NEWS
PROFILE
ALUMNI NEWS
PERSPECTIVE
Historic NIH Grant • 4
The Path to Success • 18
The Black Alumni Network • 23
Commencement 2021 • 26
ALUMNI MAGAZINE
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ISSUE 06
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SUMMER 2021
GROWTH, SUCCESS, AND THE LIMITLESS POTENTIAL O F C H A R G E R N AT I O N
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Innovation Is In Our DNA Over 1,000 square feet of newly renovated Forensic DNA lab space in Dodds Hall boasts cutting-edge technology and research, including next-generation sequencing, field-forward rapid DNA analysis, and advanced forensic genetic instrumentation. Students and faculty enjoy 24/7 access to the space, which is utilized during the academic year and in the summer for teaching, cross-disciplinary and faculty-mentored research, and honors and master’s thesis projects.
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N E W H AV E N . E D U / M AGA Z I N E 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
IN THIS ISSUE
8 The Future of Healthcare Lessons in leadership from our alumni community and what it takes to truly flourish
Michael LaLonde ’21 MHA, PA-C
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Out of Service and Love
Priceless Persistence
Taking an Active Role
Holli Draines ’03 M.S.
Lawrence Flanagan ’80, ’13 Hon.
Devesh Dayal ’93 MBA, ’94 M.S. and Seema Dayal ’98 MBA, PMP
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Chain Reaction
The Path to Success
Growing Together
Tiffany Hesser ’03, ’05 M.S., Ed.D.
Dawn Alderman ’99, ’03 M.S.
ON THE COVER This issue’s cover design is inspired by artwork at the University of New Haven’s Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation. Svigals + Partners’ director of art integration, Marissa Mead, and the firm’s design team envisioned the building’s aesthetic to reflect the inner workings of both the Bergami Center and adjoining Buckman Hall — Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, and Craft — and to capture the spirit of these realms of study: innovation, creation, and transformation. Of note, hexagonal graphics — reflected in the design of our issue cover and the seven alumni feature profiles — and milled plywood modules in the Center’s corridor were developed based on skeleton formulas that chemistry students present and showcase each year. Similarly, the wall trellis in the Center’s atrium and the exterior sculpture evoke a sense of transformation as representations of the Miura-ori origami fold.
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PREVIEW
ALUMNI NEWS
1 • Innovation Is In Our DNA
22 • From the Alumni Association 24 • Back to Campus
NEWS 4 • On Campus
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ISSUE 06
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SUMMER 2021
Editor in Chief Elizabeth Rodgers, erodgers@newhaven.edu Vice President for Enrollment & Student Success Gregory E. Eichhorn Vice President for University Advancement Stephen J. Morin
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Shelley A. Stewart, Jr. ’90 EMBA, ’16 Hon.
ALUMNI MAGAZINE
25 • Talking To PERSPECTIVE 26 • Commencement 2021
Associate Vice President for Marketing & Public Relations Doug Whiting President of the Alumni Board of Directors Dawn Alderman ’99, ’03 M.S.* * term began on July 1, 2021 Director of Alumni Relations Heather Alpaugh, halpaugh@newhaven.edu Marketing & Communications Renee Chmiel M.S., Dave Cranshaw, MBA, Susan Dowd, Tyler Hanson M.S., Matthew McCullough, Michael McKiernan, M.A., Kellie McLaughlin, M.S., Carolyn Meyer, John Mordecai, Laura Norris, M.S., Alicia Post Lindstadt, MBA, Sue Pranulis, M.S., Chris Teodosio Design Bria Caso & Hannah Fichandler, Taylor Design Contributors Emily Cretella, Chris Hann, Jen Kitses, Steve Neumann Photography CTforMe, Defining Studios & Defining Properties, Alma Garcia, Emily Rabin, Natasha Tendai The University of New Haven Alumni Magazine is published twice a year by the Office of Marketing & Communications. Its mission is to connect alumni and other members of the University community to the University and to one another. Reach us at: The University of New Haven, 300 Boston Post Road, West Haven, CT 06516 or at magazine@newhaven.edu. The University of New Haven is committed to equal access to educational and employment opportunities for all applicants regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, color, personal appearance, marital status, civil union status, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, or physical or intellectual disability. ©2021 University of New Haven. All Rights Reserved. For permissions, please contact erodgers@newhaven.edu
ISSUE 06 SUMMER 2021 •
FROM THE PRESIDENT
IN THIS ISSUE
“We adapted. We developed a mindset, a resilience, and a sense of resolve that prepared us to face challenges and thrive.”
At
our 2021 Commencement ceremony, our first large group gathering since the start of COVID-19, I quoted best-selling author and psychotherapist Amy Morin: “Mentally strong people overcome setbacks with confidence because adversity only makes them better.” This resilience is the hallmark of a Charger. Amid a global pandemic, our students successfully navigated the rigors of higher education and emerged stronger, wiser, and better equipped to tackle the complex issues of our world, exhibiting courage and grace under unprecedented pressure. We continue to see affirmation of the farreaching impact of our faculty and important recognition of the research culture fostered here. In recent months, we have received more than $2 million in grant funding from, among others, the National Institutes of Health, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Office of Naval Research to support critical faculty research initiatives.
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Members of Charger Nation came together to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout our community, taking a stand for values that unite and encouraging courageous conversations. From our JEDI Student Ambassadors to the Board of Governors’ newly established DEI Ad Hoc Committee, community members are playing an active role at every level of the University. We learned that the New England Commission of Higher Education has granted full reaccreditation to the University, through 2030. I am excited by the bold possibilities for continued growth already emerging from our newly launched strategic planning process and will keep you updated on these discussions. We persevered. We stayed the course. We embraced — and triumphantly overcame — numerous obstacles. We adapted. We developed a mindset, a resilience, and a sense of resolve that prepared us to face challenges and thrive. I eagerly anticipate the ways in which the newest members of our Charger family,
the Class of 2025, will achieve this same growth. I fully expect they will take what they learn and experience during their time at the University and proceed to author their own unique stories, much like the seven impressive alumni spotlighted as exemplary models in the feature profiles that begin on page 8. In my nearly two decades as president, I have seen time and again that a University of New Haven education creates countless opportunities none of us can foresee. It’s a matter of letting the magic happen. And I for one can’t wait to see what’s next. With best wishes,
Steven H. Kaplan, Ph.D. President
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NEWS
On Campus
Health Services Researcher Earns First NIH Grant in University History Karl Minges, Ph.D., MPH, was awarded $450,000 by the National Institutes of Health to advance his work in exploring how healthcare organizations can prevent unnecessary and costly hospital readmissions for the elderly. This grant will also support two dozen undergraduate and graduate students, enabling them to participate in research, travel to site visits, conduct analysis, and attend and present at leading conferences.
$1.5 Million Grant Supports Education for Incarcerated Students in Connecticut The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded the University a three-year $1.5 million grant to support a collaboration with the Yale Prison Education Initiative (YPEI). The YPEI is a signature program of Dwight Hall at Yale and is housed in the Center for Public Service and Social Justice. The affiliation will foster an expansion of current YPEI programming for incarcerated students in Connecticut, create a pathway for these students to earn associate and bachelor’s degrees, and add an innovative fellowship program for alumni in prison programs.
Undergraduate Students Earn Grants for Innovative Space Research The NASA Connecticut Space Grant Consortium (CTSGC) awarded Kiarra Richardson ’21, a chemical engineering major, and Gabriel Galeotos ’22, a biology major, grants in support of their respective research exploring medicine and space travel. CTSGC selected only 28 undergraduate students in Connecticut to receive this grant for Fall 2020. The CTSGC is a federally mandated grant, internship, and scholarship program that is funded as part of NASA Education.
Grant Funds Training for the Next Generation of Cybersecurity Professionals The Office of Naval Research awarded the University more than $250,000 to fund the new Cyber Operative REsearch Scholars Program, (CORES), a rigorous yearlong research residency opportunity that endeavors to position students for cybersecurity government positions. The program is open to students who are already on the cyber operations career path as well as students of all majors in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).
RECOGNITION
Writing Across the Curriculum Recognized as One of the Best in the Nation
The Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) recognized the University’s Writing Across the Curriculum program with a Writing Program Certificate of Excellence. A constituent organization within the National Council of Teachers of English, the CCCC recognized only four writing programs nationwide for the 2020 – 21 academic year with this prestigious honor.
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ON CAMPUS
NEWS
NEW PROGRAMS
New Affiliation Increasing Diversity Across the Finance Industry The Pompea College of Business is collaborating with FactSet, a global financial data and technology company headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, to support the company’s Black Business Resource Group. As part of the University’s involvement in this effort, high-achieving students can pursue internship and career opportunities with FactSet. The collaboration will also include mentorship programs and student access to the company’s proprietary software.
Actuarial Science Program Set to Launch Beginning this fall, the University will offer a bachelor’s degree in actuarial science, a degree combining mathematics, business, finance, and statistics. Actuaries are especially sought after among insurance companies, and the University’s proximity to Hartford, CT, the “insurance capital of the world,” will offer students a variety of internship and employment opportunities.
NEW HIRE
Shaily Menon, Ph.D. Named Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Shaily Menon, Ph.D., a higher education leader in innovation, design thinking, and community engagement, joined the University of New Haven from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia where she served as dean of its College of Arts and Sciences. At Saint Joseph’s, Dr. Menon developed a vision and mission statement for the college and, in consultation
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UPLIFTING RESEARCH
C O U R S E I N N O VAT I O N
Psychology Professor Addresses Domestic Violence in Latin@ Communities
Veteran Music Executive Amps Up Music Industry Curriculum
In fall 2020, Lillianne Macias, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychology, was named director of research and evaluation for Casa de Esperanza’s National Latin@ Network (NLN) for Healthy Families and Communities. NLN is a leading institute on preventing domestic violence in Latin@ communities. In her new role, Dr. Macias collaborates on research that aims to enhance Latin@ communities and organizations while working as part of a multidisciplinary team to help address health, education, and economic disparities facing Latin@ and other marginalized communities in the United States. The partnership between the University and NLN will enable students to participate in research at the local and national levels through programs and applied research. Students will work directly with advocates and community members to develop and inform practices and policies surrounding gender-based violence.
