UConn Today – After studying and working in Germany for a year, Michelle Buerkler ’24 (BUS) found herself in high demand in the job market. Potential employers were impressed by her willingness to take a risk, become fluent in German, and immerse herself in a new culture far from home.
Author: Claire Hall
Rich and Joyce Eldh: ‘We Can Do More For These Young Adults’
Couple Provide Scholarships, Friendship, Encouragement to UConn Students
Alumnus Rich Eldh ’81 and wife Joyce Eldh will fund scholarships this year that will enable 13 students from Bridgeport to attend UConn. The couple will cover all tuition, not funded by scholarships or grants, as well as room, board, and spending money.
But beyond their financial gift, the Westport, Conn., couple is tremendously invested in those students’ careers and wellbeing.
They’ve taken their student-scholars bowling and out to lunch, invited them to be their guests at the School of Business’ Hall of Fame dinner while encouraging them to network with some powerful alumni, helped them with their LinkedIn profiles and thank-you notes—and even offered advice on what necktie would look best for a job interview. Continue Reading
Entrepreneur, Gender-Equity Advocate to Discuss How Women Can Move from the Sidelines to the C-Suite
UConn Today – Any company that strives to be profitable and successful needs to include women and other diverse representatives in its leadership. Yet even in the most forward-focused organizations, women may still face obstacles to inclusion.
Sameer Somal, a tech entrepreneur and the co-founder of Girl Power Talk and Girl Power USA, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping you women become leaders in business and society, will share his experiences and perspective on empowering women during the next Equity Now presentation on Nov. 19. The event is sponsored by School of Business.
OPIM Professor Chen Wins Prestigious Early-Career Award
UConn Today – OPIM professor Wei Chen, a champion of Connecticut companies learning to integrate generative AI into their businesses, has received a prestigious, national early-career award.
Three UConn Business Students/Alums Helped Shape Network News, Entertainment Industry This Year
UConn Today – Business student Emily Laput ’26 (CLAS) created her own marketing and consulting firm when she was in high school. That impressed interviewers at NBC Universal in New York City, and helped her capture a coveted summer internship.
Across the city, recent alum Peter Spinelli ’24 (BUS, CLAS), is working as a production intern at ABC News. He is passionate about increasing the percentage of Gen Z adults who watch TV news.
Patagonia’s Ethics Expert to Talk About Building Trust in Business
UConn Today – The School of Business’ 2024-25 Equity Now Speaker Series will kickoff this month with a presentation by Lauren Cleary, an ethics and compliance professional at Patagonia, the popular outdoor equipment and apparel brand.
Camaraderie, Enthusiasm Punctuate Wolff New Venture Competition
UConn Today – A novel treatment for long-term pain management that could revolutionize post-operative care and eliminate the need for opioids for many, won the first-place, $30,000 grand prize at the Wolff New Venture Competition last week.
Professors and esteemed UConn Health researchers Lakshmi Nair, Ph.D. and Yusuf Khan, Ph.D. say they were both surprised and thrilled that their startup, Soleia Biosciences, received the award. With the financial and business support they’ve received, they hope to advance the treatment that has been in development for 10 years.
MSA Marks 25th Anniversary with Celebration on Oct. 17
UConn Today – The MSA program is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, a significant milestone for the trailblazing program that consistently ranks among the best in the nation.
“I wish I could take the spirit, the energy, and the interaction that occurs in this program, bottle it and present it to potential students,’’ said accounting professor Steve Pedneault, who owns a forensic accounting firm and has been teaching in the program since 2007. “If they knew how special it is here, they would all come to UConn.’’
UConn Alumni, Car Fanatics Creating Marketplace for Second-Hand Auto Parts
UConn Today – When they were college students at UConn, Kyle Mayers ’13 (BUS) and Wally Namane ’13 (BUS), ’18 MBA both drove identical older, red BMW coupes. Friends used to confuse them as they zipped around campus, until one of them finally connected the two men on Facebook.
Mayers and Namane had a great deal in common. They were both ambitious, both car enthusiasts, both first-generation college students.
Medical Startup Soleia Biosciences Aims to Eliminate Severe Pain–Without the Opioids
UConn Today – Surgeons perform almost 800,000 total-knee replacements, and more than a half-million hip replacements, in the United States each year.
And while those procedures are typically life- and mobility-enhancing, the initial post-surgical pain can be very unpleasant for some patients. Opioids remain among the most popular prescription medication to combat orthopedic post-surgical pain, but two UConn Health faculty members think they’ve found a better solution.