A MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP: Elsa Núñez, PhD, 2010 Community Service Award Recipient Elsa Núñez, PhD, president of Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU), received the 2010 Community Service Award – the highest honor given to a United Way volunteer – at United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut’s 86th Annual Meeting on March 31. The award is now given in memory of Dr. Frederick G. Adams, a former United Way board member and community leader who passed away in 1996 from Lou Gehrig’s disease. Dr. Núñez was selected for her commitment to improving education for children, youth and young adults. We recently spoke with her about her achievements and philosophy. What factors influenced you to become so involved with
During your time at ECSU, the school has been nationally
your community?
recognized for a number of things – including academics,
I have always been involved in the communities where I
community service and commitment to green practices.
live and work, and Willimantic has a special significance
How do you view the role of the university in society?
for me. I was born in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico, and
As a public university, ECSU belongs to everyone in our
during the ECSU search process, I discovered that a
state. When you visit our campus, you will see local resi-
number of local residents also come from my hometown!
dents jogging on the track, relaxing in our green spaces
This community has embraced me from the very begin-
and utilizing our library. That’s the way it should be.
ning and I want to reciprocate. I also believe we have a moral responsibility to our urban What led you to become involved with United Way?
centers. In 2009, I started The Hartford Program, which
United Way makes such a deep and substantive contri-
identifies Hartford students with C or D averages who
bution to the community. It does much more than fund
have the capacity to do much better. We bring them to
worthwhile projects: it supports and nurtures nonprofit
Quinebaug Valley Community College and they live in
organizations and helps them evolve and innovate.
ECSU dorms while they do the background work they need to succeed at ECSU. The program has enrolled 80
While at Lesley University, I served on the Board of
kids so far, and we have an 80% retention rate.
Directors of United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley and was involved with their after-school
Our Center for Community Engagement is another proj-
programs. When I came to ECSU, this United Way invited
ect I’m proud of. Through the Center, our students have
me to help shape multiyear targets, strategies and tactics
contributed more than $800,000 worth of volunteer time
for the Community Investment process. I worked on the
to the local community since 2009. They tutor in the high
subcommittee for children’s programs and initiatives.
schools and middle schools, help with park and museum maintenance, and more.
Why the focus on children? Children are our future and it’s up to us to prepare them.
Any words of wisdom for other volunteers?
Connecticut has the largest achievement gap in the nation
No one person can solve our problems, but collectively we
– and we will pay for it if we don’t educate people.
can make a big difference. That’s what Living United is all about. Impact Winter|Spring 2011
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