Approximately 100 school, mental health, and community leaders from across the state gathered at the University of Connecticut campus in Storrs on Wednesday, May 24, to discuss childhood trauma and the impact it can have on a child’s education, as well as possible strategies for responding to children who have experienced trauma or have behavioral health issues.

Kristi Kappael, now a doctoral student in the Neag School’s Learning, Leadership, and Educational Policy program with a concentration in adult learning, shares the story of her journey — from high school dropout to aspiring educator.

Stemming from the Thomas J. Dodd Center’s human rights education initiative, a new partnership was established between University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education, the Upstander Project, and the Mashantucket Pequot Museum. The partnership is called the Upstander Academy, which formally came together last year as a way to practice outreach and human rights education with the community.

Four-time Neag School alumnus Miguel A. Cardona ’01 MA, ’04 6th Year, ’11 Ed.D., ’12 ELP is the assistant superintendent for teaching and learning at Meriden Public Schools in Meriden, Conn. Here, he takes part in the Neag School’s “10 Questions” series.

In the wake of this past fall’s landmark Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding v. Rell court ruling, UConn’s Neag School of Education brought together individuals from across the state of Connecticut for a daylong summit dedicated to exploring special education issues.

The following excerpt — which features Neag School Class of 2017 music education major Jamie Wisset — originally appeared on UConn Today as part of a larger piece on Commencement 2017.

The Neag School’s Class of 2017 graduates and their guests joined faculty, staff, and administrators this past weekend in celebration of Commencement Weekend, held on the UConn Storrs campus.

Professor Sandra M. Chafouleas in the Neag School’s Department of Educational Psychology has been named a University of Connecticut Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor — the highest honor that the university bestows on faculty who have demonstrated excellence in scholarship, teaching, and service.