| | | | Celebrating More than 12,600 Graduates Across the CSCU System |
|
| Congratulations to an estimated 12,600 students who graduated from the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system during the 2025–2026 academic year.
Commencement ceremonies were held throughout the CSCU system, and Central Connecticut State University graduated more than 2,200 students, Eastern Connecticut State University graduated approximately 1,000 students, Southern Connecticut State University celebrated approximately 2,600 graduates, and Western Connecticut State University awarded degrees to 912 students. CT State Community College awarded 5,395 associate degrees and certificates during commencement celebrations, and Charter Oak State College awarded degrees to more than 650 students. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | Congratulations to Southern Connecticut State University and Connecticut State Community College on being part of the National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines Award! Connecticut was one of 12 regions selected to receive the prestigious award, joining a portfolio of regional technology clusters that are accelerating the development of critical technologies and building a durable U.S. technology advantage. The NSF Quantum Technologies Engine in Connecticut, led by the University of Connecticut in partnership with Yale University, Southern Connecticut State University, Connecticut State Community College, ConnCORP, Connecticut Innovations, and the State of Connecticut, aims to advance American quantum innovation and secure the domestic quantum supply chain by accelerating the commercialization of quantum technologies for national defense, biotechnology, and financial services.
The NSF Quantum Technologies Engine in Connecticut (the QuantumCT Engine) team will initially receive a two-year, $15 million award. The funds will support the Engine's technology translation, workforce development, and incubator operations. As a key partner, Southern will receive $2 million during the initial two-year phase of the award, including support for statewide workforce development activities through the CSCU Center for Quantum and Nanotechnology (QNT). |
|
|
| Pictured: SCSU students Maggie Blanchard and Andre Correa working at the high-performance computing cluster in the QNT. |
|
|
| Pictured: Crossby Dessalines, Maritza Sanchez, and Julian Rus utilize the QNT Atomic Force Microscope. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | The Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR) named 16 Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) faculty members as recipients of the annual 2025–2026 Board of Regents Faculty Awards.
The awards, which recognize CSCU faculty for excellence in teaching or research, are given to assistant and associate professors in tenure-track or tenured positions and adjunct faculty members. These faculty have distinguished themselves as outstanding teachers; are doing exceptional research, scholarly, and creative work in the classroom; and promote instructional improvements for their departments. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | Twelve outstanding students from the four Connecticut State Universities were awarded CSCU’s highest academic honor, the Henry Barnard Distinguished Student Award by the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Foundation. The students, enrolled in Central, Eastern, Southern, and Western Connecticut State Universities, received the prestigious award for their outstanding academic achievement, on-campus involvement, and dedication to community service. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | Congratulations to the 2026 PTK All-Connecticut Academic Team |
|
| Congratulations to 25 high-achieving CT State students statewide who were named to the 2026 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-Connecticut Academic Team and honored at a ceremony held at Central Connecticut State University with guest speaker CT State President Christina Royal. Sponsored by the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the All-Connecticut Academic Team is one of the All-USA Community College qualifying teams. This honor recognizes high-achieving two-year college students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership and service beyond the classroom. Each student is pursuing an associate degree, maintaining a 3.5 GPA or higher, and actively participating in campus activities. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | |  Natalie Braswell was appointed interim chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system by the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education. Braswell, who previously served as State Comptroller also served as General Counsel to Governor Ned Lamont. A first-generation college graduate, a first-generation master’s degree recipient, and a first-generation law school graduate, Braswell understands the transformative power of higher education. As interim chancellor, Braswell will provide strategic leadership, operational stability, and effective governance for Connecticut’s public higher education system.
|
|
| |  Governor Ned Lamont selected Ari Santiago of West Hartford to serve as interim chair of the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education. Santiago was appointed to the board in 2020 and has served on the board’s Finance and Infrastructure and Technology Committees.
|
|
| |  The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) formally accepted Central Connecticut’s 2026 Progress Report, issuing an enthusiastic commendation for the university’s historic, six-semester streak of enrollment growth. In a letter addressed to Central President Dr. Zulma R. Toro, NECHE Commission Chair Michaele Whelan praised the university’s “remarkable success” and officially confirmed Central’s upcoming Fall 2028 comprehensive evaluation.
|
|
| |  Nine Eastern students recently completed a new summer program designed to foster civic leadership skills. Spearheaded by the Center for Community Engagement (CCE) through a $20,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, the inaugural Summer Civic Leadership Program was designed for undergraduate students passionate about civic responsibility and community development. The program allowed students to develop a stronger understanding of community leadership theories and frameworks through academic coursework while putting their knowledge into practice at four community-based organizations across Windham.
Pictured: Eastern Connecticut State University students, faculty, and staff at the Summer Civic Leadership Program reception on July 1.
|
|
| |  Southern Connecticut State University and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro joined community leaders to announce a $2.25 million federal investment supporting the creation of “The Hive,” a new emerging workforce development and technologies hub at Southern. The federal Community Project Funding secured by DeLauro will support training in emerging industries, including artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technologies, biotechnology, nanotechnology, immersive realities, and sustainability.
Pictured left to right: Suzie Huminski, Dr. Colleen Bielitz, U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro, Dr. Sandra Bulmer, Jenni Myers, Brett Sandman, Amy Feest, and Garrett Sheehan
|
|
| |  Stacey Christie, of Windsor Locks, a veterinary medicine major at Connecticut State Community College (CT State) Asnuntuck, was named a 2026 New Century Transfer Scholar and received a $2,750 scholarship from Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) international honor society. The New Century Transfer Scholar program recognizes exceptional students based on academic achievement, leadership, and service. More than 2,300 students from nearly 1,400 community college campuses nationwide were nominated for the 2026 awards.
