An impressive 11 members of the University of Connecticut community were honored as part of the 19th annual Women of Innovation Awards, hosted by the Connecticut Technology Council (CTC) and held on October 22 at the Woodwinds in Branford.
The honorees included faculty and students from four different schools and colleges across UConn Health, UConn Storrs, and UConn Waterbury. In addition to the honors, four women from UConn received individual awards: Xiuling Lu, professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Director of the Pharmaceutical Processing Research Center, and Zongjie Wang, associated director of the Eversource Energy Center and assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, received awards for research innovation and leadership; Fumiko Hoeft, campus dean and chief administrative officer of UConn Waterbury, received an award for academic innovation and leadership; and Patricia Hare, Ph.D. candidate in the School of Dental Medicine, received the Youth Innovation and Leadership award.
“I could not be more proud of the extraordinary group of UConn women who received these well-deserved honors,” says UConn President Radenka Maric. “From undergraduate students to senior faculty, they exemplify the innovative spirit and passion for discovery that make our University such a special place.
- Xiuling Lu – Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Associate Director of Center, Pharmaceutical Processing Research, University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy
- Zongjie Wang – Associate Director, Eversource Energy Center / Assistant Professor, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Connecticut
The CTC recognizes women who have achieved remarkable success and are empowering other women and girls in scientific research, education, manufacturing, and business. Formed in 1994, the organization is the voice of all technology companies in Connecticut.
“Since the first Women of Innovation event that I attended, I have been extremely impressed with the great contribution these outstanding women – including this 2024 WOI group – have had and continue to have on the technology ecosystem and our society,” says Giovanni Tomasi, President/Chief Technology Officer of RSL Fiber Systems and Board Chair of CTC.
All honorees are currently working or studying in Connecticut, demonstrating strong leadership abilities, and have served as a mentor – either short or long-term, peer, career or life mentor.
The following are the UConn honorees from the event with the category that they were recognized in.
Research Innovation and Leadership
Xiuling Lu , Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy
Zongjie Wang , Associate Director, Eversource Energy Center/Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Yanjiao Zhou, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, UConn Health
Community Innovation and Leadership
Jennifer Pascal, Associate Professor in Residence and Associate Department Head, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Academic Innovation and Leadership
Sama Abdulmalik, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, UConn Health
Caroline Dealy, Associate Professor, Departments of Orthodontics and Biomedical Engineering, School of Dental Medicine; and Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Cell Biology, School of Medicine.
Fumiko Hoeft, Campus Dean and Chief Administrative Officer, UConn Waterbury
Jasna Jankovic, Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering Department, College of Engineering
Collegian Innovation and Leadership
Patricia Hare, DMD-Ph.D. Candidate, School of Dental Medicine
Tvesha Parikh, Ph.D. Graduate Student, Biomedical Sciences, UConn Health
Laxmi Vobbineni, Undergraduate Student, Biomedical Engineering major
