UConn Today – UConn’s excellence in graduate education is being recognized nationwide, with U.S. News & World Report granting high rankings for 2026 to several online programs for their quality, affordability, and flexibility for distance-learning students.
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For Second Consecutive Year, UConn OPIM Professor Wins Prestigious Early Career Award
UConn Today – OPIM Professor Jing Peng, a prolific researcher who has also recently developed and taught artificial intelligence courses at the School of Business, has been awarded his second promising young scholar award in three years.
Peng is one of five recipients of the 2025 Information Systems Society’s Sandra A. Slaughter Early Career Award, which recognizes faculty on the path to making outstanding intellectual contributions to the information systems discipline.
Ask the Experts – Robert Bird
Wallethub – Why are car insurance laws so different from state to state?
Car insurance laws vary from state to state for a variety of reasons. Laws related to car insurance are typically a product of state law, rather than federal law, which results in fifty separate legal standards. Some states choose to have higher or lower minimum coverage requirements. Some states may choose a no-fault system of car insurance. If the cost of living is higher in a state, and the cost of car repair is also higher in a state, that can influence the size of insurance premiums and deductibles.
School of Business Professor Robert Bird Has Transformational Fulbright Scholar Experience in Finland
UConn Today – Business law professor Robert Bird spent four months as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar at the University of Vaasa in Finland last semester, where he helped create the world’s first Ph.D. program in strategic legal design.
“I really enjoyed the Fulbright experience, and also serving as an ambassador for UConn and the United States,’’ he says. “Finland has a rich academic environment that encourages innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration. My expertise in legal strategy was well received by both business law academics and legal professionals.”
An All-Nighter, Perseverance Helped UConn Grad Student Win Predictive Modeling Championship
UConn Today – Graduate student Uday Pandey was working so diligently on a model for the 2025 Travelers University Modeling Competition that he actually forgot to go to sleep one night.
“I was working on the model and was so engaged that I didn’t notice the time,’’ he said, laughing. “When I finally looked at the clock it was 5 a.m.!’’
UConn Online MBA Program Among the Nation’s Best
UConn Today – The School of Business’ Online MBA (OMBA) program has been ranked among the best in the nation by Poets&Quants. UConn climbed to No. 25 in the 2026 Online MBA program rankings, up from No. 33 last year.
“The School of Business was highly intentional in the development of our online MBA courses, prioritizing accessibility without compromising quality,’’ said Mia Hawlk, Executive Director of UConn’s MBA programs. “Those deliberate efforts continue to pay dividends for our program and, most importantly, for our students.’’
13th Annual Voya Colloquium
The Marketing Department at the UConn School of Business hosted its 13th annual Voya Financial Colloquium on the topic of “Brands and Brand Relationships.” The event, held on Oct 24th, 2025, brought together researchers from diverse perspectives to discuss the role of brands in the changing landscape.
“This year’s topic is especially timely given recent technological advancements that have left many organizations wondering how to stay relevant. Brands are an extremely powerful marketing tool that companies can, and should, use to their advantage,” said UConn Marketing professor Danielle Brick, who co-organized the event.Continue Reading
Two Ambitious UConn Grad Students Win Top Prizes in National Insurance Competition Focused on Pet-Care Policies
UConn Today – Two UConn graduate students took home the first-place and runner-up awards in the ACORD Student Challenge, an insurance-industry competition that drew dozens of participants from across the country.
Manasa Ramaka, a graduate student in the Business Analytics and Project Management (BAPM) program, took first place and accepted the $5,000 grand prize. Rutendo Mahanzu, a graduate student enrolled in the Financial and Enterprise Risk Management (FERM) program, shared the runner-up prize with a student from Georgia Tech, and took home a $2,000 award.
UConn Real Estate Students Take Top Prize in ‘Future of Housing’ Competition at Boston College
UConn Today – UConn Real Estate students took first-place in a national ‘future of housing’ competition, presenting a detailed proposal for a 42-unit residential building, with a commercial kitchen and computer center, that would allow residents to participate in workforce development and cooking and nutritional courses.
Two Business Students Visit the Amazon, Network with Sustainability Experts, Gain New Perspectives at COP30 Summit
UConn Today – Two UConn business students who are passionate about sustainability and a healthier planet, attended the COP30 climate conference last month in Belem, Brazil, adjacent to the Amazon rainforest.
Both graduate student Caroline Keary ’25, ’26 MS and senior Aminieli Hopson ’26 said the experience was one of the best of their lives, and that what they learned will benefit their careers.
They left with a new network of like-minded climate advocates and an appreciation for both the enormous challenges of climate preservation and renewed respect for those who dedicate their lives to it.