A Scholar Across The Ages

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Celebrating the Retirement of Prof. Sherri Olson

 

By Stefanie Malinoski

 

After a 37-year tenure at the University of Connecticut, Professor Sherri Olson retired in January, closing a distinguished chapter in the Department of History. For more than twenty years, Dr.Olson served as the UConn ECE Faculty Coordinator for European History, shaping curricula, mentoring colleagues, and inspiring educators and students.

 

In 1998, she helped launch the first Medieval Studies outreach seminar for middle and high school teachers, “Late Medieval Europe & the Black Death.” Offered by UConn’s Medieval Studies Program in partnership with the Center for Professional Development, the program was originally known as the Medieval Studies Secondary School Outreach Seminar.

The seminar’s first formal collaboration with ECE, then called the High School Cooperative Program, followed in 2004 with “War, Peace, and Toleration in the Ancient and Medieval World.” The first official mention of Early College Experience appeared in 2006, with the seminar focused on “The Poor & the Idea of Poverty in Ancient & Medieval Society,” marking the beginning of an over 20 year partnership. Over the years, UConn’s Collegium Musicum, under the direction of Professor Eric Rice, added a musical component to the seminars. This ensemble of student singers and instrumentalists perform music from the late Middle Ages through the Renaissance and Baroque periods, often using period-specific instruments.

 

In her role as ECE Faculty Coordinator for Medieval History, Dr. Olson provided a wide range of seminar themes in collaboration with colleagues at UConn, and her former graduate students now serving as faculty members at colleges and universities across the country. Her former students were always eager to return to UConn to share their research with Connecticut educators. The program has run almost every year since 1998, each time offering educators a fresh and engaging theme, and we look forward to continuing the program under new leadership.

 

Now embracing a slower pace, Dr. Olson plans to return to some of her hobbies, including knitting, and continuing to contribute to the field through book reviews and other scholarly pursuits.

2025 UConn ECE French Immersion Day and Quiz Bowl

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By Jessica Dunn Photos by Gordon Daigle and Michael Illuzzi

 

On November 20th, eight high schools joined UConn for the annual French Immersion Day and Quiz Bowl, bringing together about 100 student participants from across Connecticut. The day was filled with interactive language activities, cultural experiences, and spirited competition during the afternoon Quiz Bowl.

 

This year’s winners were:

First Place: Wilton High School

Second Place: Lewis S. Mills High School
Third Place: Bristol Eastern High School

 

One UConn French Instructor summed up the spirit of the event: “Merci, everyone, for another fun, memorable, and experience-packed day for our students. I always look forward to this event because I love hearing my students talk afterward about their immersive learning experiences and getting a ‘taste’ of what lies beyond high school.” The UConn Faculty Coordinator praised the Teaching Assistants for their creativity and dedication, noting that they planned and delivered outstanding lesson plans that made the day engaging and educational for all.

 

 

• Bristol Eastern High School
• Cheshire High School

• Coventry High School

• Daniel Hand High School
• Granby Memorial High School
• Lewis S. Mills High School
• RHAM High School
• Wilton High School

 

 

Anthropology Class Visit

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By Jessica Dunn

 

On November 14th, Jeremy Pilver from Farmington High School along with 16 enthusiastic UConn ECE ANTH1500: Great Discoveries in Archeology students, visited the UConn Storrs Campus for an unforgettable day of hands-on discovery.

 

The group explored archaeology and ancient lifeways through three dynamic workshops. Under the guidance of Dr. Daniel Adler, students experimented with stone tool technology, learning how early humans shaped tools for survival. They then delved into ancient plant use and food practices with UConn ECE Anthropology Faculty Coordinator Alexia Smith, uncovering how agriculture transformed societies. Finally, with Sophia De Schiffart, they examined ancient animal use, gaining insight into the critical role animals played in past cultures.

 

From shaping stone tools to exploring ancient diets and animal lifeways, the experience gave students a rare chance to step into the shoes of archaeologists and uncover the secrets of the past. Guided by UConn experts, they didn’t just learn, they experienced archaeology in action!

108 Courses, 48 Disciplines, 1 Expanded Legacy

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By Christopher Todd

 

Partnering with school districts, to meet the needs of educators and students across the state, continues to be a founding tenant of all programming within the Office of Early College Programs. The UConn Early College Experience (ECE) program continues to broaden access to rigorous, college coursework, strengthening pathways into meaningful careers and expanding opportunities in key academic and professional fields.

