More Than Just A University

We’re a collection of diverse voices working every day to make the world a better place.

There are thousands of students, faculty, staff, and alumni who contribute to making the University of New Haven great. Our goal is to bring you 100 of those stories by 2020 – to celebrate our Centennial and the culmination of the Charger Challenge.

We’ll add more stories to this site every month to highlight the great work that we’re doing every day.

100 Stories for 100 Years

With our gift, we support the University and its students’ future successes so that they may have many opportunities.

I am currently completing my 10th year in the United States Air Force with many more ahead of me; I am also an electrical engineering student at the University of New Haven.

It was the criminal justice program that sparked my interest in the University of New Haven.

The University of New Haven has prepared me for success by giving me opportunities like the President’s Public Service Fellowship program that let me explore my interests and gain experiences I could not have imagined.

The University has changed my life by helping to change my perspective on who I am as a person. I am an individual who has potential. I know that with hard work and dedication, I can realize that potential.

As an interior design student, having passionate professors who were active in the field to help and advise me was invaluable.

As a student from California, the University of New Haven helped me to feel right at home and has aided my accomplishments that made me who I am today.

The University of New Haven was excellent at helping its students find their own opportunities. The professors in the Department of Biology & Environmental Science have been incredible advisers and mentors that have set me on the path to success.

The University of New Haven has provided me with all the resources I need for personal and professional growth.

The moment I walked onto the University of New Haven campus, I was given a number of tools and resources. The faculty and staff members genuinely cared about the students and wanted to help in any way possible.

Receiving scholarships lightened my financial burden, which allowed me to concentrate on my studies, complete my senior honors thesis, and finish my education at the University of New Haven.

I have wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement since I participated in a mock crime scene investigation when I was in middle school.

The University of New Haven is a good fit for service members and veterans because of the staff members who work with us.

I took a course in forensics in high school and loved it. I got hooked. And that led me to the University of New Haven.

My experience at the University of New Haven gave me the opportunity to take full advantage of experiential education and hands-on learning.

I served in the Connecticut Army National Guard from 2008 to 2014. During that period, I served in Afghanistan in 2010 as an infantryman.

The University of New Haven has taught me how to step out of my comfort zone, and as a result, I developed into a stronger person.

When I first visited the University of New Haven, I was impressed by the faculty’s commitment to providing students with a truly meaningful and career-focused education, by the students-first philosophy, and by the collaborative working environment.

The University excels at providing students with incredible opportunities to learn outside of the classroom.

I would not have been able to receive a degree and achieve what I have without the help and support of alumni.

The University has given me the perfect medium to grow and thrive. It has given me the opportunity to further my education in a healthy environment and has helped me gain confidence in my work.

It’s important to me to support the University of New Haven and to provide the opportunity for students to receive a great education.

The Industrial/Organizational Psychology program at the University of New Haven has given me the confidence to thrive in the corporate setting within both human resource and organizational development functions. The rigorous coursework, coupled with an applied learning style, has prepared me for the challenging human interactions I will face post-graduation.

I was lucky enough to accept my first job right out of college as a result of an internship that I was recommended for by one of my professors.

I feel that the University of New Haven has prepared me for success in so many ways. Not only did I learn communication and leadership skills, I learned how to apply them in a variety of situations.

I feel that the University of New Haven – specifically, the Department of Economics & Business Analytics – has provided me with the skills and support to maximize my potential.

The University of New Haven was a big part of my life journey.

LaTonya Watson is approaching her third season as the head women’s basketball coach at the University of New Haven.

After serving in the Army, I studied engineering at the University of New Haven. I acquired technical knowledge and learned how to interact with people in all facets of life.

In the Master’s in Finance program, I was able to collaborate with peers, learn the intricacies of financial management, and apply the curriculum directly to portfolio management via the school's student portfolios in equity and fixed income. This has made me a more effective investment professional.

I enjoy the campus environment, the professors, and the student body. Everyone is always so helpful, nice, and willing to answer any questions.

After a long career in business, I’ve learned a great deal that I can pass on to my students to help them understand the real world of business that they’ll soon enter.

Lisa Scranton is a lifelong resident of West Haven and has worked at the University of New Haven since 2003 in eight different departments.