Music Industry lecturer Mark Tavern, founder of Mark Tavern Management, LLC, is helping to enhance the University’s music industry curriculum through new course development and hands-on learning opportunities for students. Tavern, who held executive positions at Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and BMG Entertainment, has worked on more than 200 recordings in a variety of genres with artists such as Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, Etta James, and Carrie Underwood. He has also shared his expertise with a national audience, discussing the sale of Bob Dylan’s music catalog for $300 million in a story on NPR’s “All Things Considered.”
with key stakeholders, reconstituted and reenergized its advisory board. She also helped establish programs in artificial intelligence, computational engineering and applied physics, cybersecurity, art history, and graphic design. Additionally, Dr. Menon facilitated the launch of a new School of Health Sciences and Education at Saint Joseph’s, chaired the search for a founding dean to lead the school, and executed an effective yearlong transition plan. During her three years as dean, she hired 14 tenure-track faculty to enhance existing arts, humanities, social sciences, and science disciplines and to help launch new interdisciplinary programs in geospatial analysis, digital humanities, and data science. A highly esteemed scholar, Dr. Menon is widely published in environmental ethics, conservation biology, and global change, and she has secured nearly $3 million in grant support. She began her new role as dean of the University of New Haven’s College of Arts and Sciences in June 2021.
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ON CAMPUS
NEWS
Engineering Major and ROTC Student Among the Best in the Country This past winter, Anyssa Poirier ’21, a mechanical engineering major, was selected to the Army ROTC Top 10 Order of Merit List and recognized by the U.S. Army Cadet Command as the fourth-best ROTC cadet in the nation. Each year approximately 6,000 ROTC cadets from 275 colleges and universities participate in the Order Merit List process as part of their preparation to commission into the United States Army. Cadets are evaluated on their grades, physical fitness scores, and participation in ROTC training and activities. Poirier is a future armor officer in the National Guard.
Economics Major Receives Prestigious Research Award Hannah Providence ’22, an economics major in the Pompea College of Business’s Fast Track Program, was selected as the second recipient of the Bucknall Family Undergraduate Research Award. Passionate about business operations, change management, and the public sector, Providence is also interested in nonprofits and higher education. Her research, which has focused on improving the state of Connecticut’s economy, led to her recognition. The award was created by longstanding University benefactor Bill Bucknall ’63, ’65, ’08 Hon., former chair and current member of the University’s Board of Governors and co-chair of the University’s Charger Challenge Centennial Campaign, and his daughters, Elise Bucknall and Kristin Loranger, to honor students for their outstanding work outside the classroom.
“Tough As Nails” Alumna Showcases Determination, Grit, and Exemplary Career Merryl Tengesdal ’94, the first and only African American woman to fly the Air Force’s U-2 spy plane, was selected to be one of only 12 contestants on season two of the CBS competition series Tough As Nails. The show celebrates Americans who work long, hard hours to keep their country running with challenges that test contestants’ strength, endurance, and mental tenacity. The series comes from Emmy Award-winning producer Phil Keoghan, host of The Amazing Race, and his producing partner, Louise Keoghan.
Former Student-Athlete Recognized Ayana Duncanson ’13, ’15 MBA, a player services manager for the NFL Players Association, was recognized among Sports Business Journal’s 2020 New Voices Under 30 honorees. She joined representatives from CBS Sports, CAA (a leading talent agency company), NASCAR, the PGA Tour, and Amazon, among other companies. New Voices Under 30 recognizes young, diverse, and influential leaders, entrepreneurs, and risk-takers in the sports business industry who represent the next generation of professionals. Duncanson is a former member of the University’s women’s basketball team and a current member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Alumnus Spotlighted as “Change Maker” Erick Russell ’09, a graduate of the University’s Criminal Justice Program, was featured as a Connecticut “change maker” on the state’s CTforMe website in a piece titled “Empowering Attorneys: Four Questions with Erick Russell.” Created by the Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development, CTforMe is designed to show young professionals the benefits of living, working, and playing in Connecticut through the eyes of their peers.
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ON CAMPUS
NEWS
Model G20 Team Shines in Virtual Summit The University’s Model G20 team represented the United States in the Model G20 Summit, a virtual event hosted this past spring by American University. The University placed second overall and received the Outstanding Delegation award. The team’s Finance Track earned the Outstanding Delegates award. Modeled after the G20 (or the Group of Twenty) — a group of twenty of the world’s largest economies that meets regularly to coordinate global policy on trade, health, climate, and other issues — Model G20 is a program designed to expose students and young professionals to the world of international diplomacy. It includes opportunities for networking, international diplomacy, and debate on crucial global issues.
Hacking Team Takes Second Place at Regionals
Model United Nations Team Excels in Virtual Conference The University’s Model United Nations (MUN) team represented Sierra Leone and the United Arab Emirates in the virtual 2021 New York Conference, winning two Outstanding Delegation Team awards, five Outstanding Delegate awards, and three Outstanding Position Paper awards. The program, which has a long history of successfully taking part in national and international conferences, included more than 24 committee delegates, including 19 students who were taking part in MUN for the first time and 14 first-year students.
The University’s hacking team recently captured second place in the virtual Northeast Regional Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC). The competition is designed to assess students’ depth of understanding and competency in managing the challenges of protecting network infrastructures and information systems. Ibrahim Baggili, Ph.D., Elder Family Chair and director of the University’s Connecticut Institute of Technology, served as the team’s coach. This is the first time the hacking team, which includes both undergraduate and graduate students, has placed in regionals for the CCDC.
“Cyber Legends” Celebrates Women in Cybersecurity As part of its commemoration of Women’s History Month, the University’s Connecticut Institute of Technology’s “Cyber Legends” series welcomed Diane Janosek, commandant for the National Cryptologic School at the National Security Agency, and Lynne Clark, deputy chief for the Center for Cybersecurity Education, Innovation, and Outreach. Janosek and Clark discussed the challenges they have overcome and shared their wisdom with the University community.
JEDI Ambassadors Promote Charger Nation Shows Campus Dining and Havenly Diversity and Inclusion Support for AAPI Community Treats Create Employment The University’s new Justice, Equity, Diversity, and The University community came together for two Equity Program Inclusion (JEDI) Student Ambassadors Program — developed by Alvin Tran, Sc.D., MPH, an assistant professor of public health and assistant provost for diversity, equity, and inclusion — endeavors to be a force for positive change that ensures a welcoming and inclusive community at the University. The ambassadors, including both graduate and undergraduate students from a variety of backgrounds and fields of study, serve as liaisons to their respective academic colleges and schools and participate in antidiscrimination training and workshops. Through collaboration with faculty, their work could inform the University’s curricula.
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recent events to show support for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and to promote education, conversation, and healing. The initial virtual forum, “Courageous Conversations: The Rise in Anti-Asian Violence,” enabled members of the AAPI community to share their stories and reflect on how recent events across the country have personally affected them and their families. As a follow-up to the virtual event, the University hosted “Healing in Action: Support for the AAPI Community” on campus and online.
Sodexo Dining Services at the University of New Haven and Havenly Treats, a New Haven-based nonprofit, are working together to champion the hiring of refugee and immigrant women for quality jobs that foster growth, innovation, and equity. Two alumni of Havenly’s six-month Havenly Fellowship flagship program — which includes culinary training, English lessons, ServSafe food handling certification, training in financial and digital literacy, and workforce preparation — are now on staff at the University. Ultimately, the goal is to establish Havenly Treats’ fellowship program into long-term employment with Dining Services.
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HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION
Michael LaLonde ’21 MHA, PA-C
The Future of Healthcare
T
he walk across the stage at graduation to officially earn my Master of Healthcare Administration was a great feeling. It was the first time I had been around so many people since the pandemic began, and I was impressed that the University of New Haven was able to pull it off, just like my 18-year-old self would have been impressed to know I would earn a master’s. I wasn’t a great student growing up. It wasn’t until after high school, when I began taking classes at a community college, that I became self-motivated. I was teaching snowboarding at Lake Tahoe and taking courses that interested me, which made a huge difference. Family and friends encouraged me to broaden my horizons and suggested I might enjoy being a surgical technologist. The suggestion resonated. After completing the program, I began working as a surgical tech. I was promoted through the ranks of surgery into orthopedics and then cardiac. I met my wife, who was a physician assistant (P.A.), in an operating room. When we were dating, she said to me, “I think you have more to offer than this.” There wasn’t much room for advancement, and she encouraged me to pursue new avenues. When I decided I wanted to be a P.A., it was daunting. Because I lacked many prerequisites, I kept taking community college courses while working as a tech. My wife and I moved to Connecticut, where I continued to take classes and got a job at Yale in cardiac surgery as a surgical technologist. Once my prerequisites were complete, I was accepted to Long Island University and earned my physician assistant degree. After graduation, I took a job at Yale in cardiac surgery and have been there ever since. The first two years, I had so much to learn that I considered it my residency. I spent hours participating in every case that I could. Over time I became proficient
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Michael LaLonde ’21 MHA, PA-C received both his undergraduate and physician assistant degrees from the Long Island University Brooklyn Campus. He began his career at Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) in 2006 as a surgical physician assistant within the Department of Surgery, Section of Cardiac Surgery, and was promoted to a lead physician assistant in 2016. In 2018, LaLonde helped develop the YNHH Robotic Mitral Valve Program — where he currently serves as program coordinator — and was appointed to assistant clinical professor in 2019. In 2021, he completed his master’s in healthcare administration at the University of New Haven.
in all cardiac cases. I began teaching and training new-hire P.A.s, P.A. students, medical students, residents, and fellows in the O.R. After 10 years, I felt I had reached my pinnacle in surgery and was ready for another challenge. Around this time, I was promoted to lead P.A. in the operating room and was managing a team. This required a different skill set and a greater knowledge of leadership. In addition, the chief cardiac surgeon at Yale asked me to help develop the Robotic Mitral Valve Program. I became an unofficial project manager with no formal training, just a willingness to take on such a task. I was learning as I worked, and it sparked my interest. That led me to look for graduate schools.