 

New offerings such as ARE 1110E: Population, Food, and the Environment introduces students to real-world economic and environmental challenges related to food systems and resource use, supporting career interests in sustainability, agribusiness, and public policy. In the sciences, CHEM 1124Q & CHEM 1125Q: Fundamentals of General Chemistry I & II provide foundational chemistry knowledge essential for advanced study in health sciences, engineering, and research-based careers. These courses support students preparing for majors in chemistry, pharmacy, biology, and related STEM areas by delivering college-level laboratory and quantitative experience while still in high school.

 

The arts, engineering, and professional skill development are further enriched through courses like DRAM 1101: Introduction to Theatre and DRAM 3141: Playwriting and Workshop, which nurture creativity, communication, and critical thinking—skills valuable across creative industries and collaborative work environments. On the engineering front, ENGR 1195: Special Topics in Engineering: AI Literacy (AI for All) immerses students in contemporary technological literacy, preparing them for careers at the intersection of computing, design, and innovation, while ME 2140: Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing offers hands-on experience with SolidWorks/CAD and design tools relevant to manufacturing and product development. In the health professions, PHAR 1002: Fundamentals of Pharmacology and PHRX 3057: Discovering the Leader Within build foundational scientific understanding and professional leadership skills, supporting future pathways in pharmacy, medicine, and allied health.

 

Complementing these discipline-specific offerings, UNIV 1820: First Year Seminar – Intro to Making engages students in creative problem solving foundational to maker and design thinking, supporting a successful transition to college-level learning while encouraging innovation across academic and career interests. Together, these courses reflect UConn ECE’s continued commitment to broadening access, expanding opportunity, and preparing students for future success in high-demand fields.

 

As a result, the program continues to expand access to high-quality, college coursework that strengthens career pathways and supports student exploration across multiple career pathways including but not limited to education, health sciences, engineering, and STEM fields.

Neag School Hosts Second Annual ECE Day for High School Students

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By Mikala Kane, Director of Communications & Digital Strategy, UConn Neag School of Education
Photos by Gordon Daigle and Michael Illuzzi

 

EDCI 1100, EPSY 1100, and EDLR 2001 students visit Storrs to learn more about UConn and potential careers

 

On October 24, the UConn Neag School of Education hosted its second annual Early College Experience Day for high schoolers participating in its Early College Experience course offerings. Over 110 students from eight schools spent the morning in Storrs, learning more about UConn, the Neag School, and potential careers in education and sport management.

 

“In 2024-2025, our ECE courses provided the opportunity to earn college credits to 924 highschoolers in 45 schools,” Dean Jason G. Irizarry says. “That is a significant increase from only 201 students in five districts in 2021-2022, when we piloted our courses. Offering this opportunity for high school students to learn more about higher education, as well as future career paths, is central to our goal of improving access to education.”

 

Irizarry began the day’s activities by welcoming students and teachers from Bridgeport, Burlington, Enfield, Milford, Simsbury, and Waterford. All either teach or take EDCI 1100: If You Love It, Teach It; EDLR 2001: Contemporary Issues in Sport; or EPSY 1100: Introduction to Special Education

 

The group then heard an overview of the Neag School from ECE Faculty Coordinators and professors, as well as Assistant Professor-in-Residence Danielle DeRosa and Assistant Dean and Certification Officer Ann Traynor.

 

“Supporting a vibrant ECE portfolio is a priority of the Neag School and the Sport Management Program,” says DeRosa, who is also one of the Neag School’s ECE Faculty Coordinators. “It allows high school students to earn UConn credit and experience the rigor of our courses. This experience helps to facilitate college readiness and prepare students for the student success journey.

 

Around midmorning, students enjoyed tours of campus and the athletics facilities before attending sessions specific to their classes. Those enrolled in EDCI or EPSY courses attended a panel moderated by Director of Teacher Education Alyssa Hadley Dunn and hosted by current Neag School students, who offered insights about the Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s Teacher Education Program. The high schoolers enrolled in EDLR 2001 attended the Business, Sport and Human Rights panel at UConn’s Dodd Human Rights Summit, which was dedicated to Sport and Human Rights this year.

 

“Visiting UConn for my ECE class was a valuable experience,” says Marek Nardi, a student from Lewis S. Mills High School in Burlington. “Seeing the campus, meeting faculty, and learning how college courses operate gave me a clearer understanding of what academic life looks like and what standards I should aim for going forward.”

 

“Being able to take my students to UConn Storrs is an incredible experience,” says Erik McKay, an educator from Lewis S. Mills High School. “UConn is providing insight into what college looks, sounds, and feels like. There are many intangible experiences my students get from being on campus, seeing the athletic facilities and classrooms, and meeting and working with the UConn faculty.

