Recently, UConn Today spoke with Eli Wolff, Neag School of Education Sport Management instructor and sport and human rights expert. Wolff offers his perspective on how and why athletes are being silenced, what they can do to combat this, and ultimately, what needs to shift to allow athletes to perform their job, but also exercise their right to free expression.

Congratulations to our Neag School alumni, faculty, staff, and students on their continued accomplishments inside and outside the classroom. If you have an accolade to share, we want to hear from you! Please send any news items and story ideas to neag-communications@uconn.edu. In addition to the Dean’s Office and Department achievements, explore this edition’s Accolades from the following: Faculty/Staff; Alumni; Students; as well as In Memoriam.

The Neag School of Education and its Alumni Board are delighted to announce the 2022 Neag School Alumni Awards honorees. Eight outstanding graduates will be formally recognized at the School’s 24th annual Alumni Awards Celebration on Saturday, March 12, 2022.

“As a former school board member – and as a researcher who studies educational leadership and policy – I find it worrisome when polarizing issues generate so much attention from candidates,” says Casey Cobb, Neag Professor of Educational Policy at the Neag School of Education. “The reason I worry is that I know from firsthand experience that being an effective school board member is never just about taking a stance on a few hot-button topics. Rather, it’s about much broader issues, such as meeting the educational needs of all students in the school district.”

West Hartford Public Schools Superintendent Tom Moore announced Wednesday that Conard Principal Julio Duarte will be taking over as director of Human Resources, while Jamahl Hines will become Conard principal and Jocelyn Tamborello-Noble will move into an assistant principal role.

“School assignments that a student is expected to do outside of the regular school day—that’s homework,” says Sandra Chafouleas, a UConn Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Educational Psychology. “The general guideline is 10 minutes of nightly homework per grade level beginning after kindergarten. This amounts to just a few minutes for younger elementary students to up to 2 hours for high school students.”

The Middlesex United Way is pleased to present the Community Service Award to Patricia Charles. This honors volunteer service to the agency, considering length and continuity of service. It is the highest and most prestigious honor for a United Way volunteer.

Students who are both academically talented and also on the autism spectrum can enjoy greater success in college based on the correct high school experience. That’s the finding of research performed by a UConn team in the Neag School of Education and published in a recent issue of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Two UConn students have been chosen as the 2022 Alma Exley Scholars. They are Saraya Lewis, a junior majoring in secondary English education, and Tamashi Hettiarachchi, who is pursuing a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. She majored in chemistry education as an undergraduate at UConn. The program was able to offer two scholarships this year because of the growth of the endowment at the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain. The growth was achieved thanks to substantial contributions as well as solid investment gains.

“Whenever and however you celebrate, having a holiday season is important for wellbeing,” says UConn Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor Sandra Chafouleas. “Holidays set aside time for relaxation, reflection and reliable traditions — a trio that has become increasingly important as the world has gotten more chaotic and less predictable. Whether you approach them from a spiritual, social or cultural perspective, celebrating holidays can offer a ‘super big dose’ of positive emotions like joy, gratitude, serenity, hope, pride and love.