The program at U New Haven was exactly what I was seeking. I had the opportunity to be part of a cohort of Yale employees. We came from all different areas, and we were able to learn from each other. The program illuminated what is involved in healthcare administration. My courses covered many areas, including communication in healthcare, strategies and innovation, and project management. It was all applicable to what I was doing at work and caused me to reflect on what I wanted to do in healthcare outside of the O.R. Healthcare administration isn’t always about the day-to-day management of people; it’s also about running systems. At U New Haven, I found that I’m passionate about starting projects, guiding development and implementation, seeing a project through, and then moving on to the next one. I’m interested in business development within hospital systems. This is something that I didn’t really know existed before going through the program. Now, I want to get more involved in program development within hospital systems. Hospitals and hospital systems need to grow and become more efficient. I’m interested in big questions, like, “How can we evaluate whether patients need to be in a hospital? Can we develop better ways to provide care at home? Is there a way to make better use of the hospital facilities we have?” I like seeing practitioners furthering their education and getting involved in the leadership of hospitals. Practitioners possess the unique knowledge and experience of caring for patients in the environments they are also responsible for as administrators. This enables them to bring topics of discussion to the table that might not be considered otherwise. Being in the Master of Healthcare Administration Program uncovered an aspect of healthcare I had not previously considered. It’s helped me see opportunities for my future career — and for the entire future of healthcare — that I’m really excited about.
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At U New Haven, I found that I’m passionate about starting projects, guiding development and implementation, seeing a project through, and then moving on to the next one.
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SECURITY MANAGEMENT
Elite Strategy Global was born out of a love for what I did with the United States Secret Service — out of wanting to do something amazing as an experienced, talented, and highly trained woman of color. I’m proud of that.
Photography: Natasha Tendai for Essence Magazine
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Holli Draines ’03 M.S.
Out of Service and Love W
hen I applied to the University of New Haven’s Master’s Program in Forensic Science, I had been a Hartford Police Officer for three years. I loved working as a police officer in my hometown and wanted to return to school for something that was compelling to me and that would continue to help me raise the bar professionally. The Forensic Science Degree Program was fascinating, but several months in, I started to feel the pressure of both working and attending school full time. My mom was my steadfast anchor. As a single mother raising two daughters, her philosophy was: I’m going to give you all of my wisdom and love, but I’m also going to give you the truth. If you do what you’ve got to do and put effort into it, it’s going to be worth it in the end. I kept pressing on. The classes weren’t easy by any means. I hadn’t been in a classroom setting in quite some time, and it took a while for me to feel comfortable. Writing papers for a Master’s Program is a far cry from writing police reports. Equally important in the journey, but in different ways. While I was attending night classes at the University, I met a former Hartford Police Officer who had left the department to work for the United States Secret Service. He started talking to me about applying to the Secret Service, and although it sounded intriguing, I told him I wasn’t interested because I loved my job in Hartford. When he brought up the topic again, however, I sought counsel from a member of the executive leadership within the Hartford Police Department and asked him what I should do. My colleague told me the reason he landed in Hartford, doing what he was doing in an upper management role, was because he wasn’t afraid to try new things. He recommended I pursue a role with the Secret Service and, if I enjoyed
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Holli Draines ’03 M.S. is the founder and CEO of Elite Strategy Global (ESG), a progressive security and risk management firm. As a black female business leader and diversity champion, she helped ESG break beyond the invisible barriers that were created by age-old nuances. Draines’s solid track record as a security professional is supported by nearly two decades in law enforcement with the majority of her tenure as a Special Agent for the U.S. Secret Service. She has also served as an Executive Security Advisor for several organizations. As an active member of the Black Alumni Network Steering Committee and graduate of the University of New Haven’s Master’s Program in Forensic Science, Draines has successfully leveraged her educational background to continually progress in her career through security consulting and operations. She is also currently pursuing a doctorate in homeland security & leadership policy at Northcentral University.
it, to be open to the idea that I’d ended up right where I was supposed to be. I graduated from the United States Secret Service training program in December 2004. It was grueling, but graduating and seeing the joy and elation on my family’s faces — my mom and my sister were just beaming with pride — made it worth it. In 2013, I was notified that I had been selected for the Presidential Protective Division (PPD). Those assigned to PPD have different areas of responsibilities. This was during the Barack Obama
Administration. Initially, I was assigned to National Security Advisor Susan Rice, Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. Later, I was assigned to the First Lady. I also had the opportunity to support the First Daughters’ Detail, when needed, and I had some protective assignments for the President as well. I have been on Air Force One. I have been on the First Lady’s Aircraft. My assignments have taken me all around the globe. I sent myself a postcard from wherever I was assigned, and I have a keepsake box that has many of those postcards. I lost my mom and my sister in 2014 — my mom in the summer, my sister in winter, the day after Christmas. My sister had a son, my nephew. He is my heart. As I started to get myself back into work, I was watching him struggle to adjust. He needed more help, and his father needed more help, so I left the Secret Service to help raise my nephew. He moved to Virginia to live with me in the summer of 2017. He was 14-15 years old. I ended up starting my own security management firm in August 2017. Elite Strategy Global was born out of a love for what I did with the United States Secret Service — out of wanting to do something amazing as an experienced, talented, and highly trained woman of color. I’m proud of that. I was recently invited to be a part of the University’s Black Alumni Network. My immediate response was, “Absolutely.” The way I was raised, between my church and local youth groups — with different people who were mentors, who were part of my village — I recognized my responsibility. My time with the United States Secret Service was life changing. It’s an amazing group of men and women who truly sacrifice every single day for our nation’s highest leadership. I’m grateful for the opportunities that have found their way into my life, and I’m doing my best to pay it forward.
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BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Lawrence Flanagan ’80, ’13 Hon.
Priceless Persistence I
’m a true local, born and raised in New Haven. No one in my family had gone to college, so I didn’t initially consider that path. I graduated from Eli Whitney Technical High School and started working in construction but soon realized it wasn’t my passion. I met a lot of salespeople at my job, and the field interested me, so I looked into going back to school to earn my bachelor’s degree. I took night courses at the University of New Haven to see whether I could hack it. I really liked it and enrolled full time. I planned to get into sales, but as soon as I took my first marketing course, I fell in love with advertising. I muscled through and earned my degree in three years. In the ’80s, advertising was a hot industry. To many agencies in New York, if you weren’t from an Ivy League school, forget it. But I was persistent and got hired as an assistant media planner — which was a mailroom-type job — at Grey Advertising, one of the top global agencies. I had a lot of success and continued moving up in the agency world in New York for the next five years. It was a little intimidating. Although I had excelled as a student, I’d only been to New York a handful of times, and here I was setting my sights on working on Madison Avenue. My mentality to anyone who doubted me was, “I’ll show you.” And I did. No one person is better than another. You’re either motivated to lead or you’re not. When I was in New York, I met my wife, and we married and had our first child. At that point, I decided I didn’t see myself as a career advertising
Lawrence (Larry) Flanagan ’80, ’13 Hon. is the former president and CEO of AARP Services. Flanagan, who spent nearly three decades as an executive at MasterCard Worldwide, the Procter & Gamble Company, and L’Oréal USA, has been recognized as one of the most accomplished global marketing leaders in the country. He earned six Effie Awards from the American Marketing Association, the most prestigious honor among marketing professionals, and was named “Person of the Year” by the New York Ad Club in 2008. He is now executive advisor for 1843 Capitol. Flanagan earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of New Haven and was awarded an honorary doctorate of business administration in 2013. A former executive dean for the College of Business, Flanagan is now in his second term on the University of New Haven’s Board of Governors.
person. I wanted to be on the client side, where it’s more strategic, you’re in control of the business, and you’ve got the budget. There’s much more career development and progression. So, I made that jump. I was recruited for a job as a marketing manager at what was then Noxell Corporation, a family-owned business in Baltimore, whose best-known brands
were Noxzema and CoverGirl. My wife and I and our new baby moved there, and a year after I started, Procter & Gamble bought the company. I was at P&G for eight years and experienced a ton of success. I was later recruited by L’Oréal, but I again found myself at a crossroads. I had been working in the beauty and cosmetics industry for 10 years, but I didn’t see myself doing that long term. A short time later, an old friend recruited me for Mastercard, so I rolled the dice and jumped again. That was probably the biggest crapshoot I ever took in my career. In the late ’90s, telecommunications and finance were the big growth industries. At the time I joined, Mastercard was in terrible shape. My assignment was to “fix the brand.” We brought in five new agencies, and out of 33 ideas for rebranding, we narrowed it down to two. One of them was the Priceless Campaign, and I made the decision to go that direction. Almost a year to the day after I started, we launched our first Priceless commercial. And that changed everything. The campaign won an Effie Award, which could be considered the Oscar equivalent for marketing because it’s based on actual business cases with real results. It’s about data, analytics, and insights. It’s not just a popularity contest. I’ve won about half a dozen Effies over the course of my career, and those awards were always the most satisfying. I stayed with Mastercard for almost 15 years and worked my way up to global marketing and communications officer before retiring in 2010. At that time, I was serving my first term on the University’s Board of Governors. President Kaplan
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had created a new executive dean position at the College of Business and was looking for someone to help with growth strategy, boosting enrollment, and new program development. He offered me the job and convinced me to come on board. One of my top priorities as executive dean was to address our students’ desire for becoming entrepreneurs. I built a side business called New Tech Haven which helped students, alumni, and other entrepreneurs in the community develop businesses. When I retired from the University — I stayed for a couple of years in that role and helped onboard a new dean — I continued to develop New Tech Haven along with several friends. I stepped down when I went to work at my next employer; however, New Tech Haven is still doing great work in Westport, Connecticut, in the entrepreneur community. That’s a project of which I’m particularly proud. More recently, I was the President and CEO of AARP Services, the for-profit affiliate of AARP. While there, I continued the theme of data and analytics by directing the organization to build analytic capabilities to help us, business partners, and advertisers reach AARP’s 38 million members more effectively as well as the total 50+ consumer population. My contract expired at the end of 2019, so for the third time since 2010, I retired. I’m now Executive Advisor for 1843 Capitol, a venture capital firm where we invest in new companies developing technology for the Longevity Economy, representing the sum of all economic activity driven by the needs of Americans aged 50 and older and including both products and services they purchase directly and the further economic activity this spending generates. Last year, I created a scholarship at the University of New Haven because I want to help kids like me — kids from the area who might be the first in their family to go to college and also potentially facing financial barriers. This was my chance to say, “Hey, there are other people like me who can end up having a great career like I did. And I can help them get into school.” I find that very fulfilling. It’s a fascinating time to be in higher education. There’s COVID-19 and other challenges, but the University has been doing really well. I’m now in my second term on the Board, and what I’m most looking forward to over the course of this year is working with the administration and faculty on where we want to go next. We’ve got the wind at our backs; there’s a lot of opportunity. I think this next year is going to be a really great one for the University.