 

Overall, it is a great day for all educational stakeholders involved, and I look forward to doing it again in the future.”

 

• Bristol Eastern High School

• Capital Prep Harbor School
• Enfield High School
• Jonathan Law High School
• Joseph A Foran High School
• Lewis S. Mills High School
• The Ethel Walker School
• Waterford High School

2025 UConn ECE Italian Immersion Day & Quiz Bowl

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By Jessica Dunn

Photos by Gordon Daigle and Michael Illuzzi

 

On October 23rd, UConn proudly hosted its fourth Italian Immersion Day & Quiz Bowl, bringing together talented students for a day of language, culture, and spirited competition. After an exciting series of rounds in the afternoon Quiz Bowl, we congratulate this year’s trophy winners:

 

 

First Place: Holy Cross High School

Second Place: Bristol Central High School
Third Place: Newington High School

 

This event continues to celebrate the richness of Italian language and culture while fostering collaboration and academic excellence among our ECE partner schools. Grazie to all who participated. We can’t wait to see you next year!

 

 

A special shout-out goes to our 2025 MVP, Luis of Plainville High School, who achieved an incredible back-to-back win after earning MVP last year as well!

 

 

• Bristol Central High School

• Holy Cross High School
• Newington High School

• Plainville High School
• Torrington High School

UConn Pre-College Summer

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By Briana Ried-Maloney, UConn PCS Graduate Assistant, HESA Master’s Student

 

UConn Pre-College Summer 2026 Applications Now Open with Expanded Opportunities

UConn Pre-College Summer (PCS) is a summer academic program for high school students that provides an early introduction to college-level learning and life. Through immersive coursework and structured programming, students explore academic interests, engage with UConn faculty, and gain firsthand experience navigating college academics and campus life, leaving with greater confidence and a clearer understanding of the transition to college.

Expanding to the Hartford Campus!

Aligned with UConn’s “One UConn” vision, the Pre-College Summer program has expanded its presence in Hartford. The Hartford site will highlight the great academic programs in Hartford by offering courses in:
• Social Work
• Public Policy: Public Service for the Greater Good
• Nursing: Early Introduction to the Nursing Program
The Hartford session will not be residential and is best suited for students who desire an immersive experience, but don’t want to be away from home. The program will support local students with CT Transit bus passes to facilitate easier access to campus. In addition, the Hartford program will host a Family Engagement Night to support families. We are partnering with the Hartford Public Library to support workshops designed to promote college & career readiness and whole-student growth through collaborative learning in the community.

New Courses @ Storrs

Our programing at the Storrs campus continues to be a residential, immersive learning experience for students age 14-17 years old. Pre-College Summer 2026 also expands its academic offerings at the Storrs campus to include several new courses that reflect diverse interests and emerging fields. New courses for the summer session include:

  • Accounting
  • Early Introduction to the Nursing Profession
  • CHEM 1194: The Science of Chemistry (1 credit)
  • 3D Modeling and Printing: Bringing Ideas to Reality
  • Design & Hype: Creative Advertising for the Digital Age
  • Equine Science: Health, Management & Rehabilitation
  • The Calling to Teach
  • Exploring a Career in Sport Management

Updated Workshops

In addition to academics, the program has redeveloped its workshop model to emphasize structured learning experiences to support postsecondary goals and transitions. Students will participate in workshops focused on college and career development, leadership and personal development, and academic skills development, equipping them with tools that extend beyond the classroom. This portion of our program mimics the university’s First Year Seminar course, preparing them for the soft skills needed for success in college.

Scholarships!

Applications for UConn Pre-College Summer 2026 are now open for high school students! Centering accessibility for a broader range of participants, we are offering 2 different scholarships:

 

LIFETIME TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATION ACCESS

There are two levels of this scholarship, Blue and Gray, 10 scholarships available at each level. Scholarships are competitive and require an additional essay and recommendation from a school counselor, teacher, or mentor. Students who qualify are encouraged to apply within the application.

Grey Scholarship:

  • Discounted tuition rate: $1175 (50% discount)
  • Families making less than $100k/annually

Blue Scholarship:

  • Discounted tuition rate: $300 (87% discount)
  • Families making less than $80k/annually

 

CLIMATE SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIP

This scholarship offers full tuition coverage for 5 participants who are taking the Climate Science course. These scholarships are competitive and require that students apply when they submit their application to our program. scholarships, stay updated on any new scholarships on our website, pcs.uconn.edu.

