UConn Today – Adam DeJulius ’09, MBA ‘20 has only been CEO and President of Miller Foods for eight months, but it is a job he’s been preparing for his entire life.
Miller Foods is a family-owned, fourth-generation business in Avon, Conn., founded in 1950 by his great-grandparents, fondly known as Oma and Pa. DeJulius was immersed in the business from an early age, working alongside his family carving turkeys during the family’s annual pre-Thanksgiving turkey sale.
UConn Today – The first time Sarah Macary Brine took a seat at HOB Industries, she was 6 or 7 years old and her feet didn’t reach the floor from her chair at the reception desk.
“My dad would sometimes bring us in on weekends, and I have fond memories of spending a portion of some Saturdays drawing pictures and stringing paper clips together for hours,’’ Brine said. “Patti, our receptionist, always knew when we had been in the building, because she spent her first half hour on Monday unclipping that paper-clip chain!’’
As a high school student, Alli Selman ’26 (MS) took a trip to Tanzania where she volunteered at a Baby Home and Mothering Center that assisted single mothers in creating a better life.
Most of the clients enrolled in the Mothers Against Poverty program had husbands who had died or abandoned them. The program gave the women the resources to create self-sustaining small businesses that served the community while making money to support their families.
The businesses were as unique as their owners, ranging from a hairdressing business to a fresh-juice dispensary.
“I was so impressed by the women I met, and the way that their businesses empowered them to contribute to their communities, and changed their lives for the better,” Selman said. “I thought, ‘Wow! This is really awesome!’ and that enthusiasm has never left me.”
Selman recently graduated from UConn with a master’s degree in Social Responsibility & Impact in Business. The program advanced her interest in business as a vehicle for good.
A resident of the Greater Dallas area, Selman appreciated the online format of the UConn program, which allowed her to continue working full-time as a legal assistant while also taking up to four classes per semester. She was able to complete her master’s degree in one year.
“It was very tough at times,” she said. “The rest of my life took a step aside for a year. My focus was all on work and school.”
Despite living 1,600 miles away, Selman felt connected to the program by attending three in-person course weekends, which allowed her to make friends, work on group projects, meet professors and program leaders, and feel well-connected to UConn. Arminda Kamphausen, program manager, even gave her a tour of Hartford.
Selman found UConn’s program while searching for master’s degrees online. She applied to and was accepted into a number of business- sustainability programs. UConn stood out academically, and she also liked its online format, which allowed her to keep working full-time while attending school.
“A master’s is a big commitment, and I wanted to dedicate the time and effort to it,” she said. “I was able to live at home and cut down on expenses and other stressors. Even though I’ve always been a good student, a master’s degree program is a whole new beast! I would recommend this program to everyone.”
“The professors were great and so knowledgeable, and my classmates were so kind,” she said. “The advisers made it very manageable and were in constant communication, even if it was just a check-in by email. Just knowing I had the support and a team behind me that wanted me to do well, pushed me to succeed.”
Kamphausen said that Selman had the drive and initiative necessary for a sustainability career, but needed the tools and confidence to take the next step.
“Alli brought a wonderful energy and unique perspective to the cohort,” she said. “I’m certain that she’s going to have a tremendous impact during her career, and we look forward to her success.”
Selman said she enjoyed all aspects of the sustainability program, but found the skills she learned about corporate sustainability reporting the most valuable.
“As I’m looking at job postings, I can confidently say, ‘I have a solid foundation in this,'” she said. “Everyone believes that good business practices are valuable, but through this program I learned how to document them. I can confidently explain that responsible business choices are appealing to both customers and investors.”
Selman earned two bachelor’s degrees at Belmont University, one in social entrepreneurship, the other in faith and social justice. She said her undergraduate degrees sharpened her moral compass and revealed how ethics and morality play into business.
“The UConn program allowed me to see that in practice—especially the sustainability side, which I had little knowledge of when I came in,” she said. “The ‘Global Issues in Marketing for Social Impact’ class taught me to analyze different sustainability reports and understand if a company is meeting its goals and communicating its success efficiently and honestly.”
