Conn., 9.14.2022 Jeffrey L. Habicht ’77 (BARNEY) Colchester, Conn., 7.5.2022 Philip M. Karakoosh M’77 (BARNEY) Cheshire, Conn., 6.2.2022 Jeffrey M. Kusy ’77 (A&S) North East, Md., 11.1.2022 James M. Peretto ’77 (CETA) Highland Beach, Fla., 5.13.2022 Richard B. Pettee ’77 (BARNEY) Granby, Conn., 1.10.2022 Marilyn R. Rotondo M’77 (ENHP) West Simsbury, Conn., 11.9.2022 Virgilijus J. Bagdonas M’78 (BARNEY) Harvard, Mass., 10.23.2022 Edward Cohen M’78 (BARNEY) Delray Beach, Fla., 5.20.2022 Louise E. Loomis M’78 (ENHP) Bloomfield, Conn., 4.22.2023 David M. Millward M’78 (BARNEY) Vero Beach, Fla., 1.21.2023 Kerwin J. Mumford ’78 (HARTT) Brockton, Mass., 8.16.2022 Beth Phillips Schwab ’78 (HAS) Berlin, Conn., 8.16.2022 Phyllis E. Dawe M’79 (ENHP) Middletown, Conn., 3.9.2022 Amy Fader-Brooks ’79 (BARNEY) Canton, Mass., 5.15.2023 Verna Williams Ferguson A’75, ’79 (ENHP) Newington, Conn., 1.10.2023 Ilene W. Perlman ’79 (A&S) Wethersfield, Conn., 8.12.2022
1980s Jessie Aparicio ’80 (ENHP) Rocky Hill, Conn., 4.12.2022 Aline M. Drescher ’80 (HARTT) Lanesborough, Mass., 11.26.2022 Elizabeth J. Jacob M’80 (A&S) Agoura Hills, Calif., 5.2.2023 Steven K. Kelley M’80 (BARNEY) Brandon, Fla., 7.5.2022 Josephine Mavromatis M’80 (BARNEY) West Hartford, Conn., 9.10.2022 Walter I. Miskin ’80 (A&S) Newington, Conn., 12.11.2022 Robert J. Blum M’81 (BARNEY) Southington, Conn., 6.29.2022 Frances R. Callanan M’81 (BARNEY) Wilmington, N.C., 10.16.2022 Janette Harris ’81 (BARNEY) Windsor, Conn., 10.3.2022 John T. Jackson ’81 (BARNEY) Bloomfield, Conn., 4.15.2022 Sarah C. McQuilkin M’81 (ENHP) Bloomfield, Conn., 1.30.2023 Agnes H. Murphy M’81 (ENHP) West Hartford, Conn., 1.28.2022 Patricia Bryfonski Piela ’81 (A&S) Brewster, Mass., 9.19.2022 John C. Fischer M’82 (BARNEY) Avon, Conn., 1.21.2022 Theodosia G. Fitzgerald M’76, ’82 (ENHP) Rock Hall, Md., 12.16.2022 Ann Frink ’82 (BARNEY) Lakewood, Colo., 1.25.2022 Joseph A. Baginski ’83 (HARTT) Plainville, Conn., 7.20.2022
Ruth J. Rainer M’79 (A&S) West Chester, Pa., 12.14.2022
Karen H. Blawie M’83 (BARNEY) Bridgewater, Conn., 4.5.2023
Joseph P. Shemansky III ’79 (A&S) New Britain, Conn., 11.8.2022
Joseph V. Congdon Jr. M’83 (BARNEY) Portland, Conn., 3.23.2022
Raymond J. Welch M’79 (BARNEY) Indianapolis, Ind., 2.24.2022
Sunittaya Tanthuwanit Piscitelli M’83 (BARNEY) West Hartford, Conn., 5.2.2023
Walter Wisnefsky M’79 (BARNEY) Rocky Hill, Conn., 5.13.2022
William L. Lepere ’84 (CETA) San Ramon, Calif., 2.6.2022
Gordon K. Zeller ’79 (HARTT) Eugene, Oreg., 6.25.2022
Warren W. Lutz M’84 (BARNEY) Glastonbury, Conn., 4.26.2022 Lucy A. Wirsul M’84 (ENHP) Bloomfield, Conn., 3.2.2022
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Scott C. Garrant ’85, M’88 (A&S) Wilmington, Mass., 5.10.2023
Geoff Nuttall Art Dipl ’92 (HARTT) Portola Valley, Calif., 10.20.2022
Marcia Demos Harris A’85 (HCW) Williamsburg, Va., 4.17.2022
Edward Whalen M’92 (BARNEY) South Windsor, Conn., 5.12.2023
Donald C. Mercure M’85, M’85 (BARNEY) Brewster, Mass., 4.15.2023
Linda T. Collins M’93 (BARNEY) Newington, Conn., 12.24.2022
Mary Jo Corvo-Angus A’86, P’97 (HCW) Middletown, Conn., 11.26.2022
Sr. Mary A. Kline M’93 (BARNEY) West Hartford, Conn., 10.26.2022
