SCSU School of Graduate and Professional Studies newsletter, Dec. 2021

The Hoot

Fall 2021

Contents

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A Bold Vision and a Determined Pursuit

Finally Home: SCSU Returns to In-Person Learning!

Aspiring and Ambitious

Strengthening Our Institution: The SGPS Advisory Board

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A Global Scholar and an Accomplished Teacher

A Deeper Look Into Cybersecurity

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Aim Aspire Achieve

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Interesting...

A Bold Vision and a Determined Pursuit Dear Colleagues and Friends,

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t’s a pleasure having the opportunity to connect with you all through the Fall 2021 SGPS Newsletter. We are approaching the end of a very successful semester with our students moving towards achieving their aspirations at Southern Connecticut State University.

Here at Southern, we continue to grow in our enrollments and in advancing our social justice missions through recruiting diverse students, staff, faculty, and colleagues. SCSU and its history of academic excellence continue to offer the community best-in-class professionals who you will find making positive impacts in every domain of our communities, from hospitals and schools to major businesses and corporations.

At SGPS, we continue to make progress in offering new, innovative, and more accessible degree programs. Our current portfolio boasts over one hundred programs, including four doctoral, sixty-seven master’s programs, and twenty accelerated

pathways to graduate degrees. Just this year, we’ve launched seven new master’s programs, one new doctorate, and four new certificate programs. By the beginning of the Fall 2022 semester, four additional accelerated programs will be added to our everexpanding roster.

We are proud of our community and partners, including our advisory board and the esteemed colleagues who have granted us their full support in making Southern’s School of Graduate and Professional Studies among the best and largest graduate programs in Connecticut, with several world-class degree programs and a dedicated and passionate community of faculty, students, and staff. We have soaring ambitions for the future and the willpower to achieve what we aspire.

With Gratitude,

Manohar Singh Dean Manohar Singh, PhD

Finally Home: SCSU Returns to In-Person Learning!

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outhern Connecticut State University has announced that they will be recommencing inperson classes for all students in the Fall 2021 semester! This is an exciting prospect for many in our graduate student population who may have not been able to learn on campus during the pandemic last year. This year, Southern is ready to welcome them back safely and with excitement. Though restrictions regarding vaccination status and mask restrictions will remain in place as the pandemic continues, the university is committed to keeping the student body safe and healthy at all stages of this return. With that said, SGPS and the greater university

are still excited to begin the journey towards a normal, in-person education experience and will continue to give students the support they may need during these difficult times.

Southern Connecticut State University has demonstrated its determination to create a safe space for students and faculty to learn. In a campus-wide effort for health and safety, over 87% of students have reported their vaccination status, meaning that 81% of students studying at Southern this semester are confirmed to be vaccinated. This meets the CDC’s guidelines for a “vaccinated campus,” making Southern a community-focused, safe environment

for students and faculty to continue their education journeys. Looking beyond statistics, the return to in-person learning puts a renewed highlight on parts of the graduate experience that are best produced on-campus. The connection between students and professors can flourish as it once did before the pandemic and specialized classroom settings, like science labs and office hours, can resume unimpeded by the restraints of computer access.

We’re excited to explore the positive impact on the Southern community that the return to in-person will have on Southern’s academics and general social comradery.

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Aspiring and Ambitious Student Highlight | Greta Brunello Greta Brunello is from Italy. She plays soccer, loves nature, and enjoys playing several different sports. She is majoring in Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology, and would like to be a sports psychologist, a massage therapist, and a physical therapist.

What was your major as an undergraduate and what graduate program will you be pursuing?

I am an Exercise Science major with a minor in Psychology, and I am planning to do sports psychology as Graduate Course.

Age 24

What about Southern made it your choice to continue your academic experience?

Degree Program

A few reasons: first, the quality of the program; second, the fact that I am a member of the soccer team; third, I had one more year of eligibility, due to the pandemic.

Town / State of Residence

How has the graduate application process treated you?

Are there any positive interactions or aspects with graduate faculty that come to mind?

Sports Psychology

New Haven, CT

Club / Organization Involvement

The process is not too bad. I had a couple of questions and went to the graduate office for help, and they’ve been nice and helpful.

Global Brigades Club; Exercise Physiology Club

Besides your new graduate program ambitions, are there any groups, programs or career opportunities you’re participating in?

Fun Facts

I will be doing my internship in physical therapy next Spring, and I am working in the Human Performance Lab at SCSU, along as working as a tutor and in the transfer student office. I would like to be certified also as massage therapy.

Hobbies

What’s been your best experience being a Southern student so far?

Book Suggestion

It’s been good! I have fun in participating in campus activities when I am able to, I met some great people and the area where Southern is located allows me do what I like: hiking, biking, running, and enjoying nature.