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I created a scholarship at the University of New Haven because I want to help kids like me — kids from the area who might be the first in their family to go to college and also potentially facing financial barriers.
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FINANCE AND TECHNOLOGY
One of the lessons I’ve learned is that we should never limit ourselves by the history of what we have done, but rather think of what capabilities we have, and how open and willing we are to grow and change.
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Nowadays, you work with people from various cultures and geographies. This brings multiple perspectives across business and technology. I routinely work with colleagues in Germany, the U.K., and India, and many meetings happen over video conferencing, enabling the best minds to collaborate and innovate.
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Devesh Dayal ’93 MBA, ’94 M.S. and Seema Dayal ’98 MBA, PMP
Taking an Active Role
D
evesh Dayal ’93 MBA, ’94 M.S., and Seema Dayal ’98 MBA know that, to flourish, you have to continually change and adapt. They have been doing that ever since they left India in 1991 to earn their graduate degrees in the United States, and they credit their University of New Haven education for giving them the foundation to do so. Devesh, who completed his bachelor’s degree in accounting in India, holds an MBA in marketing and a master’s degree in finance and financial services. He is currently Head of U.S. Asset Management Technology and Global Head of Alternatives Technology at DWS — the asset management arm of Deutsche Bank. Seema, whose undergraduate degree is in English literature, also holds an MBA, but with a focus on computer science. After a successful 20-year career with Reuters, Seema felt the need for a change, so in April 2021, she decided to take on a new role as Director of Digital Program Management at Cognizant, a global IT consulting company. “I needed to learn more and continue to grow,” Seema said. “Cognizant is really leading the charge with digital transformations and making a sweeping change across the entire consulting space, and it seemed like an amazing opportunity to become a part of this journey with them.” Devesh was inspired to work on Wall Street because of his coursework at U New Haven. In particular, Devesh cites Robert Rainish, a professor of accounting and finance (since retired), for giving him an understanding of how financial markets work. That knowledge enabled Devesh to get his foot in the door as a financial analyst at Reuters in 1994. “Those finance courses were math intensive and involved working with data and spending long hours at the computer center,” Devesh said. “PCs weren’t common then!” Though Devesh started his career in finance, he moved into technology at Reuters when he became involved in the development of its fixedincome databases, which required tech specialists to use software programs to build models and
Devesh Dayal ’93 MBA, ’94 M.S. has a master’s of business administration in marketing and a master’s degree in finance and financial services from the University of New Haven. He is the Head of US Asset Management Technology and Global Head of Alternatives Technology at DWS — the asset management arm of Deutsche Bank. His previous work experience includes roles at Reuters, GE Asset Management, and Deutsche Bank. Seema Dayal ’98 MBA, PMP has a master’s of business administration from the University of New Haven. She began a new role as Director of Digital Program Management at Cognizant in April 2021. Her previous work experience includes roles at Oracle, Reuters, Thomson Reuters, and Refinitiv (London Stock Exchange Group). Both Devesh and Seema have various interests, including golf, reading, music, and art. As a couple, they enjoy gardening, hiking, and going on long road trips with their two children.
explain financial logic to developers. He has stayed in technology since he began steadily moving up the corporate hierarchy, spending eight years at Reuters and four years at GE Asset Management before joining Deutsche Bank in 2008. “At Deutsche, I’ve been involved in managing some very large-scale business transformation initiatives, implementing trading systems as well as managing the outsourcing of the company’s middleand back-office operations in the U.S.,” Devesh said. “But in the last five to seven years I have been more on the management track, managing people and projects.” Devesh is always interested in hiring diverse talent and providing them opportunities for growth. Diversity and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) practices are key focus areas for DWS as a leading global financial institution.
Another University of New Haven influence that both Devesh and Seema fondly remember is Bob McDonald, professor emeritus in the Department of Accounting, Taxation and Law. “I totally loved McDonald’s accounting class,” Seema said. “It showed how the annual reports, cash flows, and balance sheets data can give you an accurate picture of what was truly going on in a company. I also have the University to thank for giving me my first break in the corporate world here.” Seema secured her first job in the United States as a technical consultant at Oracle, a multinational computer technology company, thanks to an on-campus interview. “That job gave me my strong grounding in technology and the experience to manage clients in fields like publishing and manufacturing,” Seema said. “From there, I went to Reuters, a 169-years-old news organization, in a technical role and moved through various levels leading up to project and program management, where I’ve done everything from product development to mergers and acquisitions and crossorganizational transformation programs.” “Change is a constant. In the 20 years of my career in the various iterations of Reuters as a company,” Seema said, “I was constantly involved in newer and impactful programs.” Within the business world, Devesh and Seema know that the individual must take an active role in what can feel, at times, like an uncontrollable juggernaut. “One of the lessons I’ve learned is that we should never limit ourselves by the history of what we have done but rather think of what capabilities we have and how open and willing we are to grow and change,” Seema said. “I’ve mentored junior staff in various roles, and this is one lesson I share with all of them.” Devesh and Seema both stressed the importance of diversity and inclusion and of changing the face of what the executive boards and C-level positions have historically looked like at major companies. “To change that face, taking people for who they are and valuing what they bring in terms of the diversity of perspectives is something that’s really going to be a focus in the future,” Seema said.
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SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
Shelley A. Stewart, Jr. ’90 EMBA, ’16 Hon.
Chain Reaction I
came to my career almost by accident. I was considering going to law school, and my dad exposed me to an opportunity at Fairchild Republic, an aerospace company for which he’d worked for 30-plus years. I was assigned to procurement because I had prior experience and was familiar with negotiations and contracts. I was on a team with two other new hires — the son of the company president and the son of an Air Force general — and we worked under an ex-Marine to learn on the job. I really enjoyed what I was doing there, and I learned a lot. I then had the opportunity to go to Norden Systems, a division of United Technologies, to be a subcontract administrator — the same position I held at Fairchild. When I first arrived in supply chain management, it was in its early stages, so I evolved with the profession. It began to get very popular in the ’80s and ’90s because companies had poured a great deal of money into manufacturing and at this time more outsourcing and partnering with third parties was starting to evolve. The profession began to get noticed, and I was in it at the right time. It helped my career progression that I had worked at companies that recognized the importance of supply chain management throughout my career, including United Technologies, Raytheon, Invensys, Tyco, and DuPont. Everyone knows what supply chain is now. We specifically heard more about the importance of supply chains during the pandemic. From an AI perspective, many supply chain management programs today are beginning to focus on data science. This is new because universities now see the impact of technology on the work that
Shelley A. Stewart Jr. ’90 EMBA, ’16 Hon. is managing partner and founder of Bottom Line Advisory LLC, a professional consulting firm that provides advisory services for corporate supply chain and procurement. His previous work experience includes roles at DuPont; Tyco; Invensys; Raytheon Corp.; and United Technologies. Stewart earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice from Northeastern University and his Executive MBA from the University of New Haven. He was awarded an honorary doctorate of business administration from the University of New Haven in 2016. Stewart is a member of the University of New Haven’s Board of Governors and chair of the newly established Board of Governors Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion.
procurement groups do. To seize new opportunities and beat the competition, companies must be able to gather and analyze huge amounts of data. Supply chain AI and machine learning can supplement staff efforts to make this happen quickly and accurately. When it comes to staff, those of us who have been in this field for a while want to hire people who
are capable of interpreting data, understanding what the data mean, and knowing how data affect the supply chain. We need people not only with business knowledge but also with an understanding of technology and analytics. I am currently helping the University of New Haven develop a supply chain management program with this in mind. AI is going to play a prominent role in forecasting delivery and managing logistics. It is going to be a major accelerant and powerful tool. And our students are needing to be educated in this important aspect. I have a list of things I am proud of, but I am most proud of the people I have mentored and developed. About seven people who have worked for me are now chief procurement officers, and I am proud to have this as a part of my legacy. I have been blessed throughout my life. I was the first person in my family to go to school. I received a great education. I earn a wonderful living. And I believe the most important thing is that I receive joy out of giving back and helping other people. My current role is an opportunity to help others. I am the chairman of the Billion Dollar Roundtable, which includes the 28 corporations in America that spend over a billion dollars each on minority-, women-, LGBTQ-, and veteran-owned businesses. This organization promotes corporate supplier diversity excellence and advances best practices among the member companies. I have been the chair of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, the largest advocacy organization for minority businesses in the country. I am often called to talk on this particular subject because I have spent so much time trying to impact diverse businesses throughout my career.
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Shelley Stewart celebrates with his family after receiving an honorary doctorate of business administration from the University of New Haven in May 2016.