The University of New Haven provided me the opportunity as a young EMBA student to further my professional development.

I chose to make a contribution to the University of New Haven because I believe in the University, its mission, its staff and in its ability to provide a world-class education to students.

The University of New Haven appeals to me because of the caring, dedicated staff, who go out of their way to provide services and support for students to ensure that each student has every opportunity for success.

I can’t speak enough of the sport management faculty members and how well they prepared me for post-graduate life.

I was attracted to the University of New Haven because of its long-standing and successful Sport Management program.

I think, as time passes, your memory of your time in a certain place becomes more fond, and this has given me an opportunity to go back to the University and give back just a little of what it gave me.

I’ve always wanted to teach at the collegiate level; I just struggled to find a subject I was passionate about. When I started working in the healthcare field and enrolled in the Master’s in Healthcare Administration program at the University of New Haven, something in me got excited. I knew after my first few courses that I wanted to pursue a doctorate.

I want this, the Honorable Gordon J. Myatt Sr. Endowed Scholarship, to be an opportunity for African-American students to make a significant contribution in life.

While earning my degree, I have been fortunate to work with numerous successful and elite healthcare professionals. I found it encouraging that many were University of New Haven alumni and graduates of the same program.

Being in the classroom is the best part of my job, and I really enjoy the students at the University of New Haven. They come from a variety of backgrounds, are engaged, and are excited to learn.

After I graduate, I hope to work for the United States Secret Service.

I support the University of New Haven because I want to strengthen the institution for future generations of students.

The investigative skills I developed through the University’s co-op program with the New Haven Police Department apply to a wide array of different jobs and fields.

Marge and I value education, so when we prepared our estate plans, we decided to include gifts to the University of New Haven as well as the other universities we attended.

For me, the charities I place in my will are a way to leave a legacy. The University of New Haven is one of several institutions that are very dear to me.

I decided to major in criminal justice because my dream is to work with offenders in the criminal justice system. I would like to find the right rehabilitation methods to reduce recidivism and increase offenders’ likelihood of living a better life. I hope to show them the positive in their lives.

I learned how to balance a full-time class schedule, stay active and social on campus, and maintain a work schedule. Personally, I think this is one of the best things the University of New Haven has taught me.

I’ve learned in life that it is very important to ‘pay it forward,’ whether it is a word of encouragement or donating to an institution like the University of New Haven.

I have had three federal internships that I got through the connections I made at the University of New Haven, which is an amazing thing. From the class speakers to the professors’ connections, there were phenomenal chances for me to network that will definitely help me further down the line in my career.

The University of New Haven has opened the door to many opportunities that I would not have had at bigger schools.

Some of my favorite memories at the University of New Haven were when I was challenged and taken out of my comfort zone. It is thanks to those moments that I finally found my calling, or at least my next endeavor.

My time at the University has prepared me for success by giving me opportunities to network with professionals in my desired field, giving me practical learning experiences.

I currently work for Duke University Athletics, and my time at the University of New Haven gave me the knowledge and the experience in campus recreation that I needed.

Growing up, I was frequently at the University, then called New Haven College, and have been delighted to see it grow in size and reputation.

I chose the University of New Haven because I was so impressed with all the programs they had here.

I am from Italy, but I have spent most of my professional life living and traveling around the world.

I have been extremely lucky to have mentors who inspired me through my educational experience, and I would like to offer that kind of experience to future students and/or professionals someday.

I chose the University of New Haven because I thought it gave me the best chance of becoming a mechanical engineer, mainly through all the support it provides to its students.

I chose the University of New Haven originally because of the criminal justice program. I’d heard nothing but great things about it, from people in law enforcement.

As Cathy and I age, we have comprehensively evaluated various philanthropic opportunities where we could invest to make a difference for years to come.

Conducting research while in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program and working on my honors thesis helped me prepare for my future.

At the University of New Haven, I discovered so many professors who helped me in my journey.

Receiving the Alumni Association Scholarship helped relieve some of the financial burden I was facing as a student.

From the President

Steven Kaplan

A message from Steven Kaplan

Every day, we challenge our graduates to imagine what is possible and to maximize their boundless potential. Thanks to individuals like you, our students are able to do just that – while achieving more than they ever thought possible.

Learn more