UConn Today – Tucked inside a small laboratory at UConn’s Technology Incubation Program (TIP) in Farmington, Conn., Nicole Wagner is trying to cure vision impairment and blindness for more than 30 million people worldwide.
CCEI
Students Prepare Almost 800 Tax Returns—For Free

VITA Volunteers Eliminate Frustration, Expense of Taxes
Yvette Eley, a native of the United Kingdom, had to file U.S. taxes for the first time this year and just the thought of it was daunting.
Eley, a post-doctoral fellow in geosciences, turned to UConn’s Voluntary Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), which helped her prepare her return for free. Adjunct faculty member Leanne Adams spearheads the program. Continue Reading
Unique, Creative Startups Win $30,000
Innovation Quest Tops Participation Record; Winners Present Vastly Different, Creative Startup Ideas
The winners of this year’s Innovation Quest (iQ) competition had a unique set of people to credit for inspiring their success, including:
- A friend with a teddy bear tattoo, emblazoned with his ex-girlfriend’s name;
- A waitress who was trying to handle a mad-house of customers during a blizzard, when the rest of the wait staff didn’t show up;
- A little brother who leaves his EpiPen home because it is too bulky to carry;
- Americans who have very polarized beliefs about political events, depending on which news source they follow.
‘Like Building an Airplane in Mid-Flight’

UConn’s Mike Zacchea Describes Many Challenges He Faced as First U.S. Military Adviser to New Iraqi Army
In his new book, “The Ragged Edge,” set for release on April 1, U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Michael Zacchea ’12 MBA shares the staggering hardships and unique challenges of the U.S. mission to build an Iraqi Army virtually from scratch. Continue Reading
Enhancing Corporate Strategy

International Conference Organized by Professor Folta Yields Strategic Management Book
An international conference about resource redeployment in multi-business or multi-product firms, organized by UConn management professor Timothy B. Folta, has yielded a new book on the subject. Continue Reading
EBV Graduates 22 Veteran Entrepreneurs

‘I Can’t Believe How Lucky I Am!’ Veterans’ Plans Include Cookie Business, Animal Shelter, Counseling Center
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Damone “D” Garner has a secret weapon for his post-military career.
Hailing from a family that boasts three generations of talented bakers, Garner has a collection of secret, family-cookie recipes that will make other bakers quake in their aprons. Continue Reading
A First-Place Tie

Revamped Wolff New Venture Competition Surprises Audience with Two Medical-Device Champs
The late Thomas John Wolff ’56 was an entrepreneur, and UConn School of Business alumnus, who ran five businesses simultaneously. He exemplified values like enthusiasm, mentorship and appreciation. Continue Reading
‘You are an Entrepreneur!’

UConn’s New Xcite Conference Draws 200+ Women; Strives to Increase Connecticut’s Women Business Leaders
It was a simple assignment that YouTube executive Kathryn Friedrich gave to the audience of 200 business women: take a minute and think of an entrepreneur.
“If you’re not thinking of yourself, think again, because you are an entrepreneur,” she said. “Entrepreneurship is a mindset. You don’t have to start your own company to be an entrepreneur. You can start working on it right away!” Continue Reading
‘The World Is …Brimming with Opportunities’

Graduate Students Find Fulfillment in Assisting Startups; Business Owners Grateful for Helping Hand
Sumit Kumar, a second-year MBA student, couldn’t believe his good fortune.
This summer he was able to devise a market strategy for a growing beverage company and conduct market analysis and funding research for a biomedical-device manufacturer, both in Connecticut.Continue Reading
It’s Time to Register for Accelerate UConn
Accelerate UConn is UConn’s National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Site. Its mission is to catalyze the transition of new scientific discoveries and capabilities from the lab to the marketplace. Continue Reading
