UConn’s Neag School of Education is excited to introduce the current members of its Alumni Board and Dean’s Board of Advocates, who all volunteer to work toward engaging and connecting with alumni and friends of the Neag School throughout the year.
Alumni Board
The Neag School Alumni Board has a history of influencing the Neag School’s outreach in the alumni community and supporting current and future students. With a focus on alumni engagement, the Board supports a yearlong programming schedule. Additional Board members not listed below include: Shay Lewis ’20; Stephanie Muehlethaler ’09; T.J. Neville ’06, ’18 — Vice President; Haralambos (Bobby) Skarvelas ’06, ’07, ’13, ’21; Jocelyn Tamborello-Noble ’03, ’04, ’09 — President; and Jeff Wihbey ’95, ’06, ’16.
Danielle DeRosa ’09 (CLAS), ’16 MS, Faculty Representative
Hometown: East Haven, Connecticut
As a Neag School grad, what do you want people to know about the School? The Neag School works with students who have various professional interests, from those wanting to work in sport, on college campuses, and in schools. Faculty and staff work closely with students to help them develop, as professionals and people, who will work toward equity and inclusion to make a unique impact.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this year as a Neag School Alumni Board member? I am excited to get to know the other Neag School Alumni Board members. Each board member brings such unique experience and insight and I am excited to work collaboratively to support current students and alumni. As a board member, I hope to contribute insight from my role as a faculty member in the Neag School to help shape some of the work that we do!
Sharon Fuller ’83 (ED), ’87 MA, ’94 6th Year, Chair – Recruitment, Scholarship, and Philanthropy Committee
Hometown: Wakefield, Rhode Island
As a Neag School grad, what do you want people to know about the School? UConn is an exciting, welcoming, and diverse community — it’s a great place to live, learn, and grow into “the change you want to be in this world” (based on a quote from Mahatma Ghandi).
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this year as a Neag School Alumni Board member? I hope to continue the commitment of UConn alumni to give back to UConn, our communities, and our professions. By beginning my tenure on the UConn Alumni Board and by participating on the Recruitment, Scholarship, and Philanthropy Committee, I hope to support aspiring and current UConn students.
Ryan Haynes ’20 MA, Member – Recruitment, Scholarship, and Philanthropy Committee
Hometown: Santa Cruz, California
As a Neag School grad, what do you want people to know about the School? I want everyone to have the chance to get to know the amazing staff and faculty that are part of Neag. The amount of love, care, and support they provide is incredible, and I have enjoyed learning with so many of them.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this year as a Neag School Alumni Board member? I’m excited to see how the alumni board can support career networking and I hope to bring some more Husky pride out to the West Coast.
Carl Johnson ’03 (CLAS), ’04 MA, ’15 6th Year, Secretary
Hometown: West Hartford, Connecticut
As a Neag School grad, what do you want people to know about the School? I would want people to know how well Neag has prepared me for every phase of my career, whether it was being a first-year teacher coming out of the IB/M program or as a building administrator after completing the UCAPP program. I believe that both prepared me incredibly well to be successful as a teacher and administrator. Additionally, the connections I have made continue to impact my career in terms of professional growth.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this year as a Neag School Alumni Board member? I hope to continue and support the growth of the Neag School Alumni Board. In my brief time on the Board, I have seen the strides that have been made to further connect and support alumni from the School of Education. I want to see that continue to develop and find new ways to achieve those goals.
Bryan Kirby ’18 (ED), ’19 MA, Chair – Alumni Awards and Traditions Committee
Hometown: Orange, Connecticut
As a Neag School grad, what do you want people to know about the School? I want people to know that the Neag School prepares you immensely well for your first year of teaching. Now that’s not to say that it won’t be tough, but the Neag School equips you with all the tools you need to succeed.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this year as a Neag School Alumni Board member? My hope for the Neag School Alumni Board this year is that the awards ceremony gets the best reviews yet. We are working hard to create an interactive and professional ceremony that is unlike any other.
Faith Celeste McCarthy ’17 (ED), ’18 MS, Chair – Student and Alumni Networking Committee
Hometown: Unionville, Connecticut
As a Neag School grad, what do you want people to know about the School? The Neag School of Education houses the Sport Management Program. I look forward to connecting with people and discussing why that is.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this year as a Neag School Alumni Board Member? I hope to do both. I aim to educate former, current, and prospective Sport Management Program students about Neag’s mission and purpose. I’d also love to get a better understanding of the education system in Connecticut and Neag’s position.
