Tyler Vaglivelo has been an active member of the School of Pharmacy community during his time at UConn. Like many students, he found the size of the UConn Storrs a bit overwhelming at first, but he developed his own sense of community and the campus soon become a “second home” for him. Outside of pharmacy, Vaglivelo founded the UConn Coffee Club, a group of like-minded students, where he made life-long friends. He will begin a pharmacy residency at UConn Health following graduation.

Why did you choose UConn?
Having grown up in Connecticut, I have a deep appreciation for both the state and region and knew that I wanted to stay local. When I was touring colleges, I found UConn overwhelming, but after connecting with current students as part of Husky-for-a-Day, I realized just how welcoming the campus is.

What’s your major or field of study, and what drew you to it?
Living with difficult-to-treat asthma, pharmacy was a fixture in my life from a young age. Our local pharmacists were always there to guide my family, whether it was helping with my inhalers or managing the side effects from my steroid treatments. These experiences always stuck with me, and as I became interested in health care, I realized that I wanted nothing more than to give back to the community in the same way that these pharmacists had for my family and me.

Did you have a favorite professor or class?
My favorite class ended up being the oncology/hematology module, which was a part of the pharmacy curriculum. I never imagined it would be a specialty I was interested in, but I was impressed with how it brought together all the principles of patient-centered care we had focused on throughout our curriculum and allowed me to integrate my secondary interests in areas such as psychiatry and cardiology.

What activities were you involved in as a student?
Most of my involvement was in the many extracurriculars offered in the School of Pharmacy. Whether learning about advancements in the field by helping lead the Journal Club, recruiting prospective students through the pharmacy ambassador program, or assisting my peers through the Rho Chi honors society, these experiences were as enjoyable as they were varied. Although most of my activities were focused on pharmacy, I always ensured that I took time away from academics with social organizations like the UConn Coffee Club.

What’s one thing that surprised you about UConn?
How small the campus becomes once you are a student. Although it can be difficult to navigate, the day-to-day life and routine that you develop make UConn feel like a second home. This is especially true after spending six years at UConn, which meant I was always encountering both new and familiar faces.

What are your plans after graduation/receiving your degree?
I am currently preparing to start my first-year pharmacy residency with UConn Health for 2025-2026, after which I hope to complete a second-year residency in hematology/oncology. In the long term, I plan to settle in Connecticut, focusing on hematology in a hospital setting while also working in academia.

How has UConn prepared you for the next chapter in life?
UConn has helped me make connections that will last a lifetime. Whether inside or outside of my major, I have met so many wonderful people who have helped me navigate the challenges and achievements along the way.

Any advice for incoming students?
Do not hesitate to be an advocate for yourself and your interests! In my freshman year, I had trouble finding organizations that appealed to me, and as a result I was one of the founders of the UConn Coffee Club with a group of like-minded students. Although it was unrelated to my major, it provided a wonderful reprieve from my academics and allowed me to form lifelong friendships I would not trade for anything.

What’s one thing everyone should do during their time at UConn?
Make the most of Horsebarn Hill. Some of my favorite memories on campus were there, whether it was looking out at the nighttime sky or having a picnic with some of my closest friends, it was always a wonderful place to gather and take in the sights of campus.

What will always make you think of UConn?
Windy mornings! Walking across campus past Mirror Lake and Swan Lake not only deepened my appreciation for the beauty of campus but also inspired me to get into birding. On frigid mornings, distracting myself with the sounds and sights of local birds or taking the time in the warmer weather to observe their behaviors became a favorite part of my routine.