Pictured is Dr. Monica Marlowe (left), Chair of the Board of Phi Theta Kappa; and Jane Hale Hopkins, President of Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, presenting CT State Asnuntuck student Stacey Christie with a New Century Transfer Scholar award.
|
|
| |  Eastern Connecticut State University is among 35 colleges and universities across the country selected to participate in a Gates Foundation-backed effort aimed at increasing college student success and persistence. Led by the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Higher Education, Eastern will participate in the "Advancing Student Success: Strategic Prioritization for Student Success" initiative with peer institutions from the Council for Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC).
|
|
| |  Michelle Coach, Ed.D., school dean of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and advanced manufacturing at Connecticut State Community College (CT State), has been selected as one of 40 leaders from across the country for the 2026-27 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship. The fellowship will support Coach’s work advancing student success and workforce-aligned programs at CT State.
|
|
| |  A new mural at Western Connecticut State University was created in a tunnel on the Westside campus that connects the commuter student parking lot to the residence halls across University Boulevard. The new mural was created and painted by art Professor Jack Tom with the help of four WestConn students. Students included Ian Clifford (Painting/Illustration, Class of 2026), Anna Jordan (Painting, ‘26), Maren Dion (Illustration, ‘26), and Cayden J. Nadolny-Pallatto (Graphic Design, ‘26). The Facilities department provided paint and supplies, and Facilities staff cleaned and primed the tunnel walls in preparation for the mural.
|
|
| |  Charter Oak State College has launched a new online Bachelor of Science in Finance degree. The degree joins a host of career-focused online business and technology degrees designed for working adults. The online degree program has three areas of focus, Corporate, FinTech and Ethics, and prepares students to sit for industry certifications including the Six Sigma Green and Yellow Belt.
|
|
| |  Dr. Stan Kurkovsky, chair of the Computer Science Department at Central Connecticut State University, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to Poland for the 2026–2027 academic year. As a Fulbright U.S. Scholar, Kurkovsky will spend the spring 2027 semester at Wrocław University of Science and Technology in Poland where he will teach and conduct research focused on human-centered software engineering.
|
|
| |  The Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE) has honored Southern Connecticut State University’s Dr. Christine Broadbridge with its Distinguished Service Award, recognizing her years of dedicated leadership and service to the Academy. Elected to the Academy in 2008, Broadbridge served in the presidential cycle from 2018 to 2024, including a term as president from 2020 to 2022.
|
|
| |  Eastern Connecticut State University is expanding its academic offerings for fall 2026 with three new undergraduate certificate programs: geospatial technology, emergency services and public safety, and victim services and advocacy. Designed to complement a bachelor's degree or serve as standalone credentials for working professionals, the new certificates provide students with career-focused skills that strengthen resumes and expand professional opportunities.
|
|
| |  President Bernal joined the Excelencia in Education’s presidents’ network, a national network of results-oriented educators and policymakers transforming higher education to tap the talents of the Latino community.
|
|
| |  Charter Oak State College has launched a new online Master of Science in Integrated Early Childhood/Elementary and Special Education (Birth – Grade 3). This master’s degree joins a portfolio of early education focused programs offered by the College’s School of Education designed for working adults.
|
|
| |  Eastern Connecticut State University’s Master of Science in Applied Data Science program made an addition to its roster of sponsors, providing students an entrée into sports analytics. The “DSC 509: Data Science Practicum” course taught by Professor Niki Kunene features a partnership with Trackman, a leading sports metrics company. The course enables students to analyze data from Trackman’s collegiate baseball data repository. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
|
|
| |  Before he helped lead the New York Giants to two Super Bowl titles, Kevin Gilbride, ’74 was calling plays and building championship-caliber teams at his alma mater, Southern Connecticut State University. On June 4, former players, colleagues, alumni, and friends gathered to celebrate the coaching icon during “A Night to Honor Coach Kevin Gilbride.” Gilbride (right) was joined by former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (left).
|
|
| |  The Ancell School of Business at Western Connecticut State University will introduce the new “Ancell Advantage,” program this summer to help students gain a competitive edge both academically and professionally. The three-day, tuition-free program will take place on July 21-23, 2026, for current WestConn students, incoming freshmen, transfer students pursuing a business degree, and/or high-achieving high school students.
|
|
| CT State Northwestern’s Library Digitizes Mad River Anthology |
|
|  CT State Community College Northwestern’s library has completed a project to digitize all issues of the Mad River Anthology.
Originally published as Scroll, the Mad River Anthology is a literary magazine that has been showcasing student poetry, creative writing, and art since 1965.
Given the Mad River Anthology’s rich history and ongoing importance to the arts in Northwestern CT, staff at the CT State Northwestern Library set out to digitally archive the magazine’s six decades of issues and make them freely accessible to the world.
Library Associate Ann Marie Hyres spearheaded the project and utilized the CSCU libraries’ integrated Alma/Primo systems as the platform. Aided by colleagues including Travis Feder, CSCU Systems Librarian for Library Consortium Operations, Hyres has now completed the project, giving the world access to 60 plus years of student poetry and art.
To explore contents of the Mad River Anthology, visit CT State Northwestern Library’s Digital Collections.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