Selman, who has worked as a legal assistant since 2022, also earned a certificate in corporate regulatory compliance from the UConn School of Law.
“Another thread connecting my education and my experience is that I’ve learned a great deal about compliance practices and adhering to the laws. I know the legal jargon, how to write a legal document, the ins-and-outs of case management. They are all skills that I think will be helpful in my career,” she said.
Selman is pursuing roles in corporate sustainability, human rights, or social impact. She plans to cast a wide net initially and then fine-tune her interests.
“Across the years, my interest has surrounded the theme of impact and trying to positively effect and help others,” she said. “I’m excited to find my niche.”
Congratulations to School of Business alumnus and Hall of Fame inductee Richard Eldh ’81 who has been appointed CEO and President of the UConn Foundation, the fundraising arm of the university.
In his new role, Eldh will oversee the “Because of UConn’’ fundraising campaign, which has raised more than $900 million, at a time when philanthropic investment is critically important to the success of all universities.
Eldh is an entrepreneur, business leader and investor. He is known for his work in B2B research, advisory services, and philanthropy. Formerly an officer at Gartner, a leading technology research and advisory firm based in Stamford, Conn., he also co-founded and served as co-CEO of SiriusDecisions, Inc., which catered to major corporate clients such as Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Cisco, and Salesforce.
A graduate of the school of Business, where he majored in finance, Eldh recently served on the UConn Foundation Board of Directors. He and his wife, Joyce Eldh, have generously supported student scholarships. He was also an early supporter of Hillside Ventures, an experiential-learning course in venture capital at UConn. Eldh was the 2025 commencement speaker for the School of Business, where he emphasized servant leadership, respect, hard work, and creating environments in which others can thrive.
UConn Today – In one of the most harrowing descriptions in his new book, two-time alum George Aldo Barrios ’87 (CLAS) ’89 MBA, a transformative business strategist and former co-President of WWE, recounted a trip to Saudia Arabia to close an important deal to bring wrestling entertainment to the kingdom.
The company was in the home stretch of the deal when journalist Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, in October 2018. His death was believed to be at the behest of the Saudi Crown Prince. Everyone at WWE was nervous about moving forward.
UConn Today – Junior Christian Bonvisuto ’27, said one of the experiences that got him interested in a career in wealth management was attending client meetings.
“What I think is so rewarding is that so much of the business is relationship building,’’ said Bonvisuto, a finance major. “Seventy percent of the job is getting to know people’s personal values and finding out what’s important to them, and then developing a trusting relationship. I loved it! I enjoy people, so I think it is potentially a good match for me.’’
UConn Today – Antonietta ‘Toni’ Boucher, the First Selectman of Wilton, a former corporate executive, and a 22-year leader in the Connecticut legislature, looked at the sea of soon-to-be graduates on Saturday, and smiled with tremendous pride.
UConn Today – Nicholas Morizio ’74 (BUS), a prominent commercial real estate broker in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts, has given $1 million to the UConn Real Estate program to establish new student scholarships.
It is the largest gift from an individual that the program has received in its 41-year history, and comes during the UConn Foundation’s record-breaking Because of UConn campaign, which aims to raise $1.5 billion in gifts and donations.
UConn Today – When David Abeles ‘93 (BUS) became president and CEO of TaylorMade Golf 12 years ago, the company wasn’t the $2 billion equipment and apparel powerhouse that it is today.
Under Abeles’ leadership, TaylorMade has grown from a well-liked golf equipment brand to one of the most dominant and marketing-savvy companies in the world, led by its product innovation and the influence of prominent professional golfers, including Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler.
UConn Today – rowing up in Connecticut surrounded by Husky pride, Julia Ghagare knew the UConn School of Business would be a perfect fit. In her time as a marketing major, Ghagare was surprised by the strong sense of connection she has experienced on the seemingly enormous campus of UConn Storrs. While participating in different groups, including serving as president of UConn Women in Business and outreach chair of marketing strategy for SUBOG, Ghagare has grown as a student and a leader. These experiences have all helped prepare her for the next chapter – a position in the marketing development program with Nestlé.