I am from Italy and I have a twin sister and an older sister.

Biking, Running, Hiking, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball

I like reading romance and book based on crimes and real crime stories.

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Strengthening Our Institution: The SGPS Advisory Board

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outhern’s School of Graduate and Professional Studies team would like to introduce you to their advisory board, a committee of qualified professionals and community leaders who are determined to improve the lives of graduate students currently enrolled at Southern and well into their careers beyond the university. This advisory board brings together accomplished professional experts and eminent community members who aim to direct students, faculty, and families towards the goal of student success. The board meets three times every year (once a semester to ensure that the board’s mission and goals are current and reflect the needs of students today.

The mission of this advisory board is a multi-faceted approach to guaranteeing Southern’s graduate students success in their future endeavors. This mission includes: •

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Tailoring courses and program offerings to fit the needs of organizations and employers hiring Southern graduates.

Utilizing the years of professional experience between board members to produce content fit for various professional settings.

Examining program effectiveness and highlighting

• • •

areas where improvement is possible.

Sharing career and professional advice to Southern’s students and faculty.

Collaborating with career services to guide students towards internships and professional opportunities.

Establishing a professional network for current and past Southern students.

Advisory Board Members Vincent J. Averaimo, ESQ.

Andrea Lobo

Milford Chamber of Commerce, Milford Law

Chief Human Resources Officer, Cornell Scott-Hill Health

Dr. Christine Broadbrige, Ph.D.

Paige Miglio

Executive Director/Professor, Research and Innovation, SCSU

Executive Director, Milford Arts Council

Desmond F. Brown

Sri Muthu, MBA

Assistant Director, Office of Consumer Education, CFPB

CEO and Co-Founder, Health Venture; Co-Founder and Board Director, HealthHavenHub, Inc.

Jack Burriesci, M.S. Security Operations, Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Devin Carney CT State Representative

Gary Joseph Ciarleglio

Lucy Nalpathanchil Presenter, NPR

Ron Napoli CT State Representative

Regional Director Sales & Relationship Management; Greater New Haven & Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce

Jeffrey Orszak

Joe DeLong

Kara Rochelle

CEO and Executive Director, Connecticut Conference of Municipalities

CT State Representative

Patricia Dillion

Paul Savas

CT State Representative

Vice President, Comcast

Glenn M. Jurgen

Dr. Ripi Singh, Ph.D.

Director Human Resources, Access Health CT

Chief Innovation and Strategy Coach

Nicole Klarides-Ditria

Dean Manohar Singh, Ph.D.

CT State Representative

Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies, Southern Connecticut State University

Donna Lecky, JD, MBA Managing Partner, Health Venture Capital; CFO and Co-Founder, HealthVenture; Co-Founder and Board Chair, HealthHavenHub, Inc.

Director, Strategic Growth and Technology, ConnStep

Matthew Sugarman President, EBP Supply Solutions

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A Global Scholar & an Accomplished Teacher Faculty Highlight | Dr. Hak Joon Kim Tell us what a prospective graduate student coming into one of Southern’s graduate MLIS program can expect?

The MLIS Program will: • Provide a curriculum that prepares professionals responsive to the field; • Provide internships and other connections with the local community and beyond; • Provide exemplary and effective advising and mentoring; • Cultivate a culture of collaboration in research with faculty, students, and practitioners; • Promote the use of current and emerging library and information technologies in professional education, research, and service activities.

What does an ALA accreditation mean for the MLIS programs?

Because most employers require an ALA accredited degree to get a good job at a professional level in a library, archive, or other information center, ALA accreditation is extremely important for a library science program. As soon as our MLIS program was fully accredited by ALA in Summer 2020, the enrollment of the Fall 2020 semester went up 50 percent when it was compared to the enrollment of the Fall 2019 semester.

What has been your experience working with the graduate studies department to keep the program fresh and representative of the needs of modern employers?

A curriculum revision including a new course development has been an ongoing process. In order to meet employers’ changing needs, the department faculty meet with our Advisory Board once each semester, which is composed of 18 Connecticut library community leaders. In addition, there have been regular stakeholder gatherings that are designed to allow the department to report program activities, goals, and objectives and to receive feedback regarding needs and experiences with recent MLIS graduates.

What fields do you often see graduates go into?

Most of our graduates go to public libraries, school libraries, and college and university libraries.

What are some goals you have for the program in the years to come?

The MLIS Program will continuously provide high-quality education that is appropriate at a graduate professional level. As a result, Southern’s MLIS program will be ranked as one of the top 20 library science programs in the United States over the next 5-10 years.

Dr. Hak Joon Kim came to the U.S. as a graduate student and got his M.L.S. and Ph.D. from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, from 1992-1998.

