UConn’s Neag School of Education is excited to introduce the current members of its Alumni Board, who volunteer to work toward engaging and connecting with alumni and friends of the Neag School throughout the year. 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.
Danielle DeRosa ’09 (CLAS), ’16 MS, ’23 Ed.D. — Faculty Representative and Chair, Student and Alumni Networking Committee
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!
Sasha Douglas ’21 ELP, ’24 Ed.D. – Member, Student and Alumni Networking Committee
Hometown: West Hartford, CT
As a Neag School grad, what do you want people to know about the School? I moved to Connecticut as an educator whose career was already underway. I chose the Neag School as a place to deepen my learning and obtain advanced certification. I found Neag to be a welcoming community that helped me to create networks and connections across Connecticut. Even more importantly, I was personally and intellectually challenged as a Neag student. My doctoral study was particularly impactful to my personal and professional growth. I was supported along the way by an amazing advisor and community of peers.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this year as a Neag School Alumni Board member? I hope to continue supporting the Neag community in whatever way I’m able to. I’m always proud to have the opportunity to work with new Neag graduates or to make connections with the educators of tomorrow.
Sharon Fuller ’83 (ED), ’87 MA, ’94 6th Year – Secretary
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 serving as chair of 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.
Scott Hurwitz ’06 (ED), ’07 MA, ’19 Ed.D., ’21 ELP – Chair, Alumni Awards and Traditions Committee
Hometown: Glastonbury, CT — Chair, Alumni Awards and Traditions Committee
As a Neag School grad, what do you want people to know about the School? The overwhelming success of the Huskies’ basketball programs have led the University of Connecticut to be known as the Basketball Capital of the World. From my perspective, the Neag School of Education has helped UConn distinguish itself as the Teaching Capital of the World as well. The world-class faculty, broad array of programs, and outstanding students attending undergraduate and graduate programs within the Neag School of Education are well-positioned to make lasting change in communities across our state, our nation, and the world. As a graduate, mentor administrator to UCAPP students, and adjunct instructor in the Department of Educational Leadership, I have seen the transformational impact of the Neag School of Education’s programs. Neag School graduates are ready to transform the spaces they enter: PK-12 schools, higher education institutions, sports management organizations, and beyond. They are committed to fostering inclusive, engaging, and inspiring environments.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this coming year as a Neag School Alumni Board member? Having the opportunity to collaborate with the outstanding professionals on the Neag School Alumni Board is an incredible honor. As an Alumni Board member, I am hoping to contribute my perspective as a public school leader, adjunct instructor, and graduate in an effort to ensure the Neag School’s programs continue to meet the needs of educators and students. The Alumni Board has the ability to engage past, current, and future Neag School students. In turn, we can leverage the vast network of changemakers associated with the Neag School of Education to improve educational outcomes and opportunities for all students. I am looking forward to collaborating with my colleagues to promote and actualize the mission of the Neag School, where graduates develop trusting relationships with students, families, colleagues, and local partners to co-construct collaborative classrooms and school communities in order to promote equity and excellence in their classrooms and beyond.
Bryan Kirby ’18 (ED), ’19 MA — Vice President
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.
Shay Lewis ’20 6th Year — President
Hometown: Windsor, Connecticut
As a Neag School grad, what do you want people to know about the School? The Neag School of Education is a top-notch and rigorous program that truly prepares you for success. The challenging coursework and strong support set you up to excel in your career. The cohort model is especially valuable, helping you build lasting friendships and connect with thought partners who support and challenge you in your professional growth.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this coming year as a Neag School Alumni Board member? I am eager to contribute to and support the continued growth and development of the Neag School Alumni Board by actively engaging with and enhancing the board’s initiatives.
Leigh Michaud ’09, ’12 – Member, Student and Alumni Networking Committee
Hometown: Bristol, CT
As a Neag School grad, what do you want people to know about the School? The Neag School is a dynamic place to learn, grow, and flourish, offering many opportunities to connect with passionate educators, leaders, and doers. It’s a community dedicated to the advancement of its students, programs, and professional network.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this coming year as a Neag School Alumni Board member? As a Neag School Alumni Board member, I hope to strengthen connections with fellow alumni and current students while staying actively engaged with the UConn community. I aim to support the Neag School’s mission through outreach, mentorship, and advocacy efforts offering my unique perspective to the team.
