Thanks to the Initiative on Campus Dialogues (ICD) Fellowship Program at UConn, members of the Neag School community are engaging in projects focused on expanding productive dialogue within and beyond the University community.

Jenna Karvelis ’20 (ED), ’21 MA and Ajane Santora-Fyne ’20 (ED), ’21 MA, both students in the Neag School Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s Program, have been named the recipients of the Neag School of Education Alumni Board Scholarship for 2020.

This past fall, students in the Neag School’s Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) graduate program have been publishing op-eds in the Hartford Courant on topics related to higher education administration.

“The expansion of college campuses into urban areas contributes to the issue of gentrification, as colleges and universities have the ability to impact the socio-cultural landscapes of the communities they choose to inhabit,” says Santana Mowbray, a graduate student in the Higher Education and Student Affairs program.

“In order to reach the goal of a more diverse student population that is equitably served, it’s not enough to offer admission to a more diverse range of students — they must also be provided a network of programs and resources that supports their needs,” says Kailee Himes.

As a first-generation college student from a low-income background, I did not have access to mental health treatment until I went to college. I struggled immensely my whole first year, and I decided to try the counseling center because the resident assistant on my floor recommended it to me.

Meet pre-service teacher Tamashi Hettiarachchi. She shares with us her experiences & resources she finds helpful in learning how to teach NGSS. Her passion and energy is contagious

Even though suicide is the second-most common cause of death among college students — 1,000 students take their lives each year on college campuses — universities haven’t found the right solutions to their students’ mental health problems.

It was spring of my first year of graduate school. The days were getting longer, yet I found myself less able to get myself out of bed. I spent the hours in my assistantship on edge, taking bathroom breaks to keep myself from crying. In class, I could not focus as my throat tightened around what felt like a rock. At home, I barely had time to do anything beyond coursework.

I was tired in my body and soul. I hit my breaking point when the idea of driving back to campus one day made me sob uncontrollably.

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.