We can’t wait to see your students this summer!

With expanded scholarships, new academic pathways, and increased investment in structured student development and community partnerships, UConn Pre-College Summer 2026 offers high school students meaningful preparation for future academic and career pathways. For more information and to apply, visit the UConn Pre-College Summer website, pcs.uconn.edu!

Professional Development Workshops

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By Caroline Lynch, UConn ECE Graduate Assistant, Master’s Student, UConn, Higher
Education and Student Affairs

 

It’s hard to believe we’ve reached the end of another semester here at Early College Experience! This Fall has been chock-full of events, including 18 professional development workshops for our ECE Instructors from various disciplines. So far, we’ve been given the opportunity to connect with our Instructors from U.S. History, Philosophy, Chemistry, Business, Chinese, European History, Marine Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Economics, Human Rights, Environmental Sciences, Sociology, Music, English, Human Development and Family Sciences, and Math, as well as holding a Fall training for our ECE Library Media Specialists. Please enjoy a brief overview of some of the professional development highlights from the Fall 2025 semester.

 

 

September 25, 2025: U.S. History Workshop

 

Our first event for the 2025-26 academic year was a virtual session for United States History Instructors, including a keynote address titled “Teaching US History in Our Current Climate: Challenges, Opportunities, and Student Support Strategies.” Fifty-two teachers joined us for this interesting and topical session, and we were excited to kick off the year with such a highly attended event.

October 10, 2025: Business Workshop

 

In early October, we hosted our first-ever ECE Business Workshop, thanks to the efforts of our ECE Business Faculty Coordinator, Associate Professor Vishal Baloria. Eleven Instructors were in attendance for the event, which included several guest addresses. First, Daniel Gilham, Managing Director of Advisor Strategy at Farther financial services firm, facilitated a discussion on wealth management and technology. Next, Francine McKenna, a financial journalist and lecturer at the Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania) presented a talk on financial and media literacy. Finally, Ilona Bastiaansen, Assistant Professor of Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame, joined us for a discussion on high school financial education mandates. The biggest highlight of the day was a lively student panel with four undergraduates who had previously been enrolled in Dr. Baloria’s Personal Financial Literacy course. Thank you to Conner, Jack, Kaeleigh, and Maya for their time and insights.

 

 

October 10, 2025: Chinese Workshop

 

Also on October 10th, our ECE Chinese Instructors convened on the UConn Storrs campus for a networking opportunity, as well as several presentations from ECE Instructors and guest faculty who shared teaching strategies and assignment ideas to integrate into their classrooms. First, Amy Watt from Simsbury High School and Shiffon Theodore from Conard High School led the group in a discussion on strategies to improve L2 Chinese reading. Then, Feng Xia from Amity High School executed a presentation on engaging communicative projects in class. Finally, Yang Wang, an Associate Teaching Professor of East Asian Studies from Brown University, presented a digital storytelling project to the
group.

 

October 17, 2025: Mechanical Engineering Workshop

 

Marking another UConn ECE first, our Mechanical Engineering Instructors met on October 17th for a jam-packed professional development experience. Many thanks to our joint Faculty Coordinators, Jorge Paricio Garcia, Ph.D. and Edward Weingart for their collaborative efforts to make this a session to remember! Several guest contributors joined Instructors on campus for a variety of resource demonstrations. First, Nate Delson from Grove Education delivered a demo of Spatial Vis, an engineering education software that helps students improve their 2D and 3D spatial visualization skills via an app on their personal devices. Next, Rachel Gregorio of Tech Ed Solutions provided a demonstration of SolidWorks, an industry-standard engineering technology used in the UConn College of Engineering. The afternoon continued with a field trip to the Krenicki Arts and Engineering Institute, an “innovative, interdisciplinary nexus that offers groundbreaking classes in areas like entertainment engineering and industrial design” that was born out of a collaboration between the College of Engineering and the School of Fine Arts at UConn. Instructors shared lunch in the Institute and then were given the chance to explore the 3D printers at the facility.

 

October 23, 2025: Human Rights Workshop

 

The week of October 23rd, UConn’s Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute hosted their annual summit, entitled “Sport and Human Rights.” UConn ECE Instructors were invited to the second day of the conference, convening on the UConn Storrs campus for a keynote address by Pablo Torre, host of the acclaimed podcast “Pablo Torre Finds Out” and a celebrated sports journalist and human rights advocate. For a full overview of the summit schedule, review the link here: summit.humanrights.uconn.edu/2025-summit/

 

 

November 6, 2025: Environmental Sciences Workshop

 

UConn ECE took a field trip with our Environmental Sciences Instructors on November 6th to the UConn Middlesex County Extension Center in Haddam, CT. Instructors were given lots of time to share resources and build connections with one another, as well as engaging in a keynote address delivered by Dr. Mayra Rodriguez, the UConn Extension Center’s Assistant Extension Educator in Urban and Community Forestry, entitled Building Connections to Urban Forests: Your Teacher’s Toolkit.

