Newest Graduates Celebrate Time as Chargers and Look to the Future

Whether she was in the laboratory or on the soccer field, Sophie Eskenas ’24, ’25 M.S. was committed to getting the most out of her time as an undergraduate student at the University of New Haven. She excelled as a student-athlete, gaining hands-on experience outside of the classroom and dedicating herself to service.

A member of the Chargers Women’s Soccer Team, Eskenas majored in forensic science with a concentration in chemistry, and she was named a John D. Hatfield Scholar for the 2022-2023 academic year. Whether she was serving as a teaching assistant, a learning assistant in the University’s Center for Learning Resources (CLR), or as a member of the University’s American Chemical Society chapter, she enjoyed sharing her passion for her field with her fellow Chargers.

Eskenas was also passionate about service throughout her time as a Charger. She and her teammates braved the frigid waters of Long Island Sound every winter, taking a “polar plunge” as part of fundraising efforts that supported the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of kids with critical illnesses.

Eskenas accepted her bachelor’s degree as part of the Saturday morning ceremony that was the culminating event of the University’s three-day 2024 Commencement. She’s excited to return to campus in the fall to begin pursuing her master’s degree in chemistry as part of the University’s 4+1 dual degree program. Her goal is to become a forensic scientist in the field of forensic toxicology and/or forensic drug analysis.

“The University of New Haven has helped prepare me for success by providing me with the best forensic science education in the country,” said Eskenas. “The forensic science program has allowed me to experience many different aspects of the field, helping me to figure out my primary interests and pursue a successful and enjoyable career.”

‘Let us show the world our passion and our purpose’

The University conferred 3,500 degrees during the four ceremonies, including nearly 1,300 associate and bachelor’s degrees during the Saturday morning ceremony.

Honorary doctorates were presented to:

• Ann Nyberg ’24 Hon., a legendary broadcast journalist and the longest-serving anchor/reporter in WTNH-TV history, who is a published author, owner of a popular boutique shop in Madison, and the founder of the Toy Closet Program at Yale New Haven Hospital.
• Indra K. Nooyi, a successful business executive and former chair and CEO of PepsiCo who has been ranked among the world’s “100 Most Powerful Women” by Forbes Magazine. She was the chief architect of Performance with Purpose, PepsiCo’s pledge to do what’s right for business by being responsive to the needs of the world around it. During her tenure, PepsiCo grew its net revenue by more than 80 percent and outperformed the S&P 500 in terms of shareholder returns.

In presenting Nyberg for an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, Shaily Menon, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, presented a citation that read in part, “The face of Connecticut news for more than four decades, you have interviewed Walter Cronkite, Barbara Walters, and Julie Andrews; reported from Cuba before restrictions were lifted; and traveled to the Vatican to cover Pope John Paul II. You’ve made, perhaps, the biggest impact through the Toy Closet Program at Yale New Haven Hospital, which has distributed hundreds of thousands of toys since you founded it more than 30 years ago.

Brian Kench, Ph.D., dean of the Pompea College of Business, presented Nooyi for an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree. “Named one of the world’s most powerful women multiple times by Forbes Magazine, you led with grace and determination, personifying the mindset that, as you said: ‘The internal culture you create around leadership matters,’” the citation read, in part. “Bold and forward looking, you serve as an exemplary role model by exemplifying empathy, embracing change, and embodying courage in your convictions.”

Nyberg delivered the keynote address as part of the ceremony, urging sharing her passion for storytelling and urging Chargers to “find your passion and go after it.”

‘What a Charger is all about’

Aiyannah Lewis ’24, who also addressed the Class of 2024, urged her few graduates to acknowledge how the difficult times they’ve faced – namely, the pandemic – have made them resilient. She also encouraged her fellow Chargers to recognize the support of those around them – their “herds” – and to reflect on how that support helped them to reach this milestone.

“Let us go out into the world and show them that we are pioneers, change agents, and disruptors helping to shape our communities and the fields we are part of,” said Lewis, who earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology. “Let us show the world our passion and our purpose – and what a Charger is all about!”

In presiding over his first Commencement as President, Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D., quoted Spider-Man and Chaucer while encouraging the Class of 2024 to “Dream big, challenge yourself, and share your resilience, courage, and can-do spirit with the world.

“In my short time here – I have encountered students with unlimited promise and an infectious can-do spirit. This is a university community with no ceiling, and the world needs Chargers – like you – like never before,” President Frederiksen continued. “Lean on the experiences you have gained, the networks you have built, the lessons you have learned, the friendships you have forged, and the university that today becomes your alma mater.”

‘Opportunities to learn and grow’

For Gabrielle Picón ’24, a new business management grad with a minor in finance, being a Charger meant being an active member of the University community. A member of the Women In Business Club who also served as president, she enjoyed hosting events that fostered leadership and professional development. Picón, who was also a learning assistant for the CLR, helped create an engaging classroom environment for her fellow finance students, developing her public speaking and organizational skills.

A member of the University’s Honors program, Picón collaborated with interns across the country as a sales intern for CDW Corporation in Shelton, Conn., an international multi-brand provider of information technology solutions and a Fortune 500 company. She also served as a wealth management intern for TrinityPoint Wealth in Milford, Conn. She now has her sights set on the consulting world, as she’ll soon begin an internship with RSM in Stamford, Conn., as a member of the Audit & Assurance Team.

“The University of New Haven has granted me many opportunities to learn and grow inside and outside of the classroom,” said Picón, who was also a member of the University’s John D. Hatfield Scholars program. “The Pompea College of Business is an incredibly diverse place where undergraduate and graduate students can learn from professors in a variety of functional areas.”

Making an impact through research

For Kaylind Novick ’24, ’25 M.S., being a Charger meant making an impact, which she has endeavored to do through her research. A member of the Honors program, Novick focused her thesis on combining forensic science and criminal justice – her major and minor, respectively.

Novick endeavored to raise awareness of femicide in Mexico – specifically, in Ciudad Juárez. Positing that there would likely be a transfer of DNA between an attacker and a victim in a violent struggle, she collected DNA samples from female-identifying Chargers at the University to examine how much male DNA could be recovered. She found that this DNA recovery is possible, even though the amount of male DNA would be very small and subject to being “drowned out” by the female DNA. She also discussed ways in which victims could be identified using skeletal remains and databases, since many of the victims in Juárez are deceased.

“Overall, my goal is to show that these cases have the potential to have a perpetrator identified,” said Novick, who will continue her education at the University this fall, beginning her master’s degree in cellular and molecular biology as part of the 4+1 dual degree program. “I hope it at least can reunite families. At the University, I have gotten the opportunity to participate in different types of labs and courses that relate to my interests, my major, and even courses related to the graduate program I am in.”