UConn Today – Each year, the Provost’s Awards for Excellence in Community-Engaged Scholarship (PAECES) recognize the outstanding contributions of faculty, staff, students, teams, and community partners who collaboratively address critical societal challenges through the creative and reciprocal exchange of knowledge and resources.
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Their Final Class Project? A Beer-Tasting Showdown
UConn Today – A friendly competition between two teams of UConn student brewers ended with one victor – but with everyone who got a chance to sample both beers a winner.
The UConn Brewing Innovation initiative – a multidisciplinary hub that partners the College of Engineering, School of Business, and College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources – has been showing students how the beer brewing process works from the ground up since 2023, in collaboration with Connecticut breweries.
Meet the Graduate: MBA Candidate Marc Massicotte
UConn Today – Marc Massicotte says he was nervous about going back to school after 20 years: Would he be able to balance it all, he wondered.
“The students and teachers created an environment that made it easy to acclimate and succeed in the classroom,” he says.
And after plugging away in the School of Business Flex MBA Program, he’s graduating, and planning – perhaps ironically – to continue on in law school.
Meet the Graduate: Finance major Julianna Cushner
UConn Today – Julianna Cushner comes from a long line of UConn graduates, and during her college search, she thought she might opt for a small, business-centric school. But once she toured the Storrs campus, she knew she wanted to continue the family tradition. Cushner has been involved in a number of activities, many of them centered around finance and investments. She is headed to the banking world of New York City following graduation and knows that the UConn network of alumni will be a benefit to her.
UConn Launches Largest Campaign in University History
UConn Today – The University of Connecticut announced Thursday that it has raised more than $720 million in a $1.5 billion fundraising campaign, the most ambitious in the University’s history.
UConn President Radenka Maric unveiled the campaign at a kickoff event on Wednesday, April 23 at UConn Avery Point. “This ambitious campaign is fully aligned with a strategic plan that will lead the way to a bigger, brighter, bolder UConn,” says Maric. “It supports students to help them excel in the classroom and post-graduation. ‘Because of UConn‘ elevates our academic standing and fuels groundbreaking research that moves Connecticut and the world forward. It asks our donors and alumni to invest in a healthier world and our continued excellence in D1 sports.”
UConn Graduate Programs Ranked Among the Best in the Nation
UConn Today – The University of Connecticut offers graduate programs across a wide variety of fields and disciplines that rank among the very best in the United States, according to rankings released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.
“We are proud to see our graduate programs recognized among the nation’s best in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings,” says Provost and Chief Academic Officer Anne D’Alleva. “This achievement reflects the exceptional dedication of our faculty, the talent of our students, and our continued investment in graduate education.”
2025 HoF Student Honoree – Arianna Landesbaum
Earning a place in the 2025 Student Hall of Fame is a prestigious honor, one that Arianna Landesbaum has rightfully achieved.
Established in 1993, the UConn School of Business Hall of Fame recognizes alumni and current students who have demonstrated exceptional career success, industry contributions, and community engagement. Arianna embodies these qualities, making her selection as a Student Hall of Fame Fellow a well-earned recognition of her dedication.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Analytics and Information Management in just three years, Arianna is now pursuing a master’s degree in Social Responsibility & Impact in Business. She views this achievement as both an “honor and a blessing,” crediting her success to the unwavering support of her family, professors, mentors, and peers. Throughout her time at UConn, she actively sought to make a difference through leadership, service, and academics, and now, her contributions are being officially recognized.
Arianna’s selection in this highly competitive process stems from her exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to social impact. As the former Vice President of Philanthropy for Alpha Chi Omega and an active participant in HuskyTHON, she left a profound mark on the UConn community. Her role in Alpha Chi Omega was particularly defining. She spearheaded efforts to raise awareness for domestic violence through initiatives such as “Walk a Mile.” Under her leadership, the event raised a record-breaking amount for the chapter and provided a platform for survivors to share their stories. Similarly, as a HuskyTHON leader, she helped her team set a new fundraising record for Alpha Chi Omega, raising over $42,000 for Connecticut Children’s Hospital. These experiences reinforced her belief that true leadership is about service, passion, and lasting change.
