UConn Startup Unlocking the Promise of Hemp

February 3, 2021

UConn Today – A lawyer and a chemist get on a plane. This isn’t the start of a corny joke, but of a successful startup.

University of Connecticut chemistry professor Greg Sotzing met attorney Peter Belsito on an airplane coming back to Connecticut from Atlanta. They soon realized they had a common interest: cannabis. During their flight, they discussed Sotzing’s innovative research related to cannabis and its business potential.

We Can Get Vaccines To People Faster: A Supply Chain Management Perspective

February 1, 2021

UConn Today – Last year, when the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths continued to climb, we put our hopes on the development of vaccines. When the good news came about the efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines in November – practically medical miracles developed in record time – we believed we could soon vaccinate our way out of this crisis, and reach the herd immunity needed to get life back to normal.Continue Reading

Finance Experts, Rookies Watch Cautiously As Reddit Users Snap Up GameStop Stock

January 29, 2021

UConn Today – When adjunct finance professor Jeffrey Annello ’10 (BUS) met with his students Wednesday night, everyone wanted to talk about GameStop stock, which had soared more than 17-fold in the previous two weeks.

Spurred on by a Reddit message board, small investors snapped up shares of the retailer, spurring an investment frenzy. But what was the logic behind it? GameStop has been floundering, with only one profitable quarter in the last six. Gamers have been skipping brick-and-mortar stores and purchasing entertainment online.Continue Reading

MSBAPM Students ‘Awash’ in Knowledge After Completing Capstone Project For Henkel

January 26, 2021

Father and son washing clothes in washing machine
(istockphoto.com)

Creating a great laundry detergent is just the first step in conquering the household cleaning market.

That’s one of the concepts that UConn MSBAPM students learned during their capstone-class project last month. Their task? Providing data, customer insight, and e-commerce support to Henkel, which markets a wide range of well-known consumer and industrial brands in North America, including Persil®, Purex®, and all® laundry detergents and Snuggle® fabric softeners.Continue Reading

Business Professor Wins $2.5 Million Fantasy Football Jackpot Using the Concepts He Teaches Students

January 14, 2021

UConn Today – UConn School of Business professor David Bergman won $2.5 million this week in a fantasy football competition by using some of the data analytics knowledge and techniques he teaches students.

“I’m just shocked by the whole thing, but it’s very exciting,’’ says Bergman, who has been a faculty member in the operations and information management (OPIM) department for seven years. “I’ve played fantasy sports since I was in college and it’s such a fun hobby.’’Continue Reading

The Power of Words vs. Indifference

January 8, 2021

Thursday morning the weekly meeting of the Deans of UConn’s Schools and Colleges was narrowly focused on the previous day’s events in Washington, DC, when thugs invaded and desecrated the United States Capitol. From our own academic perspectives, we reflected upon our shared responsibilities to nourish critical thinking among our colleagues and students; to defend the rule of law in civil society; and to continue to make UConn a welcoming home to the exchange of ideas. I reaffirm those principles on behalf of the School of Business. Continue Reading

Alum Who Created ‘Merican Mule Cocktail Company Has Plenty to Celebrate

January 7, 2021

UConn Today -Sales of ‘Merican Mule premium cocktail have skyrocketed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, fueling the good spirits of its UConn alumnus co-founder.

“Sales have been shot out of a cannon,’’ says Dean Mahoney ’09 (BUS). “The pandemic posed challenges to people who typically went to bars and restaurants. They wanted a quality cocktail at home, so they shifted their search to liquor stores.Continue Reading

Professor Emerita Susan Spiggle Gives Large Gift to PhD Program

January 4, 2021

Professor Emerita Susan Spiggle, pictured above, teaches a course in 2018.  Spiggle recently made a generous donation to the School of Business. (Contributed Photo)
Professor Emerita Susan Spiggle, pictured above, teaches a course in 2018. Spiggle recently made a generous donation to the School of Business. (Contributed Photo)

For novice writers, it is often difficult to accept constructive criticism and develop a willingness to edit and repeatedly revise their work.

Overcoming that reluctance is essential for Ph.D. students who plan to become professors, because their careers hinge on their ability to clearly define their research and present it in a concise and appealing way to editors at top academic journals.

“For future faculty members, being able to write is their bread and butter,” said Professor Emerita Susan Spiggle. “You can have all the best data in the world but if you can’t write clearly and define the importance of your work, it really doesn’t matter at all.”Continue Reading