UConn Today – This past spring, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Chairman Rodney Butler ’99 (BUS) addressed a large audience of students, faculty, and staff at the Student Union Theatre. One member of the audience paying especially close attention was Samantha Gove ’24 (CLAS), a member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation who worked extensively with UConn’s Native American Cultural Programs during her time in Storrs. Shortly after Butler’s visit, he and Gove connected over video call for a conversation about Butler’s time at UConn, what he’s learned in two decades of leadership in the Nation, and what he wants Native students to keep in mind. The interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Finance
‘Change Happens When One Person Makes a Bold Move’
UConn Today – Alumna Medina Jett ’08 EMBA delivered a commencement speech to the Class of 2024 that emphasized something she knows well: the importance of being brave and thoughtful in the face of change, whether celebrated or not.
“I stand before you not only as a fellow Husky, but as someone who understands the challenges and triumphs that come with the journey of life,’’ Jett told some 700 enthusiastic undergraduates, their families, and friends on Saturday afternoon in Gampel Pavilion.
‘Hall of Fame’ Inductees Share Business Wisdom, Keys to Personal Success
UConn Today – The UConn School of Business’ Hall of Fame Ceremony offered a collection of stories, both funny and poignant, an abundance of heart-felt gratitude, and enough great business advice to fill an Adam Grant bestseller.
Real Estate Center Loses Two Esteemed, Beloved Faculty Members
UConn Today – The Center for Real Estate and Urban Economic Studies is grieving the recent loss of two beloved, retired faculty members, both remembered as outstanding scholars, thoughtful leaders, and champions of their students.
UConn Stamford Students Rub Elbows with Fed Chair During D.C. Visit
UConn Today – No light show preceded his entrance, no pyrotechnics exploded, and no theatrical smoke poured into the air, but to the group of UConn Stamford students who met U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell, he still was a rock star.
Multidisciplinary Student Team Wins First Place in American University Case Competition, Showcases the ‘Exceptional Talent’ at UConn
UConn Today – Astrong, collaborative team, impressive strategic insights, and an amazing presentation all contributed to a multidisciplinary UConn student team taking first place in a recent case competition at American University.
“One judge told us it was the best presentation she had seen in her 20 years of judging,’’ said Tyler Martin ’25, an economics and political science major, and part of the Husky Case Competition Club.
What Is the Median Down Payment by State in 2024?
This Old House asks:
What advice do you have for first-time homebuyers looking to save for a down payment?
Save as much as you can, and if you have the ability to, try to save for paying closing costs, too, Check to see if your state offers a first-time homebuyers savings account program. Some states offer special savings accounts to help first-time homebuyers which may provide a state tax benefit for money deposited up to a certain limit. You will be held to any requirements and restrictions under the program, so be sure to check on what those are first. You can also check with your local Housing Finance Authority to see if they have downpayment assistance or other programs to help you obtain a loan or purchase a home. Both usa.gov and hud.gov have information on homebuying and in particular, resources for first-time homebuyers, including links to resources available by state.
Five Alumni to be Inducted into UConn School of Business Hall of Fame
UConn Today – Five UConn School of Business alumni, who have excelled in fields as diverse as college basketball, power-tool manufacturing, and complex financial services, will be inducted into the School of Business Hall of Fame this spring.
Homeownership trends: New data shows areas of concerns in CT
NBC Connecticut – Owning a home is the gateway to the middle class and the traditional path to building wealth and passing it along to one’s children.
NBC Connecticut Investigates wanted a better idea of home ownership trends and crunched some recently released census figures.
For starters, overall home ownership in Connecticut went down in the decade between the 2010 and the 2020 census -anywhere from down roughly 1% in Windham County, to homeownership dropping almost 5% in Fairfield County.
We asked Jeffrey Cohen, UConn Business School professor of real estate, for his take.
Dean Elliott’s ‘Alumni Town Hall’ to Address the Changing Role of Business Education
UConn Today – If you graduated from the School of Business a decade or more ago, you probably wouldn’t recognize some of the curriculum today.
“Our students are exploring newer areas of study, including entrepreneurship, data analytics, and financial technology, as they prepare to enter a rapidly changing workforce,’’ said Dean John A. Elliott. “This is a remarkable and exciting time at the School of Business and I’m eager to talk about what has changed and why.’’