Anne McKernan ’11 ELP – Member, Alumni Awards and Traditions Committee
Hometown: West Hartford
As a Neag School grad, what do you want people to know about the School? I am a proud UConn Neag School of Education alumna, and the School’s reputation for excellence is well-deserved. Its combination of outstanding educational experiences, supportive faculty, and a mission to improve both student outcomes and social systems produces some of the most highly trained and impactful educators in the nation. This is why I have a strong bias toward hiring Neag School graduates — they represent the very best in the field.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this coming year as a Neag School Alumni Board member? My primary contribution this year will be serving on the Alumni Awards and Traditions subcommittee. I will leverage this role to strategically highlight the professional achievements of our alumni, thereby telling the story of the Neag School’s broad impact. Through this work, I aim to inform a new audience about the exceptional talent the School produces and its long-standing mission to positively influence education and social systems.
Stephanie Muehlethaler ’09 MA – Member, Alumni Awards and Traditions Committee
Hometown: I’m originally from Bern, Switzerland, but grew up mostly outside of Goderich, Ontario, Canada, on a dairy farm!
As a Neag School grad, what do you want people to know about the School? This School is filled with faculty and staff who are genuinely dedicated to your education and personal growth. I’ve never been part of an educational community where people are so invested in my development as both a student and an individual. I built friendships and relationships that began almost 20 years ago and I know will last a lifetime!
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this coming year as a Neag School Alumni Board member? This year, I’m hoping to bring a more global perspective to the board — one that goes beyond just the American experience. I’d love to share insights from different parts of the world to help broaden our conversations and decisions. I think having a more international lens can really add value and help us think more inclusively about the work we do and the alumni we serve.
TJ Neville ’06 MA, ’18 MA — Past President
Hometown: Tolland
As a Neag School grad, what do you want people to know about the School? As a Neag School grad I want people to know that there is no better place to prepare for a career in education than the Neag School of Education.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this coming year as a Neag School Alumni Board member? I want to ensure that Neag School grads in their first and second years teaching continue to have a meaningful connection to the Neag School of Education. I hope to accomplish this by supporting the ongoing Alumni Board programs that provide early career educators professional development, mentoring, and networking opportunities.
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.
Haralambos (Bobby) Skarvelas ’06 (ED), ’07 MA, ’13 6th Year, ’21 Ed.D. – Member, Recruitment, Scholarship, and Philanthropy Committee
Hometown: Bristol, CT
As a Neag School grad, what do you want people to know about the School? The Neag School is a place for everyone, the programs within the School are truly exceptional with a faculty and staff that is world class.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this year as a Neag School Alumni Board member? I hope to contribute in an impactful way for all alumni and current students of the Neag School of Education. The School has given so much to me and I very much look forward to giving back!
Carter Welch ’99 (ED), ’11 Ed.D., ’12 ELP — Chair, Recruitment, Scholarship, and Philanthropy Committee
Hometown: I live in Guilford, CT with my wife Debbie (also a UConn grad) and our two children Caden (a college sophomore in the fall) and Maddie (entering grade 11).
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.
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.
Jeff Wihbey ’95 (CLAS), ’06 6th Year, ’16 ELP — Member, Alumni Awards and Traditions Committee
Hometown: Glastonbury, Connecticut
As a Neag School grad, what do you want people to know about the School? The Neag School of Education is a premier school featuring the most outstanding faculty, students, and alumni. The faculty and staff are incredibly supportive, fostering an environment that encourages innovation and excellence. The School’s commitment to the recruitment and development of exemplary scholars in the field of education ensures that every student feels valued and empowered to make a difference. The hands-on experiences and rigorous academic programs prepare graduates to be leaders in education and beyond.
What do you hope to accomplish or contribute this coming year as a Neag School Alumni Board member? As a member of the Neag School Alumni Board, I want to work together to strengthen the connection between alumni and current students. I hope to create more networking opportunities, mentorship programs, professional development events, and opportunities to recognize our extraordinary faculty, alumni, and current students. Additionally, I want to advocate for initiatives that support educational equity and innovation, ensuring that the Neag School continues to be a leader in shaping the future of education.
