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

People walking a trail through tall grass. The Connecticut Trail Finder will be regularly updated with new information for hikers, cyclists, local businesses, and more.

Hitting the Trail in Connecticut Just Got Easier

Connecticut Trail Finder is a new resource for those looking to explore the Nutmeg State's 2,000 miles of trails

June 4, 2021 | Stacey Stearns, UConn Extension

Community Impact
People who engage in self-stigma and self-blame for their weight are more likely to avoid health care, obtain less frequent checkups, and perceive less respect from doctors, according to new research.

International Study of Weight Stigma Reveals Similar, Pervasive Experiences Across Six Countries

Findings also show negative implications of weight stigma for health care 

June 1, 2021 | Kristin Messina, UConn Rudd Center

The UConn Foundation on October 8, 2020.

Professor Emeritus Gives Back to Students with Africana Studies Scholarship

The professor and playwright's bequest will help UConn students for years to come

May 27, 2021 | Grace Merritt, UConn Foundation

UConn Voices
A grocery bag full of fruits and vegetables. Food pantry clients have said they want more healthy options, according to new research.

Color-coded Nutrition Info Helps Food Pantry Clients Choose Healthier Options

The study reinforces earlier findings that food pantry clients want healthy food options

May 25, 2021 | Kristin Messina, UConn Rudd Center

Community Impact
The sign in front of FDA headquarters in the Washington, D.C. area.

Why is the FDA Funded in Part by the Companies It Regulates?

Nearly half the agency's budget now comes from 'user fees' paid by companies seeking approval for medical devices or drugs

May 21, 2021 | C. Michael White, UConn School of Pharmacy

An out of service bag covers a pump handle at a gas station May 12, 2021 in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack a Warning of Infrastructure’s Vulnerability

Organizations need to shift thinking from 'if we get attacked' to 'when we get attacked'

May 18, 2021 | Stephen Fitzgerald, Instructor-in-Residence, School of Business

Rachael Manzer, with her husband Ken, receives a 4-H leadership award in 2019. Manzer, a STEM educator who has worked with NASA, is a doctoral candidate in the Neag School of Education. (Courtesy of Defining Studios)

For 4-H Leader and Neag Student, Learning is a Lifelong Process

'To me as a kid, UConn was this big, amazing place'

May 14, 2021 | Jen Cushman, UConn 4-H

young woman in medical face protection mask indoors on blue background.

Are Graphene-Coated Face Masks a COVID-19 Miracle – or Another Health Risk?

Balancing risk with uncertain rewards

May 14, 2021 | Tom Breen

Miguel Cardon at Commencement Podium

‘The Beginning is in Sight,’ Cardona Tells UConn Graduates

The US Secretary of Education reflected on his own experiences as a UConn graduate

May 10, 2021 | Tom Breen

Alumni
A child in a fast food restaurant. Voluntary policies at fast food restaurants have not increased the likelihood that parents will purchase healthier meals for children, according to new research.

Study: Fast Food Restaurants’ Voluntary Healthy Meal Options for Children Unlikely to Result in More Nutritious Food Purchases for Kids

The research assessed purchases of healthier kids’ meals before and after policies were introduced at McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, and Subway

May 6, 2021 | Kristin Messina, UConn Rudd Center

Research & Discovery