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

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

Celebrating UConn’s Class of 2021

A tribute to a class who made the seemingly impossible look easy

May 3, 2021 | Tom Breen

WNPR

Insects Around the World Are Disappearing. What Can We Do About It?

April 29, 2021 | Tom Breen

NBC Connecticut

UConn Medical Students Gain Real-World Experience at FEMA Mobile Vaccine Clinic

April 29, 2021 | Tom Breen

A picture of fresh vegetables. Food pantry clients say they want fresh fruits and vegetables, but that those aren't always available.

Rudd Study: Food Pantry Clients Seek Fruits and Vegetables, Despite Limited Availability

Survey results from food pantries also reveal the importance of client choice

April 23, 2021 | Kristin Messina, UConn Rudd Center

ABC News

How Chauvin’s Trial Affected Black Americans

April 22, 2021 | Tom Breen

Teenager with headphones around his neck using his phone. A UConn researcher says social media is turning online arguments among teenagers into real-world violence.

How Social Media Turns Online Arguments Between Teens Into Real-World Violence

Social media isn’t just mirroring conflicts happening in schools and on streets – it’s triggering new ones

April 19, 2021 | Caitlin Elsaesser, Assistant Professor of Social Work

A woman holds up a portrait of George Floyd as people gather outside the Hennepin County Government Center on April 9, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. People demanding justice for George Floyd gathered tonight outside the Government Center, where the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been ongoing for the past two weeks.

Derek Chauvin Trial: 3 Questions America Needs to Ask About Seeking Racial Justice in a Court of Law

The Chauvin case leads to the question: What is the difference between enforcing the law and being the law?

April 15, 2021 | Lewis R. Gordon, Professor of Philosophy

As many schools resume in-person instruction, simple steps can help improve the well-being of students.

Bringing ‘Behavioral Vaccines’ to School: 5 Ways Educators Can Support Student Well-Being

Simple steps that educators and parents can take to help support child well-being throughout the day

April 13, 2021 | Sandra M. Chafouleas, Professor of Educational Psychology

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 18: Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director at the National Institute Of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, takes off his face mask during a hearing, with the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, on the Covid-19 response, on Capitol Hill on March 18, 2021 in Washington, DC. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for scientists to be better communicators.

Scientists Need to Become Better Communicators, But It’s Hard to Measure Whether Training Works

Organizations that train scientists have to do more than just ask participants in a class whether they learned anything

April 12, 2021 | Robert Wyss, Professor Emeritus of Journalism; Margaret Rubega, Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Robert Capers, Researcher in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Research & Discovery