Sylvia Francus ’86 (A&S) West Hartford, Conn., 4.17.2023
Joseph S. Coatsworth M’94 (BARNEY) Scottsdale, Ariz., 3.24.2022
Brendon J. Krause M’17 (BARNEY) Marquette, Mich., 2.10.2022
Tina B. Feldman-Halpern ’94, M’97 (A&S) Cranston, R.I., 6.14.2022
Marina J. Krol ’17 (HARTT) Newburgh, N.Y., 3.9.2022
Karen E. Rygiel ’96 (ENHP) Wallingford, Conn., 1.14.2023
2020s
Ronald J. Killiany M’86 (A&S) Marblehead, Mass., 3.4.2023 Rebecca Auble Mourey ’86 (HARTT) Hopkinton, Mass., 2.14.2023 John Viega M’86 (BARNEY) Ellington, Conn., 11.4.2022 Scott B. Whitcomb A’86, A’86 (WARD) Buena Vista, Colo., 9.16.2022 James H. Crowley M’87 (BARNEY) West Hartford, Conn., 6.11.2022 Bryan J. Bendavid A’86, ’88 (BARNEY) Bridgewater, N.J., 3.13.2023 Mary Fossa Boyce M’88 (BARNEY) Bristol, Conn., 10.14.2022 Warren J. Dudack M’88 (BARNEY) Ormond Beach, Fla., 4.5.2023 Frank Larosa ’88 (BARNEY) Glastonbury, Conn., 2.15.2022 Kurt S. Alver ’89, M’94 (CETA) South Windsor, Conn., 7.30.2022 Timothy A. Austin ’89 (HARTT) West Hartford, Conn., 5.22.2023 Joseph A. Krupa ’89 (BARNEY) Newington, Conn., 7.19.2022 Dr. Christopher A. Pedorella ’89 (A&S) Saunderstown, R.I., 12.27.2022 1990s Marilyn C. Koch ’90 (BARNEY) South Windsor, Conn., 3.3.2022 Beth Owens C’90 (HCW) West Hartford, Conn., 4.27.2022 James W. Persano M’90 (BARNEY) Somers, Conn., 7.20.2022 Noreen P. Geoghegan Kroehle ’91 (A&S) Minneapolis, Minn., 8.17.2022
Edward M. Sullivan ’96 (A&S) Portland, Maine, 3.20.2023 Jason P. Kennedy ’97 (BARNEY) East Hartford, Conn., 8.15.2022 Elsa Leavens Fuchs A’98, ’99 (A&S) Ridgewood, N.J., 7.28.2022
Ricardo F. Bau ’11 (CETA) Fullerton, Calif., 5.20.2022 Victoria R. Medeiros ’14, M’19 (HARTT) Marshfield, Mass., 3.31.2023 Lisa Shea Zeiser A’14, P’16, ’19 (US) Unionville, Conn., 6.6.2022 Lindsay Gagnon ’15 (HAS) Willimantic, Conn., 1.22.2022 Vincent A. Vassallo C’16 (US) Farmington, Conn., 11.1.2022
Charles Stern A’20, ’22 (A&S) South Orange, N.J., 12.13.2022 Ibrahim Diallo ’23 (BARNEY) New York, N.Y., 5.15.2023 Norman B. Thompson (CETA) Lucie, Fla., 8.23.2022
Rosemary B. Sarsfield M’99 (ENHP) Warren, Conn., 1.29.2022 Julia Long Wayner A’99, ’05 (HCW) Glastonbury, Conn., 3.15.2022 2000s Judith A. Grasso M’00 (ENHP) Middletown, Conn., 9.30.2022 Lisa Belanger-Buoniconti M’01, P’16, ’20 (BARNEY) Agawam, Mass., 2.13.2023 Tekesha S. Taylor A’05 (HILLYER) Hartford, Conn., 9.1.2022 Audra D. Clark ’07 (ENHP) New Haven, Conn., 1.10.2022 Marc C. Ditman ’07 (HARTT) West Hartford, Conn., 8.14.2022 Gregory A. Hurston A’05, ’08 (ENHP) Hartford, Conn., 1.6.2022 Anne A. Kan M’08 (BARNEY) West Hartford, Conn., 1.29.2023 Sharon L. Burke M’09 (A&S) North Haven, Conn., 6.29.2022 2010s George Bongart ’10 (CETA) Hatboro, Pa., 5.3.2023 Christopher D. Munger ’11 (A&S) Andover, Mass., 2.7.2022
Sandra J. Streib ’91 (ENHP) New Britain, Conn., 2.17.2022
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PROUD TO BE A HAWK I’m ing grow a to be
HAWK
Getting married? Having a baby? Show your UHart pride by requesting a UHart pennant or onesie for your future Hawk at hartford.edu/uhart-gear. We’ll help you celebrate by sharing your news as a Class Note—online and in a future issue of H.