...Corporations have awoken to the fact that they have responsibilities beyond simply employing people and returning profits to shareholders. They now recognize the impact they can have on our communities — and of course, if we do not improve school systems and send more people into college to earn degrees, then who are they going to hire?
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I am working to get people to understand the importance of partnering with diverse businesses and the economic impact that it can have on our communities — on job creation and on uplifting people. This is something I have been fortunate enough to do as part of my career. I have always made sure that supplier diversity was a part of the overall strategic sourcing strategy, not a separate initiative. I recently joined a private equity board for an organization that was formed to create large-scale Black businesses to work with Fortune 500 companies. This is to ensure we have Black businesses of scale because often the real issue for minority businesses is access to capital, which can negatively impact growth potential. To date we have received a great deal of support from major corporations. With all that is going on in America, this is the first time that corporations have awoken to the fact that
they have responsibilities beyond simply employing people and returning profits to shareholders. They now recognize the impact they can have on our communities — and of course, if we do not improve school systems and send more people into college to earn degrees, then who are they going to hire? Previously businesses did not want to venture into this area but now given the current environment they realize that maybe now is the time to become more engaged. I am chairing the University of New Haven Board of Governors’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Ad-Hoc Committee, and I think it is the perfect time to take that role. It is critical that the board understands what is happening on campus and that we position the University to respond to the issues facing students, staff, and faculty. My hope is that we can help advance the discussion about DE&I for everyone at the University.
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STEM EDUCATION
As I’ve come up the ranks at the University of New Haven from student to faculty and from faculty to administrator, I see I’m coming across more women. It is empowering. Without that, it’s difficult to see yourself in other roles.
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Tiffany Hesser ’03, ’05 M.S., Ed.D.
The Path I to Success
Tiffany Hesser ’03, ’05 M.S., Ed.D. is assistant provost of retention and advising and a distinguished lecturer and course coordinator for the University of New Haven. She has a bachelor’s degree in forensic science and a master’s degree in science education from the University of New Haven as well as a doctorate of education in educational leadership and administration from Southern Connecticut State University. Hesser previously served as director of student success and retention and Chemistry Department program coordinator for the Tagliatela College of Engineering. In 2019, Hesser was awarded the University’s Excellence in Teaching, Full-Time Faculty Member award. This award recognizes a faculty member who taught meaningful and intellectually engaging courses during the 2018–2019 academic year.
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was a nontraditional student. After failing out of another local college after my first semester, I didn’t enroll in the University of New Haven until I was 23. I worked very hard to be a good student. It didn’t come naturally to me. I chose to take STEM courses because I felt empowered learning more and more about such a dynamic field. Succeeding academically in that space made me feel like I could do anything. I had my first child two weeks after graduating from U New Haven with a bachelor’s degree in forensic science and concentration in chemistry — I was 25 years old — and I started the University’s master’s program in science education in the fall. Things came full circle, and I had no doubt I’d discovered not only what I wanted to do for my career, but where I wanted to do it. After completing my master’s, I began a doctorate in education leadership program at Southern Connecticut State University, this time when my second child was in first grade. My doctoral dissertation was titled “The impact of embedded support for underprepared students in a college chemistry course.” I wanted to find a way to help underprepared high school students — the students who are not 100 percent ready for what’s about to come in front of them — get equivalent with their peers. I took the chemistry curriculum and created recitations — structured study times — using different evidence-based practices to help students learn chemistry. We would take students who would normally be placed in remedial chemistry, which would have set them behind a full year, and placed them in the general population. We broke them into groups of 10 and 15, and we worked out problems and worked one-on-one in small-group settings. We forced our help upon them, basically. And it worked. It was fantastic. Those students, who were underperforming early on, by the end of the semester were outperforming their college-level peers. It was effective enough that the chemistry department dropped its remedial courses and still uses that format.
Success is not a straight line. Success for me was not success for another young woman who might enter the STEM field. And that’s OK. It’s not going to look the same to anyone. I share my story with my students. As role models, you must be as transparent as possible about how difficult it can be. I wasn’t raised to believe I wasn’t supposed to do something because I’m a woman. I’ve had women say to me, “I want to go on and get my master’s, but I also want to have children. How did you do that?” All I can answer is, “Yes, it’s difficult.” You struggle through things, and you work hard. Sometimes putting one foot in front of the other is the challenge of the day, and that’s what you must do. I think that’s the best gift we can give students in general. You must paint a picture of success that’s different for everybody. As I’ve come up the ranks at the University of New Haven from student to faculty and from faculty to administrator, I see I’m coming across more women. It is empowering. Without that, it’s difficult to see yourself in other roles. I’m now the assistant provost for advising and retention. I’m surrounded by women who work very hard and are very successful but also get together and discuss challenges. I can’t say enough about how much I love what I do. When I got my doctorate, I thought I would go into an administrative role, but I can’t bring myself to stop teaching. I can’t imagine a semester where I don’t get to talk to students or have after-class conversations with students. The University of New Haven has been weaved into the fabric of who I am. My undergraduate chemistry professor, Michael Saliby, is now my colleague of 17 years. My office is just a few doors down from the class where I got my first F on a Calculus exam. I know the seat I was sitting in, in Kaplan Hall, Room 107, when the first plane hit the Twin Towers on 9/11. I still pass by the area outside Maxcy Hall where I was performing an outdoor crime scene investigation on the cold Saturday morning when I learned I was pregnant with my first child. Now, 18 years later, he is starting at the University in the fall. He was two years old when I started teaching at U New Haven, and I remember thinking, I wonder if I’ll still be here when Jake goes to college. This institution has been my life, and now it’s my son’s future, too.
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LIFE SCIENCES
Dawn Alderman ’99, ’03 M.S.
Growing Together I
developed two important relationships at the University of New Haven. The first, with my husband of 21 years, whom I met as a freshman. The second — and perhaps more unexpected — is the long-lasting relationship I’ve developed with the University itself. When it came time to choose a university, I wanted to stay close to home. I was raised in Connecticut and love being near family. It was soccer that drew me to the University, and I enjoyed being on the team. As a freshman, I declared my biology major, even though I didn’t have a real idea of what being a biology major meant. I also didn’t know how long the University would remain in my life nor how involved I would become. Dr. Vigue taught my 100-level biology class, and I remember feeling I was out of my league, saying, “I don’t know if I can really do this.” What Dr. Vigue said, I’ve never forgotten: “Dawn, we will make a scientist out of you.” He was so supportive. He helped me prepare for my first internship interview. I got the internship, and then was hired by that company (Neurogen) after graduation and worked there for 10 years. Dr. Vigue helped me launch my career. I’ve moved around in my career, eventually leaving Neurogen to join a small company doing work with recombinant vaccines and then to a start-up where I focused on recombinant antibodies. Affomix was acquired, and they moved operations out west. I wanted to stay in Connecticut, so I joined AxioMx, which eventually got bought by Abcam, where I am today as head of our Branford site and director of product development. Each of these moves helped me expand professionally and personally. Throughout it all, I’ve remained connected to the University. I earned my master’s, became an adjunct professor, developed internship
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Dawn Alderman ’99, ’03 M.S. is site head, director of product development for Abcam, a global life sciences company that identifies, develops, and distributes high-quality biological reagents and tools that are crucial to research, drug discovery, and diagnostics. Based in Branford, Connecticut, Alderman’s previous work experience includes roles at Neurogen Corporation, VaxInnate Corporation, Affomix Corporation, Illumina., and AxioMx (an Abcam company). Alderman has a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in cellular and molecular biology from the University of New Haven. As former adjunct professor, Alderman served two terms as vice president for the University of New Haven Alumni Association’s Board of Directors before assuming the role of president for the Alumni Board on July 1, 2021.
programs with the University, and joined the Alumni Board. Science has received so much attention during this pandemic, and I’m encouraged that it’s paving the way for strong science programs. Conversations about the importance of STEM were already happening, but seeing how scientists came together to solve a worldwide crisis is an altogether different thing. The scientific community wouldn’t have been able to develop a vaccine this quickly if we weren’t investing in science all along. We need to continue to invest in our future. To me, that means investing
in the scientists who will take us there. It’s integral to me and my mission as a scientist to help develop the next generation of scientists. Over the past few years, some methods previously widely used for recruitment have been shown to cause bias and mean that incredible, diverse talent was overlooked. I’m passionate that we make sure that the structure of our search is not biased against some students and that we work hard to ensure that we use the best possible processes. Diversity isn’t a trend; it needs to be embedded into the culture. I’m glad to see this happening at Abcam and at the University. We’re building it into who we are because who we are is what we will do and how we will grow. When I walk on campus today, it’s so different from when I was a freshman that it’s unrecognizable, in the same way that I’m a vastly different person. I see so many parallels in our growth. I started at the University because of soccer, and now the University is expanding to be a Division I school. My career began because of mentorship, and I’ve been able to mentor students (and I’ve watched the University grow an incredible Career Development Office!). I’ve advanced in my career and in my role on campus — I’m the incoming president for the University of New Haven’s Alumni Association Board of Directors, and I’ve been invited to sit on the Advisory Board for the Cellular and Molecular Biology Program that I graduated from. These are incredible opportunities to continue giving back in a different way. When I met Nyle Davey, a former Alumni Board president, he said, “Everything can be accomplished if we all take bite-sized pieces.” That really stuck with me. Every little bit helps get us where we’re going. When I think about where I was as a freshman — uncertain and naïve — and the small, commuter campus I was on, I see that both the University and I have grown so much. And I love that we’ve been able to do it together.
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We need to continue to invest in our future. To me, that means investing in the scientists who will take us there. It’s integral to me and my mission as a scientist to help develop the next generation of scientists.