Arianna’s decision to pursue a master’s degree is driven by her passion for marketing, deep interest in business law, and lifelong commitment to philanthropy. She believes businesses have both the power and responsibility to drive positive change, not just through philanthropy but by embedding ethical practices into operations, marketing, and governance.
In her interview Arianna stated “This degree has shaped my professional goals by showing me that success in business isn’t just about financial growth. It is about making a meaningful difference in the world,”. This sentiment echoes Mahatma Gandhi’s words: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Arianna has embodied this philosophy throughout her journey.
Her success is rooted in authenticity, a value instilled by her mother, who always reminded her, “Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.” She firmly believes that embracing one’s unique values, characteristics, and perspectives are key to making a meaningful impact. Her advice to students is simple: “Believe in yourself and pursue your goals with confidence.”
With her unwavering dedication and vision, Arianna Landesbaum has left an enduring legacy at UConn, and her impact on the world is only just beginning.
UConn Students Meet with Wall Street Leaders
UConn Today – The UConn Finance Society hosted its 9th Annual Finance Conference March 28 at Morgan Stanley headquarters in Manhattan. Wall Street leaders joined business students and alumni to discuss trends in equities, dealmaking, and how to start a career in the sector.
Managers Can Help Their Gen Z Employees Unlock the Power of Meaningful Work − Here’s How
UConn Today – Finding fulfilling and motivating work is a challenge for many people, but it can be especially difficult for those just starting their careers. And as Generation Z professionals – those born between 1997 and 2012 – increasingly seek personalized career paths, managers are tasked with helping employees find meaning in their roles while also meeting organizational goals.
UConn’s Financial Literacy Course for High Schoolers Expands Our Mission to Serve the Next Generation of Business Students
At the School of Business, our main mission is to prepare our college students to begin or grow their careers and differentiate themselves in the workforce. But it isn’t our exclusive goal.
We also work with Connecticut high schools to ensure that our state’s aspiring youth have the foundation that they need to meet their business and financial goals, as well.
One of the programs I’m most excited about is the School of Business’ Financial Literacy Innovation Program, known as FLIP. The program began in 2019, serving just 20 students. This semester, it drew 140 students to Storrs on Saturdays to learn about financial decision making. The plan is to expand the program to Stamford starting in spring 2025.
The program began with the realization that many high school students were lacking financial knowledge, a problem that could easily derail their futures. Spurred on by the enthusiasm and generosity of our alumni, we welcomed several high schools to participate in the original program. Since then, it has continued to grow.
This year we’ve extended the program from just a spring offering to both spring and fall. We were able to serve some 280 students from more than nine high schools, including Bloomfield, Bristol, Hartford, Windham and Vernon.
One of the highlights of the program is that these high school juniors and seniors are being mentored by UConn business students, who can explain the real-world financial decisions that they make as college students living on limited budgets. Beyond that, they discuss everything from borrowing money to paying taxes to the cost of rent. They also talk about the cost of higher education and the return on investment, as well as the opportunity to start a business at an early age. All these lessons are extremely valuable, but more impactful when delivered by an older peer.
FLIP also introduces high school students to the experience of being on a college campus, something of particular benefit to first-generation students for whom this experience is very new.
Professor Nora Madjar, our associate dean for undergraduate programs, has been deeply invested in FLIP and recognizes the success of the program.
“These high schoolers are now more knowledgeable about bank accounts, credit cards, credit scores and taxes,’’ Nora said. “They are in a great position to manage their finances, and we ask them to share that knowledge with their family and friends as a way to ‘pay it forward.’ ’’
In the School of Business, we want to ensure that the students who come to us do so with eyes wide open and are fully prepared for the next two- to four- years of their growth and education. The FLIP program contributes to that readiness, and we know it makes a difference in the ultimate success of our graduates.
We appreciate the help and support of so many of our alumni and friends in executing this program and ensuring that our high school students are aware of the opportunities that await them.