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We Congratulate & Welcome... WEDDINGS AND ENGAGEMENTS Diane (Slater) Bedrin ’72 (ENHP) and her husband, Gerald Bedrin ’72 (Barney), celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 25, 2022. [1] Eric Forish ’79 (CETA) married Astrid Elke Suessmann on August 7, 2021. They were joined by seven children and 10 grandchildren at AMC Noble View Outdoor Center. [2] Keith Rhoden Jr. ’85 (HAS) married Paul Kelleher on April 16, 2022, at First Presbyterian Church in Hartford, Conn. [3] Meegan Samantha (Bernstein) Coleman ’97 (Hartt) married Frankie Hughes on July 1, 2021, in Long Beach, N.Y. The officiant was the bride’s colleague, the band teacher. After a rained-out beach wedding, the unconventional (and successful) ceremony was followed by a three-week honeymoon to the groom’s home country of Ireland. [4] Danielle (Freni) Beaton ’03 (A&S) got married (twice due to COVID-19) in 2020 and 2021. Fellow Hawks Lisa (Fiore) Harding ’03 (A&S) and Kate (Dower) Wilkerson ’04 (ENHP) were in attendance. [5] Donna Breitbart ’09 (A&S) and Brian Andersen celebrated their marriage on July 30, 2022, at Summer Starr Ranch in Helena, Montana. [6] Kristina Pallas ’12 (A&S) and Alexander Joseph Gallo were married on August 28, 2021, in Long Island, New York. [7] Sarah (Carlyle) Laskey ’13 (HAS) and Zachary Laskey were married on May 7, 2022, after a two-year postponement and multiple reschedules due to the pandemic. Sarah works as a marketing manager in West Hartford, Conn., and Zachary is an information systems security officer in East Hartford, Conn. They currently reside in Coventry, Conn., with their two dogs and two cats. [8] Megan Johnson ’14 (HAS) and Erik Sherman ’15 (A&S) celebrated their marriage on October 30, 2021, at Interlaken Inn in Lakeville, Conn. [9] Adara Brookler ’15 (ENHP) and Ben Patterson ’14, M’21 (Barney) got engaged on December 24, 2022, on the H in Alumni Plaza at the University of Hartford. They met at Hartford Hillel and subsequently served on the Hillel board together. While they went their separate ways following college, they reunited during the pandemic, and are grateful to UHart for bringing them together. Allison Long ’18 (Hartt) got engaged to Anthony Mamunes on June 17, 2022. [10] Brianna Pacileo ’18 (A&S) and Daniel Rombola ’18, M’18 (Barney) were married on April 29, 2022, in Prospect, Conn. [11]
Morgan Askins M’19 (A&S) is engaged to Christopher Langone of Cranford, N.J. A wedding is planned for August 12, 2023, at Glenn Manor House in Portsmouth, R.I. [12] Tashmia Bryant M’21 (A&S) reports that after seven years of being together, she and her now-fiancé became engaged on December 11, 2021, which will always be a special day for them. [13]
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Christina (Remie) Kibler M’21 (ENHP) got married June 11, 2021. [14]
HATCHLINGS Jessica (Fine) Sowalsky ’05 (Hillyer), ’07 (A&S) and her husband, Adam Sowalsky, welcomed their third child—a baby girl, Raya Sara Sowalsky—on September 7, 2022. Jessica is an enterprise learning technology systems manager at the University of Maryland, and Adam is a principal investigator at the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. The family lives outside of Washington, D.C., in Bethesda, Maryland, with their 4-year-old son, Ari, 2-year-old daughter, Shira, and 15-year-old Chiweenie, Papi. [15] Brian Cutino ’07 (Barney, A&S) and Jess Cutino ’06 (Hartt) welcomed their second daughter, Olivia Brooke Cutino, on April 20, 2022. [16] Sara (Urato) Siddall ’11 (A&S) and Ryan Siddall welcomed a baby girl, Tessa, in August 2021. [17]
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Marissa (Giammarino) Marotte ’10 (Hillyer), ’12 (A&S) and husband, Ben Marotte, had a daughter, Ella Marotte, born on September 30, 2021. [18] Danielle (Etta) Sobocinski ’12 (A&S) and Stephen Sobocinski ’10 (CETA) welcomed a baby, Alaina Lynn Sobocinski, on January 30, 2023 [19] Kimberly (Ryan) Rivera ’13 (A&S) and wife, Emily Rivera, welcomed their first baby, Finley James, on July 7, 2022. [20] Robert Britton M’14 (Barney) welcomed identical twins boys on October 29, 2021. Pictured are Bradley James and Nicholas John, and their 3-year old brother Robbie Allen. [21] Erika (Ferrucci) Floum ’14 (ENHP) and Eric Floum ’13 (Barney) welcomed their son, Rory James Floum, on December 31, 2021. [22] Arynn (Rosenstein) Kelly ’17, M’19 (ENHP) and Michael Kelly ’18 (A&S) welcomed a baby, Charlotte Adeline Kelly, on November 27, 2022. [23] Stephanie (Griffin) Fengler M’22 (A&S, Barney) and Timothy Fengler ’22 (Univerity Studies) announce the birth of their son, Timothy Adam Fengler III, born on July 21, 2022. [24]
H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE
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S U MFM AE LR L 2023
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HAWKTOBER October 20–22, 2023 Reconnect with fellow Hawks at UHart’s largest reunion of the year! Learn more and register now!
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