Category: Alumni


Read stories about Neag School of Education alumni.


UConn Magazine: Bleeding Blue … and Green

March 24, 2023

“On my way to school when I was younger, I used to pick up the newspaper Metro Boston at the local train station or at Dunkin’, flip to the sports section, and clip out pictures of the Celtics players like Ray Allen to use as a bookmark,” says Wura Olusekun ’16 MS. “Sports and education have really been the two foundations of my life.” Now manager of community engagement for the National Basketball Association’s Boston Celtics, Olusekun works for the same team whose players’ photos used to mark which chapter she’d just read.



Neag Awards Their Alumni

March 22, 2023

This month, the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education awarded alumni for their work in the field.

For the past 25 years, Neag has given out eight awards, with the recipients being chosen by the school’s alumni board. Categories which the awards fall under include outstanding school educator, outstanding school administrator, outstanding diversity equity and inclusion professional and more.


‘Playing it Out’: LGBT Issues in Sport

February 16, 2023

Whether it’s the MLB, NFL, or NHL, the world of sports has been cast as a hypermasculine, hypercompetitive environment. While this atmosphere may build toughness and encourage physical fitness, its acceptance toward athletes who identify with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community is still in need of practice.


From Math Instructor to Administrator, Neag School Alumna Named National Principal of the Year

February 10, 2023

Current principal at Haddam-Killingworth High School in Haddam, Connecticut, Donna Hayward, was named the 2023 National Principle of the Year by the Association of Secondary Principles in November, according to UConn Today. “I can’t remember the last 20 years a Connecticut principal won a national award,” Jeffery Wihbey, Superintendent of Regional School District 17 of Connecticut, said. Wihbey said there have been a lot of positive things revolving around her due to her accomplishment and mentioned that there was a lot of positivity surrounding the event as well.


Canton Welcomes Jordan Grossman Home as Superintendent of Schools

January 30, 2023

A roomful of teachers, students and parents applauded as the announcement was made that Jordan Grossman will make a return to Canton as its next superintendent of schools. The announcement came at a special meeting of the Canton Board of Education. Grossman served as assistant principal at Canton High School, as principal of Canton Intermediate School, and as both an assistant superintendent and acting superintendent in Canton, and has been Granby’s superintendent of schools for the past three years. He will begin his new role July 1.


Neag School Accolades: January 2023

January 27, 2023

Throughout the academic year, the Neag School is proud to share the latest achievements of its faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Explore their most recent promotions, awards, retirements, publications, and more: Dean’s Office Department of Curriculum and Instruction and Teacher Education Department of Educational Leadership Department of Educational Psychology Faculty/Staff Students Alumni In Memoriam Dean’s Office […]



The Power of Puppets: New Toolkit Helps Kids Process “Heavy Feelings”

January 9, 2023

Emily Wicks with UConn’s Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry noticed the pandemic-era disruptions to kids’ social-emotional learning and development, and reached out to Sandy Chafouleas at the university’s Neag School of Education. Together they developed Feel Your Best Self, a puppet-centered program aimed at helping “strengthen the emotional well-being of elementary-aged children.”