 

 

November 7, 2025: Sociology Workshop

 

On Friday, November 7th, our UConn ECE Sociology Instructors met on the UConn Hartford campus for their annual professional development conference. Instructors were given the opportunity to engage in a lively discussion of current successes and challenges in their classrooms, followed by a presentation of exemplar assignments by Instructors Mike Barile (Suffield High School) and Karen Prager (CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering), and Faculty Coordinator Dr. Ingrid Semaan. We extend our thanks to our contributors and to Dr. Semaan for her continued efforts to support our UConn ECE Instructors and community.

 

November 21, 2025: Fall English Conference

 

Our largest event this semester was our Fall English Conference, which boasted over 100 attendees from high schools across the state. The theme of this year’s conference was Speaking Together: Discourse as Literacy, and throughout the day Instructors were encouraged to “explore activities and strategies that put students in conversation with each other, hone their critical thinking skills, and build their confidence as consumers and producers of knowledge.” There were several panel sessions throughout the day, which focused on themes including reading and revision, authentic discussion, and multimodality.

 

 

UConn ECE extends our thanks to all our Faculty Coordinators, guest speakers, and attendees for their contributions towards making Fall 2025 such a successful semester. To find more information and photographs from these and the rest of our professional development events, please feel free to visit the “ECE PD Blog” on our website. In the meantime, we are busy gearing up for the Spring, which will be filled with even more engagement opportunities and professional development events. We look forward to seeing many more of our UConn ECE community members very soon.

Eclipses

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By Alina Britchi

 

Alina Britchi is a UConn ECE Instructor certified to teach PHYS1201Q: General Physics I, PHYS1202Q: General Physics II, PHYS1401Q: General Physics with Calculus I, and PHYS1402Q: General Physics with Calculus II.

 

Many call a total solar eclipse a “once-in-a-lifetime” event but most people who see one often want more. I’m one of them. I experienced my first totality in 1999 in Romania. A special banknote was printed to celebrate the event. I still remember the awe like it was yesterday: sudden darkness, wind, birds flying all over, crowd growing louder, and then… the Sun’s corona! What a beauty! Two unforgettable minutes of totality ended in a blink of an eye.

 

Fast forward a decade and a half later, I live in the U.S. Year 2016 brings chatter of not one, but two Great American Eclipses heading our way: 2017 and 2024. And now the knowledge that solar eclipses are not very rare, but totality is happening over populated areas. In 2017 I would have only seen a partial solar eclipse, but now a new idea: I could travel to see totality. And that’s how I became an eclipse chaser. Like sunsets, no two eclipses are identical. I’ve seen three and plan to see more.

 

My second eclipse, the 2017 one, became a shared obsession. My husband had never seen one. As we were in Utah for an unrelated event, we drove four hours to Idaho to experience the totality. This time, in an open field, made the Moon shadow traveling in front of our eyes very obvious. With few people around, the celestial show was humbling. We learned to photograph the partiality with simple gear; eclipse glasses over the lens of a simple Canon camera. And thus, our first solar eclipse collage was born.

 

And now we are set for the 2024 American eclipse and booked a hotel a year ahead. I wore eclipse-themed shirts for months and organized a school photo contest. We chose Niagara Falls but clouds limited us to a mere 10 seconds of totality. We hoped for 4 minutes, but now we focused on different things: the light shifting from day to night and back to day over the falls was worth it.

 

Upcoming opportunities include 2025 (Spain, Greenland, Iceland), 2026 (Spain, Middle East), and 2028 and 2030 in Australia.

 

If you’ve never seen a total solar eclipse, consider traveling to one, you will never regret seeing the Sun’s corona and the magic of totality.

U.S. History Class Visit

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By Rachel Riendeau,
UConn U.S. History ECE Instructor

 

On November 20th, sixteen UConn ECE U.S. History students from Windham Technical High School visited the UConn Storrs campus to carry out historical research at the Dodd Archives and Babbidge Library. They were also able to attend a campus tour and meet with a current UConn student/ alumna from their school to discuss the transition to college.