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ALUMNI NEWS
From the Alumni Association
Reflecting Back and Charging On
OFFICE OF ALUMNI R E L AT I O N S
To My Fellow Alumni and Friends,
Heather Alpaugh Director of Alumni Relations halpaugh@newhaven.edu 203.479.4532
In reflecting back on my tenure as president for the University of New Haven Alumni Association, I am reminded of all that we have accomplished since I assumed my role in July 2018. The past three years have been a period of great transformation, and I am incredibly proud of the hard work of the Alumni Board of Directors and the University community as a whole. It was an honor to represent our alumni base during our centennial year. Although 2020 proved highly unpredictable, what was not surprising was the adaptability and resilience of Charger Nation. The University’s leadership, staff, and students embraced each new challenge, found creative solutions, and forged ahead. This “never slow down” mentality has, and will always be, a tenet of the University of New Haven.
Lindsey Christiani Associate Director of Alumni Communications lchristiani@newhaven.edu 203.932.7085
There is much to celebrate as I prepare to transition out of office — the grand opening for the Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation; the installation of the Charger Horse statue, standing proudly near the heart of campus; the festivities at the various Centennial Road Shows; and the Culmination of the Charger Challenge campaign, to name only a few recent milestones. It truly is an exciting time to be a Charger. I enjoyed my time serving as the University of New Haven Alumni Board President. Getting to know the University through the alumni board has offered me a different perspective as to how a top-tier university should be run, and I will never forget the countless students, faculty, and alumni I met along the way, all of whom have been so incredibly impressive. I am proud to call the University of New Haven my alma mater.
Brittany Stanchak Associate Director of Alumni Relations and Events bstanchak@newhaven.edu 203.932.1248
Go Chargers! T H A N K Y O U , D AV E !
Sincerely,
Dave Galla ’99 President, University of New Haven Alumni Association
A big Charger Nation thank-you to Dave Galla for his heartfelt dedication and service in support of the University and our alumni.
* term concluded on June 30, 2021
2020 – 2021 ALUMNI BOARD OF DIRECTOR S President Dave Galla ’99 Vice President Dawn Alderman ’99, M.S. ’03 Treasurer Kenney Johnson EMBA ’93 Secretary Cynthia Kohan M.S. ’97
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. . . . . . . . .
Scott Brazis ’83 Reece Gleadle ’14 John Capozzo ’13 Kristina Conroy ’09, ’13 M.S. Ayana Duncanson ’13, ’15 MBA Stephen Dunnigan ’82, ’90 MBA, ’95 M.S. Chrissy Falcha ’09 M.A. Jason Gamsby ’08 M.S. Frank Harper ’79, ’85 MBA, ’85 M.S.
. . . . . . . . .
Jaylen Johnson ’15 Miki Katz ’98 MPA Darryl Mack ’91 Antonio McDonald ’01 Rick Polio ’90, ’95 MBA Michael Qiu ’12 Chris Rinck ’10 Arlevia Samuel ’96 Adam Schierholz ’94 MBA
. . . . . . . .
J. Russell Sharpe ’77 Mike Spaziani ’99 Eric St. Amand ’15 Richard Steeves ’77, ’80 MBA Kamaruddin Sulaiman ’85 MBA Jeffrey Thiffault ’99 Colin Weber ’17 Thomas Wilkinson ’89
View the 2021-2022 member list at: newhaven.edu/alumni
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FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
ALUMNI NEWS
University Launches New Black Alumni Network When the University of New Haven’s Myatt Center for Diversity and Inclusion opened its doors in the fall of 2016, Ronald E’an Pierce ’16 wanted to find a way to support the new space and the students who would be using it. As a recent graduate who was beginning his career, he wasn’t yet sure how to do that, but he remained interested in fostering opportunities for his fellow Chargers. While attending Homecoming in 2019, Pierce didn’t see as much engagement from the University’s Black alumni as he had hoped, and he had the idea to recreate the Black Alumni Association that had existed many years earlier. He and some of his fellow alumni began exploring how to do just that. Now he is the president and a proud member of the University’s new Black Alumni Network (BAN). “I have a great passion for the success and health of the University, the equity of Black and Latinx students, and the success of alumni postgraduation,” said Pierce, who now works for Travelers Insurance as an account executive. “These ideas help all of us move forward positively. It works in a cyclical manner: The more equitable and successful Black and Latinx students — all students really — are, the greater the probability that they will be successful alumni, which contributes to the University’s reputation, success, and health. It’s a cycle in which we all win.” Launched officially this spring, the BAN comprises three committees that focus on community, development, and engagement. Members develop programming such as networking opportunities, student support, and community service events. The BAN fosters ongoing service and engagement with Black alumni while creating a sense of community. With a focus on increasing alumni engagement, including participation in alumni events and community service, the BAN offers opportunities for professional development, such as opportunities to mentor current students. The BAN collaborates with departments at the University such as Admissions, the Myatt Center, Student Affairs, and the Career Development Center. “One element of the network we have emphasized is sustainability,” said Pierce. “We want this network to
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be a part of the foundational culture at the University as we move forward. We believe the opportunities to impact the campus community are infinite, and we look to make a positive impact wherever we can.” Mackenzie Upshaw ’17, ’19 M.S., vice president of the BAN, hopes it will enable current students to network, find internships and jobs, and develop as professionals, providing the same meaningful opportunities that she had when she was a student. “My University of New Haven experience was shaped by the connections I made with Black alumni and with current students,” said Upshaw, a juvenile justice case manager at SCO Family of Services in Brooklyn, New York. “Many alumni return to support current students. It is important to stay connected to other alumni and to assist current students.” Upshaw, Pierce, and their fellow BAN organizers conducted surveys to gauge alumni and current students’ interests and needs. They then developed their plan for the BAN, which they envision as a supportive community for alumni that will also serve students and student organizations. “If there had been a Black Alumni Network during my college years, I believe it would have made a world of difference to me to know I had access to alumni who understand my experience and can give me advice and mentorship on how to best navigate the rigors of college,” said Pierce. “Alumni are spread across so many industries and business sectors, and they have found success and can offer so much insight. That alone makes the BAN incredibly valuable.” The BAN is already connecting alumni on Instagram, through its Facebook group, and through the BAN LinkedIn group. Organizers hope alumni will continue to get involved with their fellow Chargers through the new organization. “The Black Alumni Network needs the participation of our alumni of color,” said Upshaw. “This is a space for us to network, engage, support, and foster a community of professionals. If you have a skill or opportunity for alumni/current students that you feel would greatly benefit our network, we would love your involvement. This is a space created by us, for us.”
S TAY C O N N E C T E D
@UNewHavenAlumni @UNewHavenAlumni @UNewHavenAlumni University of New Haven Alumni Association
#ChargerCheers Submit your name or nominate a fellow alum for a spotlight in our #ChargerCheers alumni social media series. We’re excited to hear your story and share it via Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. For submissions and nominations, visit newhaven. edu/chargercheers.
Class Notes Frank Canapino ’08 (Music and Sound Recording) and his wife Jackie Canapino ’09 (Interior Design) are thrilled to announce the birth of their daughter Josie, who — thanks to the miracle of IVF — joined their family in April 2020. After meeting at the University of New Haven, Frank and Jackie married in 2014 and, a few years later, built their first home in Halifax, MA. Frank is currently working for Rapid 7, a cybersecurity company headquartered in Boston, and Jackie works remotely for Creative Office Pavilion, a commercial furniture dealer in NYC. Keep us posted! Submit your own class note at: classnotes@newhaven.edu.
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ALUMNI NEWS
Back to Campus Margaret Girard ’09, ’11, M.S. (supervisory special agent, FBI); Kayla Wallace ’16, ’18, M.S. (management and policy analyst, City of New Haven Fire Service); and Eva Whelan ’18 (investigator, Waterford Superior Court for Juvenile Matters) sat on the Women in Criminal Justice Panel discussion hosted by the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences.
Jamaal Bowman ’99, Ed.D. Bowman, a politician and educator who is serving as the U.S. representative for New York’s 16th congressional district, participated in an alumni speaker event hosted by the University of New Haven NAACP Chapter to discuss the schoolto-prison pipeline and his career journey postgraduation.
S AV E T H E D AT E
Homecoming 2021: October 8 – 10 #TheBlueout
John Jacko ’88, MBA Jacko spoke to the University community as part of the Pompea College of Business’s Success and Leadership Series. Now the executive vice president and chief growth officer for Pentair, Jacko discussed the role failure has played in his career development, encouraging students to take risks and lean into fear to reach their full leadership potential.
Save the date for Homecoming 2021, October 8 – 10! We are planning a weekend full of fun activities and a chance to reconnect with alumni and friends, including celebrating the classes of 1971; 1996; 2001; 2006; 2011; 2016; and our newest graduates, the Class of 2021. In addition, we are thrilled to be honoring our Centennial year graduates, the Class of 2020, with an in-person commencement ceremony on Saturday, October 9, prior to the Alumni Tailgate Party and the big game. Additional details will be sent to May 2020 and December 2020 graduates.
Djuana Beamon ’08, MBA Beamon, chief diversity officer at People’s United Bank, N.A., served as keynote speaker for the University’s Human Resources Alumni Panel discussion, hosted by the Career Development Center. Beamon spoke about her career progression, provided students with career advice, and led a Q&A.
Visit newhaven.edu/homecoming for more information and updates.
H AV E A G R E AT I D E A F O R A N E V E N T ?
Charger Nation came together virtually to celebrate Homecoming 2020 with a variety of events and entertainment, including a DJ party hosted by the University’s newly established Black Alumni Network, Charger Nation Trivia, a virtual beer tasting with Two Roads Brewing Company, an alumni happy hour, and a performance by comedian Jackie Fabulous of America’s Got Talent.
T H A N K YO U ! A special thank you to our talented alumni who have volunteered their time to speak with current and prospective students, participate on panel discussions, attend career fairs, present to classes, and more! We appreciate your dedication and service. If you have given back to U New Haven as a volunteer, be sure to let us know by emailing the Office of Alumni Relations at: alumni@newhaven.edu. Thank you for your support!
