Members of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources community came together March 29, 2023 to recognize the contributions of distinguished alumni, faculty, staff, and supporters.
An annual event co-hosted with the College Alumni Board (UCAHNRA) and the CAHNR Excellence Committee, recipients are honored for their achievements in research, teaching, and service. They are also recognized for their efforts to advance CAHNR’s strategic vision and values in areas such as diversity, equity, and inclusion, and embracing UConn’s land grant mission.
UConn Vice Provost for Health Sciences and Interdisciplinary Initiatives, Amy Gorin, joined the event. CAHNR Dean and Director Indrajeet Chaubey also shared gratitude on behalf of the College for the contribution made by the year’s award recipients.
“Last year was marked by many firsts and records broken in all aspects of CAHNR’s mission. Our researchers won an impressive $40 million in new awards for their cutting-edge work, the highest in the College’s history. Our faculty and advisors also continues to provide transformational education to over 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Members of our alumni, which is over 22,000 strong, made major contributions in their respective fields. Thank you all for all that you do. You make CAHNR proud!”
2023 Recipients
Early Career Research Award
Roman Shrestha ’13, ‘17, Allied Health Sciences
Excellence in Research Award
Yangchao Luo, Nutritional Sciences
Graduate Student Research and Creativity Award
Kevin Li ‘19 ‘22, Natural Resources and the Environment
Graduate Student Research and Creativity Award
Colleen Mistler ‘23, Allied Health Sciences
Kinsman CAHNR Excellence in Teaching Award
Michael Puglisi ‘08, Nutritional Sciences
Graduate Student Teaching Award
Aviana Rosen ‘14, ‘21, ‘23, Allied Health Sciences
CAHNR Justice, Equity, Antiracism, and Inclusion Award
Cristina Colón-Semenza, Kinesiology
Excellence in Engagement and Outreach Award
Robert Huggins ‘07 ‘14, Kinesiology
CES Grant for Innovative Programming in Extension
Tessa L. Getchis and Michael Gilman, Extension
UConn 4-H Alumni Award
Wendy Kennedy
UConn 4-H Leadership Award
Jennifer ‘94 and William ’92, ’97 Syme
Meritorious Service to UConn 4-H Award
Peter Brzezicki ‘74
UCAHNRA Outstanding Staff Award in memoriam
Nicole Gabelman ’12, Plant Science and Landscape Architecture
UCAHNRA Outstanding Staff Award
Sara Tremblay ‘98, ‘06 ‘08, Natural Resources and the Environment
UCAHNRA Excellence in Teaching Award
Beth Lawrence, Natural Resources and the Environment
UCAHNRA Distinguished Alumni Award
Brendon McDermott ‘09, Kinesiology
Spirit of the Land Grant Award
Douglas Casa ‘97, Kinesiology
Spirit of the Land Grant Award
Dennis D’Amico, Animal Science
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