Welcome to a new roundup celebrating the achievements of faculty, staff, and community members in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). From awards and publications to public events and professional honors, this series highlights the many ways our CLAS community is making an impact on campus and beyond.
Have something to share? Email the CLAS Communications Office to submit your news for consideration.
David Atkin Named Fellow of International Communication Association
David Atkin, professor of communication, has been inducted as a fellow of the International Communication Association (ICA). In June, Atkin was honored at the ICA’s annual conference as one of only 15 scholars worldwide selected to the Class of 2025.
ICA is a global academic association dedicated to advancing the scholarly study of communication. Fellow status recognizes distinguished scholarly contributions to the field.
Atkin’s research focuses on the adoption, use, and regulation of new media. He is the author of four books and more than 180 scholarly articles and is consistently ranked among the top 1% most-cited researchers in the humanities and social sciences by Research.com.
He is the second UConn faculty member in the Department of Communication to receive the honor, following Carolyn Lin’s induction in 2024.
Laura Donorfio Named Fellow of Gerontological Society of America
Laura Donorfio, associate professor of human development and family sciences, has been named a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), the highest category of membership within the organization.
GSA is the oldest and largest interdisciplinary scientific organization devoted to the advancement of gerontological research, learning, and practice. Fellow status recognizes outstanding and sustained contributions to the field of gerontology.
Donorfio will be honored at the GSA’s 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting in November.
Poetic Journeys Poster Series Wins Connecticut Art Directors Club Award
The Poetic Journeys poster series, a long-running collaboration between UConn’s Creative Writing Program in the Department of English and the UConn Design Center Studio, received a silver award in the student online and interactive category at the 49th Annual Connecticut Art Directors Club Awards in July.
The 2025 winning team included Kyle Barron ’25 Ph.D., former graduate assistant director of creative writing; Dina Benbrahim, assistant professor of art and art history in the School of Fine Arts; and undergraduate students Riley McGarry Partridge, Cole Heitman and Dillan Luna, all of whom contributed to the design and animation work.
Now in its 25th year, Poetic Journeys features poems written by UConn students, faculty, and staff on placards designed by students in the School of Fine Arts. The program is supported by English professors Brenda Brueggemann, Aetna Chair of Writing, and Sean Forbes, director of the Creative Writing Program.