After completing his Ph.D. (Major: Information Science and Minor: Instructional Systems Technology), he went back to South Korea and became the chief librarian at the Sejong University Library.

After working over one year as the chief librarian, Dr. Hak Joon Kim returned to the U.S. to become an assistant professor in the Department of Information and Library Science (ILS) at Southern Connecticut State University in 2000. He received early tenure in 2003 and became a full professor in 2010. Since 2013, he has worked as the Chair of the ILS Department.

How many years have you been at Southern?

I have been at Southern since 2000.

What is your general area of study?

Scholarly Communication, Scholarly Electronic Journals, Human-Computer Interaction, Instructional Systems Technology

Do you have any involvement with other organizations?

I am currently the Chair of the Connecticut Korean School Board of Trustees. I also serve on the Advisory Board of the Library Technology Certificate Program at Three Rivers Community College.

What is one fun fact about yourself?

I am a former Korean Army Ranger.

Do you have any hobbies?

I play tennis and ping pong.

Do you have a book(s) recommendation to share?

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

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A Deeper Look Into Cyber Security In the last issue of The Hoot, SGPS highlighted the general aspects of SCSU’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program (CMMC). The program offers to instruct students and cybersecurity workers in response to the new mandate for implementing cybersecurity standards across the defense industrial base. This allows organizations to do business with the Department of Defense (DoD) and to bid on DoD contracts.

“SCSU is the first and only university offering CMMC certification in the state of Connecticut in partnership

While the backing of Connecticut corporate interests is impressive on its own, it’s worth looking at what Southern’s CMMC program has that other, similar programs may not:

with Data Intelligence (DIT).”

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At Southern’s CMMC program, students will learn skills like CMMC methodology, governance, technical systems, and identity and access management, while also being instructed in the history and major players of cybersecurity and cybersecurity ethics. These skills and trainings will be required for professionals in the fields of defense manufacturing and data shop contractors, IT and cybersecurity professionals, legal and contract compliance professionals, and many more. If you’re interested in the cybersecurity field or any positions where a cybersecurity training may be helpful, contact CMMC@southernct.edu for further information.

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SCSU is the first and only university offering CMMC certification in the state of Connecticut in partnership with Data Intelligence (DIT).

SCSU offers a Masters degree in cybersecurity and offers world-renowned staff and professors.

CyberDI is one of the first approved LLPs in the market place.

The SCSU cybersecurity team includes CMMC Working Group members that helped form the CMMC course objectives.

Courses are designed by cybersecurity experts, instructional designers, and educational psychologists associated with the program.

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Aspire Aim Achieve:

Restating Our Mantra for the New Semester

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n the last issue of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies’ newsletter, the SGPS team unveiled their new logo (pictured on page) and a bold mission crafted to mirror SCSU’s status as a beacon of social justice: To promote worldclass education by leading innovation among engaged students and faculty within a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, and student-centered environment.

While we were excited to unveil this in the last issue, we are diligently strategizing on implementing this mission. With the return of in-person classes and meetings for students, faculty, and staff, SGPS will be better able to connect with the student body in ways that bolster their academic and social engagement while maintaining a safe and healthy atmosphere. The return to in-person learning will also give students and faculty far more chances to connect with the social justice missions of the

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university through student-run communities and on-campus tools meant to positively impact the academic lives of students from every walk of life. SGPS is thrilled to be running on the same campus as these organizations and communities and invites collaboration in hopes of bettering the graduate student experience.

One of the ways that SGPS intends to fulfill its part in this mission is through its advisory board. This board represents a diverse group of successful professionals and experts spanning many fields. With their combined life and professional experience, SGPS and Southern Connecticut State University will be building and bolstering its offerings to be among the best institutions for achieving academic excellence, inclusivity, and positive community impact.

Interesting...

Up until 1954, SCSU was known as New Haven State Normal College.

Princeton’s Review Guide to the 332 Greenest Colleges has listed SCSU as one of the most environmentally responsible campuses in the United States and Canada.

The first class of SCSU (1893), then known as New Haven State Normal College, had 85 female students.

There was a competition to name Southern’s owl mascot, and former Graduate Admissions office assistant Linda Krausz won, naming the owl Otus.

Dean Singh at our graduate open house on November 7th

Growing the SGPS Family To ensure that SGPS is doing our job to improve the academic experience of Southern students, we are expanding our team of professionals who are ready to help guide students through their graduate education: • • • • • •

Ben Pello – Graduate Assistant Thomas Ivory-Joseph – Student Worker Adrian Pizarro-Slevinsky – University Graduate Assistant Christopher LeBeau – University Graduate Assistant Sukhpreet Behal – Student Worker Justin McIntyre – Student Worker

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The Hoot Fall 2021

Content Creator Ben Pello

Designer Isabelle Seward

Supervisor Dawn Grimes