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• • • •
Kylie Abouzeid ’20 Djuana Beamon ’08 MBA Kevnesha Boyd ’13 M.A. Ayana Duncanson ’13, ’15 MBA • MJ Girard ’09, ’11 M.S. • Reece Gleadle ’14
From cocktail and networking events to football tailgates and homecomings, our alumni have the opportunity to network and socialize at a variety of events throughout the year. Visit newhaven.edu/alumni/events to learn more, or email alumni@newhaven.edu to submit your own ideas for future events!
• • • • • • •
Ben Gottlieb ’18 Danielle Jacoby ’19 Arnold Lane ’14 Tanish Mair ’19 MPA/MBA Tim Muyano ’16 Danielle Perry ’15 Ronald Pierce ’16
• • • • • • •
Liane Povilonis ’08 M.A. Brandon Reyes ’15, ’17 M.S. Megan Scutti ’15 Chris Speicher ’08 M.A. Eric St. Amand ’15 Kayla Wallace ’16, ’18 M.S. Shannon Woodworth ’14, ’15 MBA
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ALUMNI NEWS
Talking To
that means is, using real-world data, I worked with a team to define ‘moderate-to-severe’ disease. How have current events affected operations and approach at Johnson & Johnson?
Barbara Johnson ’96, MBA: Pivoting and Presence Barbara Johnson ’96, MBA, is a proud graduate of the University’s Healthcare Management Program. Now a manager in the Medical Device Epidemiology Department, Real World Data Sciences at Johnson & Johnson, Barbara talks about her personal and career journey as a health care professional navigating the COVID-19 pandemic.
How has your work over the past year involved to COVID-19? When the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, Johnson & Johnson had already been working on an investigational vaccine candidate for several weeks. Though not directly working on the vaccine, by mid-April I was involved in writing protocols to support COVID-19 research, which would examine how the disease was impacting patients in the United States using real-world evidence (or evidence collected outside clinical trials). As a manager in Johnson & Johnson’s Medical Device Epidemiology department, my team is part of the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, which is a global, functionally independent group of medical and scientific professionals responsible for advancing evidence- and science-based decision-making driven by bioethical principles and values across Johnson & Johnson. Can you tell us more about your research? To better understand the impact of COVID-19 in the United States, we used a hospital claims database to look at patients hospitalized with COVID-19 between April 2020 and July 2020 and examined how patient age, length of stay, and mortality (death) changed over time. The study concluded that patient age, length of stay, and mortality all decreased during the four-month study period. In another study I participated in, we sought to examine trends in treatment patterns among hospitalized COVID-19 patients using a nationwide multi-hospital claims database. After adjusting for patient and provider factors, a decline in hydroxychloroquine and an increase in azithromycin and dexamethasone were observed among COVID-19 patients during the four-month study period (April 2020 to July 2020). Did any of your work relate specifically to vaccine production? I helped define one of our endpoints for our Phase III clinical trial for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, ‘A Study of Ad26. COV2.S for the Prevention of SARS-CoV-2-Mediated COVID-19 in Adult Participants (ENSEMBLE).’ What
Across the company, operations and approaches changed. They implemented the Global COVID-19 Medical Personnel Leave Policy, which supports licensed health care practitioners to go work on the front lines of the pandemic. They reengineered plants that used to make Listerine to produce hand sanitizer. While some of my colleagues have critical roles in which they need to physically be at a Johnson & Johnson facility, worldwide, many employees starting working from home for the first time in their lives. The flexibility of our company impresses me. What has been the most meaningful part of carrying out such important work? On a professional level, it was exciting and rewarding to work with an extremely dedicated and brilliant team of researchers across the company who were all working toward a common goal. On a personal level, knowing the work I was conducting was being used to help shape decisions for our vaccine humbled me. I could not be prouder to work for Johnson & Johnson. What do you foresee for the future of the medical and pharmaceutical industries? I believe COVID-19 reinforced that the medical and pharmaceutical industries need to have the ability to pivot quickly and effectively in order to meet the needs of patients. What advice would you give to college students looking to move into the health sciences field postgraduation? It is an exciting field with so many diverse opportunities. If you are able, look for an internship during the summer months to start getting experience. Not only will this put you in a better position to secure a job postgraduation, but you will also learn more about the industry and what part(s) of it make you want to get up for work every morning. What are your most important lessons learned as a result of COVID-19? At the risk of sounding like a Hallmark card, here are the things I’ve learned during COVID: Be present. Be patient. Be kind. Procrastinate less. Spend time with the ones you love. Spend time doing things you love. Never take your health for granted.
The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of Barbara Johnson and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any company in the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies.
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Once a Charger,
With comprehensive COVID-19 protocols in place, the University of New Haven celebrated the Class of 2021 on Monday, May 17, at its first in-person commencement ceremony to take place since the onset of the pandemic. More than 1,600 graduates from across all five schools and colleges were awarded their undergraduate and graduate degrees on Commencement Day during morning and afternoon ceremonies at the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport. The commencement address was delivered by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal ’00 Hon., and honorary degrees were awarded to business executive and philanthropist His Excellency Mr. Amr Al-Dabbagh as well as longtime University benefactor Lois Bergami.
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Always a Charger.
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Alumni Magazine 300 Boston Post Road West Haven, CT 06516
Make a Difference. Make a Gift. Help the next generation of Charger alumni engineer a brighter future. Visit give.newhaven.edu to learn more about how you can support the University of New Haven and its students or to make a gift of any size.
Save the Date! Homecoming Weekend October 8 – 10
Also celebrating our Centennial year graduates! Turn to page 24 to learn more.
Thank You CAMPAIGN IMPACT REPORT
ing d e e c Ex
^
Meeting the Challenge: Shaping the Next 100 Years At a Board of Governors meeting years ago, a group of us were discussing the concept of what would become the University’s first comprehensive campaign. The passion in the room was infectious as we reflected on how far the University had come, our commitment to do even more, and the ambitious vision we had for the future. As we started to talk about potential names, longstanding University benefactor Sam Bergami ’85 EMBA, ’02 HON. stepped forward with an idea that, we now know today, will have a lasting impact on the University for generations to come. “The Charger Challenge,” he said. It was perfect, as it exemplified the forward-looking mindset our institution has embraced since its founding, and it embodied the challenge we have as Chargers to ensure a prosperous future that celebrates and builds on our rich history The result has been, in a word, astounding. Since the public launch of the Charger Challenge in 2016, we have raised more than $167 million, far exceeding our goal of raising $100 million in honor of our Centennial year.
In the pages that follow, you’ll see an overview of the signature successes of the campaign, including: • Creating the Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation, made possible by a leadership gift from Sam and Lois Bergami • Receiving the largest gift in the University’s history from Charles E. Pompea ’71, ’90 EMBA, his wife, Tamera, and the Pompea family, leading to the dedication of the Pompea College of Business • Fortifying the foundation for transitioning our athletics program to Division I, highlighted by the commitment of David Peterson Jr. ‘88, ‘17 HON. to fund the establishment of the Peterson Performance Center • Increasing significantly the amount of financial aid awarded to our students I would like to extend a special thank you to our Charger Challenge co-chairs Phil Bartels ’11 HON. and William Bucknall Jr. ’63, ’65, ’08 HON. and the more than 20,000 alumni and friends from across the globe who invested in our mission. All Chargers should take great pride in what we have achieved. Without a doubt, our future is bright — and filled with unlimited possibilities — because of you.
Steven H. Kaplan, Ph.D. President
BY THE NUMBERS
167
$
MILLION RAISED $
135 MILLION DONATIONS
+
$
32 MILLION
IN FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS
MORE THAN
20,000
CAMPAIGN DONORS
31 TRANSFORMATIVE GIFTS EXCEEDING $ 1 MILLION
198 GIFTS OF $
$
100,0000 OR MORE
50
MOST COMMON GIFT
Since President Kaplan came to the University in 2004:
588,679 SQ FT NEW UNIVERSITY SPACE BUILT
CELENTANO HALL (2009): 127,000 sq ft
ORANGE CAMPUS — BERGAMI AND POMPEA GRADUATE CENTER (2014): 70,000 sq ft
BARTELS STUDENT ACTIVITY CENTER (2011): 3,700 sq ft
NORTH HALL (2013): 4,800 sq ft
WESTSIDE HALL (2014): 158,679 sq ft
ONE CARE LANE (2012): 38,000 sq ft
350,000 SQ FT / (20%) OF OUR CAMPUS RENOVATED
17
NEW BACHELOR’S PROGRAMS
TUSCANY, ITALY, CAMPUS (2012): 1,200+ students have studied here since 2012
17
NEW MASTER’S PROGRAMS
81%
OF OUR FULL-TIME FACULTY WERE HIRED
BERGAMI CENTER FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND INNOVATION (2020): 45,500 sq ft
BERGAMI HALL (2012): 68,000 sq ft
DAVID A. BECKERMAN RECREATION CENTER (2007): 57,000 sq ft
JOHN AND LEONA GEHRING HALL, HENRY C. LEE INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE (2010): 16,000 sq ft Take a virtual, narrated tour of our incredible campus that highlights some of our most recent developments and celebrating a century of growth, achievement, and incredible success. Visit newhaven.edu/impact.
