By Christopher Todd
As we bid a heartfelt farewell to several long-time UConn Pre-College Summer (PCS) staff members, we celebrate the profound impact two very special staff have had on the growth and success of the program. Collectively, Nella Quasnitschka and Melanie Banks represented a
combined 30+ years of experience for UConn, having served in numerous roles for the Office of Early College Programs (OECP) but also having been instrumental in the rebranding and expansion of the Pre-College Summer Program (PCS), which launched in 2014. When Nella and Melanie joined the program in 2016 with a clear mission to expand and revitalize it, their leadership played a major role in driving the program’s significant growth over the past decade. As the Director and Associate Director of Pre-College Summer respectively, their leadership, creativity, and unwavering commitment to student development transformed PCS into a nationally recognized experience
for aspiring college students. Whether it was designing engaging residential experiences, mentoring high school participants and UConn graduate students, or building strong campus partnerships, their contributions created a supportive and inspiring environment that will continue to benefit future cohorts for years to come. Their legacy is woven into the fabric of PCS—reflected in every student who left our program more confident, curious, and prepared for college life. Celebrating the combined impact of Nella and Melanie is
easy for members of the Office of Early College Programs team. One doesn’t have to look very hard to find their professional and personal imprints on colleagues, stakeholders and programmatic offerings. But what better way to celebrate Nella and Melanie, than to hear from some of their former PCS colleagues who capture the true impact both incredible staff members had during their time at UConn. The voices below come from former UConn Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) Graduate Students who worked directly with Nella and Melanie to support the expansion of the PCS program during their two-year Graduate Assistantships:
MEGAN GO
Program Coordinator | Brooklyn College AANAPISI Project (BCAP)
M.A in Higher Education and Student Affairs | University of Connecticut ’24
PCS: 2022-2024
Nella: thank you for giving me a wonderful experience with UConn Pre-College Summer. You made it feel like home for all the GAs and student workers, and my grad school experience wouldn’t have been the same without it! Thank you for your support throughout my time at PCS and Neag. Sending warm wishes and good vibes your way with your next steps! Also, I still have all the cool socks you gifted me. 🙂
Melanie: you were the first person to welcome me to Pre-College Summer in-person. Thank you for a great 2 years! You were always so caring and understanding and made the office environment a comforting place to be in, especially in the midst of grad school stress. Wishing the best for you and your family! You took such good care of the GAs at PCS, there’s no doubt that you’re giving your family the utmost love and support!
CODY OLSON
Academic Advisor
Commonwealth Honors College at UMass Amherst
PCS: 2018-2020
Nella: Nella is one of the most thoughtful and caring supervisors I’ve ever had. She made work fun. And even when life was complicated and challenging in the Pre-College Summer world, I knew that I would leave work smiling because of Nella’s positivity and empathy. During the pandemic, we would have 3+ hour Teams Meetings. On paper, this sounds horrible, but I loved digging into projects with Nella and innovating within our program.
Melanie: Melanie was a joy to work with, and I learned so much
from her in our time together. Melanie saw me transition from being an undergrad to a graduate student to a young professional and helped me each step of the way. I will forever be grateful for our friendship and her mentorship.
JOSEPH R. FISHER
Associate Director of Facilities Management
Harvard Radcliffe Institute
PCS: 2017-2019
Nella: Congratulations, Nella, on your successful tenure at UConn! I am so grateful to have been a part of your professional journey during my time as a Graduate Assistant for UConn Pre-College Summer. I remember fondly my interview with you and Melanie, your enthusiasm for the program, and interest in bringing on the first Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) graduate assistant. You helped make my 2+ year of graduate study exponentially powerful, exposing me to new projects, asking me to solve complex challenges, and pushing us all to use technology in more useful and efficient ways. I miss our PCS days so much with our dream team — and do know that your professional legacy (and laugh) will be so missed!
Melanie: Congratulations on a wonderful journey at UConn! I am so grateful that our paths crossed to work together and that we were able to collaborate on many aspects of the Pre-College Summer program. I remember our short brainstorming conversations, “oh yes!” moments when we found a new way to do something better, and when those short conversations turned into long sessions where we’d create and build together. I admire your commitment to learning, to your professional career, your education, and of course, your growing family. I always miss our days of sharing our cubicle wall and window — and of course miss the vibrancy and professionalism you always brought to your work. Congratulations again!
As we will miss Nella and Melanie deeply, this moment of transition brings exciting possibilities. As we welcome new team members and fresh leadership into the PCS fold starting with our new Director, Dr. Bobbi-Jo Wathen, we look forward to reimagining the program with renewed energy and perspective. This is an opportunity to innovate, expand, and strengthen our offerings to meet the changing needs of students and families. By honoring the foundation laid by Nella and Melanie while embracing bold, forward-looking ideas, UConn Pre-College Summer is poised to continue shaping transformative experiences that prepare high school students not only for college, but for a lifetime of learning and leadership.