Wura Olusekun ’16 MS, Member – Student and Alumni Networking Committee
Hometown: Revere, Massachusetts
As a Neag School grad, what do you want people to know about the school? The Neag School of Education is an environment that exposes students to real-life experiences that will better help support their professional development. Being a Neag grad has been such a rewarding experience for me. Although I graduated from UConn in 2016 and haven’t been back since, I still feel just as connected to Neag as I did on my first day on campus.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this year as a Neag School Alumni Board member? I’m excited for the experience to collaborate with other board members, while contributing diverse perspective and experience. Overall, I hope to provide more engaging opportunities for students and alums of color.
Emmanuel Omokaro ’11 (ED), ’12 MA, Member – Student and Alumni Networking Committee
Hometown: Danbury, Connecticut
As a Neag School grad, what do you want people to know about the School? That the Neag School of Education also features the sport management program.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this year as a Neag School Alumni Board member? As a Sport Management graduate, I would like to get a better understanding of the other Neag programs so I can be a better contributor to the committee. Get a full understanding of the School of Education and all the things it has to offer.
Kim Wachtelhausen ’08 6th, Past President
Hometown: Cranston, Rhode Island
As a Neag School grad, what do you want people to know about the School? When I was seeking my 6th year in Ed Leadership, the UCAPP program was my first choice. It was undergoing a change in design and included a partnership with CT Association of Schools to support the clinical internship portion of the program. Having the opportunity to study alongside a cohort of future leaders in education with some of Connecticut’s most experienced educators as our mentors was invaluable. Being a part of Neag allowed me to broaden my view of public education and put me on a path of continuous reflection. Years later, I remain grateful for the people who still have influence and impact on me, but more importantly on Connecticut’s children and their families.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this year as a Neag School Alumni Board member? As the past president of the Neag Alumni Board, I look forward to the opportunity to reimagine our work after a global health crisis. We have only just begun to discover the impact of these past few years on our Neag students, colleagues, and broader community. As alumni, we can use our collective talents to engage, support, and amplify the Neag mission to improve educational and social systems to be more effective, equitable, and just for all.
Carter Welch ’99 (ED), ’11 Ed.D., ’12 ELP, Member – Recruitment, Scholarship, and Philanthropy Committee
Hometown: Guilford, Connecticut
As a Neag School grad, what do you want people to know about the School? The Neag School of Education offers a cutting-edge education marked by talented and expert professors who lead the education field in both research and practice. The educational experience at Neag is built upon collaboration, strong cohorts, action research, and truly wrestling with real problems of practice to strengthen education locally, at the state level, and nationally. The reputation of the School continues to strengthen as we attract new and talented faculty, diverse students, and strengthen our network of alumni working in the field in Connecticut. I look forward to Neag continuing to climb to the top of the educational program rankings. I am a proud graduate of the School and my knowledge and experience from the doctoral and Executive Leadership programs has strengthened my knowledge and skill set as both a public school leader and as an adjunct professor in educational leadership. I was fortunate to be in a leadership cohort with a colleague and friend, U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this year as a Neag School Alumni Board member? As an Alumni Board member I hope to continue to grow our involvement and connection with alumni members and strengthen that collective pride we have in UConn and the Neag School. Further, I hope to expand fundraising efforts to increase scholarship opportunities to attract quality students/candidates and faculty to the Neag School programs. I hope to help build our connections with public schools throughout Connecticut to strengthen their partnerships with UConn and Neag and to further build opportunities for our students to learn and grow in these Connecticut systems. Lastly, I hope to expand and develop our community service opportunities as a group, perhaps thinking about state and local efforts that help us connect as a collective group in service, strengthen education systems, and make a difference in our communities. I think there are already powerful ideas and efforts out there, we need to keep getting involved with them as part of our collective purpose. I am proud to serve and look forward to growing our involvement in all aspects.
Dean’s Board of Advocates
The Neag School Dean’s Board of Advocates supports, promotes, and advocates for the advancement of the Neag School. Its members assist in efforts to raise funds and build relationships through their networks while engaging in Neag School activities.
Crisanne Colgan ’72 (CLAS), ’81 6th Year, ’84 Ph.D.
Hometown: Wethersfield, Connecticut
What do you want people to know about the Neag School? I am proud that U.S. News & World Report has ranked the Neag School among the top 25 public graduate schools of education for the past eight years. Given my three degrees from UConn, including the Sixth-Year Diploma and Ph.D. degree from the Neag School, I can attest to the robust preparation I received for a 40-plus year career in K-12+ education. I personally experienced the Neag School’s strong commitment to tailoring programs to individual goals. I was able to design a doctoral program that provided coursework and best practices in curriculum, instruction, and administration – the trifecta for success as a school administrator. In addition to my personal experiences, I want people to be aware of the caliber of today’s students. In all interactions with students, I witness firsthand their impressive talents, contagious enthusiasm, and passionate commitment to making this world a better place. The Neag School has, and continues to be, a beacon for higher education.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this year as a Neag School Board of Advocates member? I would like to host an event for area alumni so they can learn about The Neag School’s remarkable success and its inspiring students. I look forward to supporting Dean Irizarry in actualizing his vision for the Neag School, and to collaborating with the other board members in this important effort.
