UConn Today – The School of Business hosted its first ‘Risk Manager on Campus Event,’ a two-day program to encourage students to consider careers in the growing fields of risk management and insurance.
The event included panel discussions, classroom visits, and an opportunity for students to network with some top leadership in the field. Many of the speakers highlighted the risk industry’s need for young talent.
UConn Today – As UConn continues to expand opportunities for students to explore innovation and entrepreneurship, Michelle Cote has been named interim director of the Peter J. Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
UConn Today – Professor Gerlinde Berger-Walliser, head of the Marketing Department, was featured in the quarterly issue of the International Child Art Foundation’s ChildArt Magazine.
In the interview Berger-Walliser, an associate professor of business law in the School of Business, talked about growing up in a small town in Germany and loving music from a very young age.
UConn Today – As an undergraduate, Isabella Williams ’25 received internship offers from all of the Big Four accounting firms, a very rare accomplishment.
She accepted an internship at PwC and is now an associate in the company’s Investigations & Forensics sector, based in Boston. There she found both a professional challenge and very welcoming colleagues.
UConn Today – If you ask U.S. Army Major (Ret.) Henry H. Washington III ’21 EBV about the experiences that set him up for success as a youngster, he will credit three things:
Today he is the Founder and CEO of the Henry H. Washington 3 Foundation, which serves to better the lives of children, teens and young adults in metro Atlanta. The foundation offers a wide range of services, but is particularly focused on helping youth find a career path, stay out of trouble, and serve the community.
UConn Today – In the United States alone, more than 130 million MRIs and CT scans were performed in 2023. And while those medical images are very valuable tools in identifying, or ruling out, serious health problems, they are not without risk.
While the majority of patients experience no adverse effects, the contrast dyes used in the process can cause allergic reactions, and can trigger kidney damage in those with pre-existing kidney disease. The concern is greatest among people requiring multiple scans.
Pragati Rout, a doctoral candidate, and her mentor, chemistry professor Greg Sotzing, have found a plant-based alternative that is safe, effective, and free of allergic reaction. They’ve created a company, called 404 Inc., to market the medical innovation, as well as other consumer products.
UConn Today – UConn’s Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI) has received the Outstanding Contributions to Venture Creation Award at the 2025 Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers Conference in Calgary, Canada.
The award honors a university center that demonstrates excellence in supporting the launch and growth of startups through innovative programs such as competitions, incubators, and accelerators. Selection is based on program impact, outcomes, and community engagement.
UConn Today – When you visit your favorite sandwich, donut, or pizza shop next year, UConn Ph.D. candidate Yidan Zhang hopes you’ll be leaving with more than just good food. She wants you to also get a healthier food wrapper to carry it home.
Zhang is CEO of a startup called SeaSol Technologies, Inc. (DBA SeaSol), which is converting seaweed into a functional coating that makes food packaging compostable and high performance. The SeaSol team has developed a low-cost process that pares down the seaweed conversion process from 14 steps to one.
UConn Today – Connecticut Wealth Management (CTWM), a prominent investment adviser based in Farmington, has partnered with the School of Business to launch the school’s first-ever student wealth management cohort.
The program, which officially debuted on Thursday, Oct. 2, has already drawn interest from 110 students eager to learn more about becoming financial advisors. The wealth management field is growing rapidly and expected to bring double-digit job growth over the next decade.
UConn Today – UConn senior Abigail Koval is adamant on making her mark through her innovative and daring projects. As a former Maker’s Specialist and a recently promoted project manager of the Innovation Zone, Koval dedicates her time to mentoring first-year students, helping them channel their creativity for the greater good. And she has significant firsthand experience to share.
“I just want to focus all my efforts on making a difference,” says Koval.