UConn Today – Mike Morris had his sights set on an MBA degree for a long time, but the obligations of work and military service – Morris holds the rank of colonel in the US Army Reserve – meant that had to be put on hold. When the time was right, Morris chose UConn – and found a seamless process from application to acceptance to support in course work and studies in the School of Business’ Online MBA program. And although the OMBA program is designed for non-traditional students, Morris was still able to take advantage of a familiar student activity: an immersive trip to study abroad, in Europe and North Africa. Having been elected to the UConn School of Business Student Hall of Fame, he’s looking forward to the next goal in life.
Alumni
MEM Co-Director Craig Calvert, Who Goes Above-and-Beyond for Students, Recognized as a Top UConn Educator
UConn Today – Professor Craig Calvert, co-Director of the MEM Program, a top-rated professor, and a champion of students pursuing their job searches, will be honored with the UConn AAUP Teaching Excellence/Early Career Award in April.
Despite Significant Challenges, Students, Alumni and Industry Professionals Share Optimism About a More ‘Green’ World
UConn Today – The School of Business’ second annual Global Business Leadership in Sustainability Summit offered a blend of optimism and stark reality about the future of business and the planet to a passionate group of students, alumni, faculty, and industry experts.
The event addressed a variety of topics, including how some 90 percent of Connecticut’s food supply is imported. Other speakers warned about companies ‘greenwashing’ their track records and environmental efforts. Even U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt entered the discussion, as he was an early adopter of electric vehicle technology, riding in an electric motorcade during a 1902 visit to Hartford.
UConn Alumnus, CEO of Software Innovator, Named Small Business Person of the Year
UConn Today – Dennis Nash ’04 MBA, the CEO of Control Station in Manchester, a software company that serves a rapidly growing portfolio of leading and multinational manufacturers, has been named Connecticut’s 2023 Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Alumnus Mark Shenkman Honored with Museum of American Finance’s Lifetime Achievement Award
UConn Today – Mark Shenkman ’65 (CLAS), H ’07, an emeritus member of the UConn Foundation Board of Directors, received the Museum of American Finance’s Lifetime Achievement Award during a gala celebration in New York City on Monday, March 13. Shenkman, founder and president of Shenkman Capital Management, was honored for his outstanding career in the investment industry.
School of Business Celebrates 30th Anniversary ‘Hall of Fame’ Event
UConn Today – The UConn School of Business will host its 30th Anniversary Alumni Hall of Fame ceremony in April, drawing more than 300 attendees to celebrate the achievements of outstanding alumni.
Professor Plesko—Awarded Researcher, Enthusiastic Advocate for Students–Named Top Tax Educator in the Nation
UConn Today – Professor George Plesko, the head of the accounting department, a beloved mentor, and a researcher whose work changed IRS policies, has been honored as the top tax educator in the nation.
The 2022 Ray M. Sommerfeld Outstanding Tax Educator Award, a prestigious award from the American Taxation Association, is given to a faculty member with a distinguished career and outstanding contributions to teaching, curriculum development, service, participation in professional activities, and academic research.
UConn School of Business Names Boucher Management & Entrepreneurship Department
UConn Today – Former Connecticut State Sen. Antonietta “Toni” Boucher ’02 MBA and her husband, Henry “Bud” Boucher, had a lot to celebrate in 2020. They had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and Bud, a management consultant and entrepreneur, had reached his greatest career success. The couple had always wanted to do philanthropic work, and now they would have the financial means to do so.
Fueled by Curiosity and Hard Work, MSBAPM Student Wins International Sustainability Challenge

An insatiable curiosity, hard work, and a background in business development and planning helped UConn graduate student Olaoluwa ‘Ola’ Ogunseun and his team win a prestigious international competition.
Ogunseun won the U21/PwC Innovation Challenge, which brings together graduate students from 28 universities around the world. The four-month long competition, which ended in December, asked students to examine sustainability in business practices and recommend solutions.Continue Reading
Help Wanted: UConn Alumni to Brainstorm Ideas to Help Make-A-Wish Organization Reach More Families

Photo: Courtesy of Make-A-Wish Connecticut
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut granted almost 200 adventures and other thrilling experiences for seriously ill children in our state last year.
But its executive team is eager to reach more children, particularly in urban and rural communities, where participation has been less robust.
The organization has asked that School of Business alumni help strategize ways to boost awareness of Make-A-Wish, and increase participation. The non-profit has a $30,000 grant which it can use to implement the plans.Continue Reading