Carmen Effron ’72 (ED), ’81 MBA
Hometown: Westport, Connecticut
What do you want people to know about the Neag School? The Neag School’s dean has both a Connecticut focus but also a national one. On a national basis, the School ranks very highly; among the top 25 for public graduate schools of education. Programs to support this are based on a strategy of access, excellence, and engagement.
- Access: High school program scholarships dollars needed. TCPCG programs needs scholarships.
- Excellence: Support for doctoral programs; more fellowships help professors get more grants.
- Engagement: Outreach to superintendents to educate them on what the school is doing.
- Find a way to provide in-state tuition for out-of-state students close to regional campuses.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this year as a Neag School Board of Advocates member? Get the right people on the Board to support the mission. Create outreach and donation opportunities that are fun and also supportive of the School.
Roszena Haskins ’17 Ed.D.
Hometown: Hartford, Connecticut
What do you want people to know about the Neag School? I want others to know and witness firsthand the Neag School’s impact on some of the world’s greatest challenges that our youth and educators face. The Neag School has sustained a reputation for addressing leaky pipelines in pre-K-12 systems through excellence in standards, a firm commitment to social justice, innovative programs, and quality research. I am a benefactor of the Neag School’s contributions to growing the volume of highly effective educators that all students need and building the capacity of practitioners that all students deserve. The Neag School is an inclusive and diverse community where intellectual curiosity is stimulated and meaningful networks are built to last.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this year as a Neag School Board of Advocates member? I hope to be an engaged member and goodwill ambassador in activities and decision-making processes that preserve the mission, health, and long-term success of the Neag School.
Sandra Hastings ’89 MA, ’94 Ph.D.
Hometown: Bristol, Connecticut
What do you want people to know about the Neag School? As a nationally ranked school, the Neag School tackles the barriers that prevent equity in education. The Neag School’s researchers inform the practice of education throughout Connecticut and help school districts implement strategies to reduce the disparity that exists in school experiences. I’m proud to be an alumna of this university, which promotes the development of global student citizens, actively recruits minority students to be teachers, and addresses the social-emotional needs of students in the classroom.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this year as a Neag School Board of Advocates member? I’d like to continue to spread the good news about the Neag School while helping to expand alumni support for Neag School programs. I’m interested in developing new strategies to build alumni support for the Neag School – large and small gifts – to enhance research and scholarship opportunities for all students.
John Robert “Bob” Jones III ’73 (BUS)
Hometown: Bloomington, Indiana
What do you want people to know about the Neag School? I want the world to know what a first-class, highly ranked educational institution it is for our future teachers. Our country and the world have never needed great teachers more.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this year as a Neag School Board of Advocates member? Besides making a five-year financial commitment, we want to assist the dean and the Board of Advocates to get the word out about the quality of the Neag School and also help to improve the quality of students and faculty that we attract.
Karen S. Jones
Hometown: Moline, Illinois
What do you want people to know about the Neag School? The Neag School is known for the quality of educators it produces, and for the innovative methods it employs to ensure a breath of experiences for its students.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this year as a Neag School Board of Advocates member? I hope to contribute as a sounding board for the dean, with a breadth of experience in IB/M and nonprofit governance.
Kate Lund ’06 (ED), ’07 MA, ’12 6th Year
Hometown: Glastonbury, Connecticut
What do you want people to know about the Neag School? The Neag School is distinguished by its transformative and comprehensive programs, as well as its top-tier faculty. Students, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, who pass through the Neag School emerge exceptionally well-prepared to make a meaningful impact in their roles, whether as teachers, counselors, sport management professionals, related service providers, or administrators.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this year as a Neag School Board of Advocates member? As a public school leader, my goal is to provide valuable insights into the contemporary challenges faced by our educators. By doing so, I aim to ensure that our preparation programs remain highly responsive to the evolving needs of both educators and students, ultimately enhancing the quality of education in our communities.
Teresa E. McCaslin
Hometown: New Jersey
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this year as a Neag School Board of Advocates member? In addition to the traditional focus of Board members on such issues as student success, financial stability, and diversity, I wish to cultivate an environment on the Board which solidifies the working relationship and communication between Board members and Neag School leadership, and which draws upon an array of unique and diverse perspective to achieve intermediate and long-term goals. I also strive to extend the reputation of the Neag School in order to help attract a talented and diverse student body, seek ways to enable an individual who wishes to attend with the means to become a student, and develop opportunities for graduates to find meaningful careers upon graduation.