A Huge Thank you to our Campaign Co-Chairs
Bucknall Family Impact • The Bucknall Excellence in Teaching Award • The Bucknall Family Undergraduate Research Award • The Bucknall Family STEM Endowed Scholarship • Bucknall Theater • Constance Way, in loving memory of Bill’s mother Constance Bucknall — all of her sacrifices made it possible for her four sons to attend college • The Bucknall Family Café • In announcing his most recent gift, Bucknall asked the Board to support his request that the University rename Bayer Hall and dedicate it as Anemone and Steven Kaplan Hall in honor of President Kaplan and his wife • And more
It has been a wonderful experience watching the growth of the University of New Haven over the years, particularly since the arrival of Steve and Anemone Kaplan. The stunning improvement of the University’s facilities and physical plant and our investment in new construction has been The University is transformational. What was stronger than ever, once a commuter school is now a and our enrollment budding residential and scholarly numbers prove this, community in which students, demonstrating that faculty, and staff feel welcome and potential students now at home. We also have top-notch see the University faculty who invest a great deal of New Haven as a in the personal and academic well-being of our students and first-choice university. never tire of seeking out novel approaches to pedagogy. The William L. Bucknall, Jr. ’63, University is stronger than ever, ’65, HON. ’08 and our enrollment numbers prove this, demonstrating that potential students now see the University of New Haven as a first-choice university. Our reputation has by almost any measure seen equally significant improvement. Positive financial metrics testify to the continuing soundness of the school. The Board of Governors now comprises individuals with a broad array of backgrounds who contribute not only with their talents but also with their knowledge and advice. It has been an incredibly meaningful experience to watch the University get its first major fundraising effort off the ground — growing to achieve overwhelming success and funding new buildings, scholarships, faculty, and student academic awards — and coinciding with this special moment in the University’s history: the culmination of its Centennial year. We owe so much of this to you, our alumni, who have contributed to The Charger Challenge in record-breaking numbers, impressively underscoring the value that Charger Nation has for the University and the direction it is heading.
William L. Bucknall, Jr. ’63, ’65, HON. ’08 Campaign Co-Chair
Bartels Family Impact • Bartels Student Activity Center • Bartels Campus Center • Model United Nations program • Eight endowed scholarships, including the most recent in honor of Nancy Horton Bartels, Phil’s mother • The John Hatfield Scholars Program • The President’s Public Service Fellowship • Shoals Marine Lab Summer Internship • Bartels Employee Service Awards
In one of my first letters to readers, I wrote about just how much the University of New Haven has meant to my family. This institution has been a key part of my family’s legacy, with two generations of my family having served in a leadership capacity and been recognized for our service and our contributions, and — in the case of our third generation, my son Chris and his wife Minsung — having attended as students. After Chris and Minsung received their respective master’s degrees in 2015, I was I have continued to privileged to witness firsthand the be deeply impressed, incredible impact that a degree from particularly over the the University of New Haven can past five years or so, have on the trajectory of students’ by the quantity and lives. Simply stated, this is a firstclass institution that delivers a firstby the quality of our class education. newly hired faculty. Without question, the ongoing and very exciting transformation Philip H. Bartels HON. ’11 of the University, of which we all have been so proud, has been importantly enhanced by The Charger Challenge. As an example, I have continued to be
deeply impressed, particularly over the past five years or so, by the quantity and the quality of our newly hired faculty. Thanks in large part to funds raised via the Campaign, the University has been able to invest wisely in the lifeblood of this institution — our faculty — and thus, President Kaplan and his leadership team have been able to hire a sizable group of impressive young professors. And for me, I have had the honor and privilege of being able to work with a number of them in conjunction with various initiatives in which I have been involved at the University, and, without question, it has been an incredibly rewarding experience in each and every instance. In conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to you, our truehearted alumni, for all you’ve done to make this Campaign — and indeed, the University at large — such a remarkable and enduring success.
Philip H. Bartels HON. ’11 Campaign Co-Chair
Experience a virtual narrated tour of the Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation and hear from President Steven H. Kaplan, Ph.D., Tiara Starks ’22, and Sam and Lois Bergami. Visit newhaven.edu/impact.
The Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation THE CENTERPIECE OF THE CHARGER CHALLENGE Named in recognition of longtime University benefactors Samuel S. Bergami Jr. EMBA ‘85 HON. ‘02 and Lois Bergami, the Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation is the heart of our campus and was made possible by donations from hundreds of alumni, staff, faculty, and friends. Embodying our University-wide commitment to preparing the next generation of leaders and problem solvers to excel in the careers of the future, it features the most technologically advanced collaborative classrooms, engineering and science labs, video production studios, a makerspace, and an esports training and competition space. The facility and the area around the building were designed to foster an innovative spirit throughout our community that encourages students — from across all majors — to visit the Bergami Center to collaborate, conceive, and create.
Samuel S. Bergami Jr. EMBA ‘85, HON. ’02 and Lois Bergami
The Pompea family made the largest gift in the University’s history to dedicate the Pompea College of Business, located at the University of New Haven’s Orange Campus.
Pompea College of Business CELEBRATING THE LARGEST GIFT IN THE UNIVERSITY’S HISTORY University of New Haven alumnus Charles E. Pompea ‘71, EMBA ‘90, HON. ‘06, his wife Tamera, and the Pompea family have given the largest gift in the history of the institution to support student scholarships and the enhancement and development of several groundbreaking programs in the College of Business. In recognition of this generosity, the University has named the Pompea College of Business in their honor. “When the University asked me to support the business school, my whole We decided to give a large family felt like it would be a great thing gift, so that students who to do. We decided to give a large gift, might not be able to afford so that students who might not be able the cost of an education to afford the cost of an education could could get one. I’m proud get one. I’m proud of all the students at of all the students at the the University — and of how the whole University — and of how the campus and student body has grown. whole campus and student I think the diversity is wonderful — but body has grown. I’m particularly proud of our business students. They work so hard, and they are so happy to be there. I see how the Charles E. Pompea ’71, EMBA ’90, kids come as freshmen and leave as HON. ’06 seniors. I’m proud of having our family name on the Pompea College of Business. Hopefully, we get a lot of young entrepreneurs that come out of there. In 25 years, they could be in the same position that I’m in now.”
CHARLES E. POMPEA ’71, EMBA ’90, HON. ’06 is chair of the University of New Haven Board of Governors. The former owner of Primary Steel in Middletown, Connecticut, Pompea began as a sales representative and rose to become president and CEO. Under his leadership, Primary Steel grew into one of the top five steel plate processors in the country. A long-standing University benefactor, Pompea has contributed to the restoration of Maxcy Hall and the construction of the Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation; the Beckerman Recreation Center; and the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science. Pompea and wife Tamera joined former classmate Samuel Bergami Jr. EMBA ’85 HON. ‘02 and wife Lois in supporting the University’s purchase of its Orange campus, which was dedicated as the Bergami and Pompea Graduate Center. Most recently, the Pompea family made the largest gift in the University’s history to dedicate the Pompea College of Business. Pompea and Tamera reside in Hope Sound, Florida.
The Impact of Endowed and Annual Giving WHY THEY BOTH MATTER ENDOWED GIFTS
$
25
NEARLY
ANNUAL GIFTS
$
90
MILLION
MILLION
CAMPAIGN START
CAMPAIGN END
AVERAGE ANNUAL GIFT
$
1,529
$
CAMPAIGN START
6,439
CAMPAIGN END
ANNUAL REVENUE STREAM
PERMANENT REVENUE STREAM
SCHOLARSHIPS • PROGRAMMATIC NEEDS INTERNSHIP STIPENDS • OPERATIONAL
INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE
$
GIFTS OF ALL SIZES
A FUND NAMED IN PERPETUITY FOR YOU OR A LOVED ONE
MOST COMMON CAMPAIGN GIFT
10, 25, $ or 2,500 $
SCHOLARSHIPS • PROFESSORSHIPS DEANSHIPS
50
$
YOUR GIFT IS PUT TO WORK IMMEDIATELY
MAKE AN IMPACT
OUR LOYAL ENGAGED ANNUAL DONORS (LEAD) SOCIETY RECOGNIZES ANNUAL CONSECUTIVE DONORS OF 3+ YEARS
AS AN INSTITUTION GROWS, SO DOES THE NEED FOR ENDOWMENT
ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS
$
20,000 PAYABLE OVER MULTIPLE YEARS
+
AN ANNUAL LEADERSHIP GIFT OF
A MONTHLY GIFT OF
$
84
=
$
1,000+
Campaign Success CAMPAIGN GOAL
110
100 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 100 YEARS
EXCEEDED
NEW ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS
95%
$
17,538
FULL-TIME
AVERAGE AMOUNT OF MERIT
STUDENTS RECEIVED FINANCIAL AID
AND NEED-BASED AID AWARDED BY THE UNIVERSITY
DURING THE PANDEMIC The University increased its financial aid by more than $12 million, or 13.24%, from a year ago, in an effort to lower the cost. This year, we provided more than
$
240 DONORS RAISED
$
100 MILLION
TO SUPPORT COVID EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR STUDENTS
IN GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
CENTENNIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
CREATED IN RECOGNITION OF OUR CENTENNIAL YEAR
74,000
NEW SCHOLARSHIP
$
MADE POSSIBLE BY HUNDREDS OF SUPPORTERS
1,208
150,000
SUPPORTERS
AWARDED TO DATE
28
STUDENTS IMPACTED
The Peterson Performance Center A SYMBOL FOR THE FUTURE OF CHARGER ATHLETICS #ChargeOn, The Campaign for Charger Athletics, addresses the most urgent needs expressed by our Charger studentathletes and coaches: facility upgrades. The Peterson Performance Center, which will include a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning facility, athletic training space, football locker room, and additional student-athlete-focused spaces, will also allow for further renovations to team locker rooms within Charger Gym. “The #ChargeOn campaign represents the next step in the storied success of Charger Athletics,” says Sheahon Zenger, Director of Athletics. “The Peterson Performance Center and other facility upgrades will significantly enhance the studentathlete experience and provide us with competitive training advantages as we transition to NCAA Division I competition.”
The greatest gift of all is knowing I had a positive impact on someone.
David Peterson Jr. ’88, HON. ’17
In my nearly two decades as president, I have seen time and again that a University of New Haven education creates countless opportunities none of us can foresee. It’s a matter of letting the magic happen. And I for one can’t wait to see what’s next. Steven H. Kaplan, Ph.D. President
Office of Advancement 300 Boston Post Road West Haven, CT 06516 www.newhaven.edu/support
A spectacular monument years in the making, the University of New Haven’s new Charger Statue was officially installed during our Centennial Year. Funded through donations from the Alumni Association specifically for this initiative, the Charger Statue was conceived as a symbol of the power, resilience, and enduring strength of the University community.