Director of News and Editorial Communications
Tom Breen
Tom Breen has been at UConn since 2012, serving as a news writer, deputy spokesperson, manager for special projects, UConn Today editor, and, as of January 2021, director of news and editorial communications. Prior to UConn, he worked as a reporter for The Associated Press, covering health care, religion, and state government in West Virginia and North Carolina, and before the AP, he worked at newspapers in Connecticut and Massachusetts. He is the author of two books about Christianity and contemporary culture, and has published short fiction in many periodicals and anthologies. A second-generation Husky, he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2000. He is the co-founder of the award-winning UConn 360 podcast and has given presentations on UConn history to community groups throughout Connecticut. He lives in Manchester, is active in volunteer organizations, and recommends that you try the coconut flavor at the Dairy Bar.
Author Archive
Partners in Life and in the Lab
How one couple turned their shared life in UConn Health research into a generous legacy that will jumpstart students’ scientific careers
May 19, 2026 | Siobhan Murray, UConn Foundation
UConn Celebrates Promotion and Tenure of Faculty for 2026
Evaluations for promotion, tenure, and reappointment apply the highest standards of professional achievement in scholarship, teaching, and service for each faculty member evaluated
May 8, 2026 | Alexis Lohrey, Office of the Provost
UConn Provost Announces 2026 Awards for Excellence in Community Engaged Scholarship
The Provost's Awards for Excellence in Community Engaged Scholarship (PAECES) recognize scholarly activities that integrate community engagement with research, creative work, and teaching
May 7, 2026 | Merly Downey, Office of Outreach and Engagement
‘Bouncing Back’ is a Myth – Resilience Means Integrating Hard Experiences into Your Life Story, Not Ignoring Them
An insistence on grit and relentless optimism can backfire, making people feel inadequate when they feel pain
April 20, 2026 | Keith M. Bellizzi, Professor of Human Development and Family Sciences
Massive Eye Drop Recall Reflects Ongoing Issues with Manufacturing and FDA Inspections
The FDA rarely inspected eye drop makers before 2023, when a nationwide outbreak of infection killed 4 and seriously harmed many others
April 17, 2026 | C. Michael White, Distinguished Professor of Pharmacy Practice
A Decade of Partnerships and Initiatives Focused on the Whole Child
The UConn Collaboratory on School and Child Health celebrates 10 years
April 16, 2026 | Helene Marcy, Director of Programs & Communications, Collaboratory on School and Child Health
Türkiye at the Crossroads: Ambassador Sedat Önal Speaks at UConn
'As students face an increasingly complex world, these conversations help prepare them to engage thoughtfully with questions that have no easy answers'
April 15, 2026 | Sara Mahmoud, UConn Global Affairs
Dr. Chong Sook P. Sung Establishes $50,000 Endowment to Support IMS Polymer Program Students
Sung's latest contribution reflects a longstanding commitment to student success
March 19, 2026 | Rhonda M. Ward, Institute of Materials Science
Author Nikkya Hargrove Keynotes Women’s History Month at UConn Stamford
'You can build something you are proud of'
March 16, 2026 | Jessica Lasley, UConn Stamford
Deepening a Partnership, Honoring a Microneurosurgical Pioneer
American Surgical Company endows UConn Health lecture series honoring Dr. Takanori Fukushima, advancing neurosurgical leadership and collaboration
February 27, 2026 | Siobhan Murray, UConn Foundation
International Postdocs at UConn Pioneer New Frontiers in Drug and Vaccine Delivery
Together they are developing technologies that make treatments safer, more precise, and more accessible worldwide
February 25, 2026 | Lily Guberman, Office of Global Affairs
Shari and Michael Cantor: A Lifetime of Husky Pride and Generosity
Shari Cantor ’81 (BUS) and Michael Cantor ’80 (ENG), ’83 JD are turning decades of leadership and generosity into a lasting legacy through a $1 million planned gift commitment
February 13, 2026 | Siobhan Murray, UConn Foundation
Gift Seeds Non-Animal Testing Organ-on-a-Chip Initiative at UConn School of Pharmacy
The gift from Jane Hirsh '65 will expand student training, advance alternatives to animal testing, and accelerate organ-on-a-chip innovation in the evolving drug‑development industry
February 10, 2026 | Siobhan Murray, UConn Foundation
New Gift Opens Doors for Waterbury Students: UConn Launches Nursing and STEM Initiatives
$5 million nursing pathway and $5.45 million STEM investment to strengthen Connecticut’s workforce
February 5, 2026 | Stephanie Wright, UConn Foundation
UConn Waterbury Students Drive Neighborhood Revitalization Through Innovative Housing Clinic
'We are turning classrooms into engines for broader community impact'
February 3, 2026 | Renee Garcia-Prajer, UConn Waterbury
UConn IMS Alumna and External Advisory Board Member, Weina Li, Honored by SASE
Carrier Technical Fellow and UConn IMS External Advisory Board member recognized for leadership in materials, energy storage, and mentorship.
December 22, 2025 | Rhonda Ward, Institute of Materials Science
UConn Hosts Rising Innovators Through the Global Nexus Program
Through the U.S. Mission in India, entrepreneurs are equipped with training, mentorship and opportunities for U.S. collaboration
December 18, 2025 | Kriti Khera, Global Affairs
Because of UConn Campaign Surpasses Halfway Mark with $800M Raised
Over halfway to $1.5B, donor-fueled campaign is driving student success, academic excellence, health innovation, and Husky pride
December 10, 2025 | By Siobhan Murray, UConn Foundation
Magnetically Reconfigurable Ribbons Let Scientists ‘Program’ Liquids on Demand
Wang lab’s collaborative research of multistable soft structures steer flows and choreograph droplets in work published in Device
November 24, 2025 | Rhonda Ward for the Institute of Materials Science
FDA Recall of Blood Pressure Pills Due to Cancer-Causing Contaminant May Point to Higher Safety Risks in Older Generic Drugs
Prazosin, the drug being recalled, is prescribed to more than a half-million patients each year
November 21, 2025 | C. Michael White, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Pharmacy Practice