Keynote Speaker: William Tong, State of Connecticut Attorney General
William Tong is the 25th Attorney General to serve Connecticut since the office was established by the state constitution in 1897. He first took office in 2019 and is currently serving his second term.
Attorney General Tong is a national leader in many of the most consequential lawsuits and investigations in our country today, including bipartisan, multistate efforts to hold the addiction industry accountable for their role in the opioid crisis; to restore fair competition and prices in the generic drug industry; to hold social media giants accountable for the harms they may cause to kids and young people; to stop robocall scammers; and to ensure corporations safeguard our personal information from misuse and respect consumers’ rights regarding the collection and use of their information.
He served for 12 years as a State Representative in the Connecticut General Assembly, where he served as House Chairman of the Judiciary Committee as well as the Banking Committee. In 2006, he became the first Asian American elected to any state office in Connecticut history.
A Connecticut native, Attorney General Tong grew up in the Hartford area and attended schools in West Hartford. He graduated from Phillips Academy Andover, Brown University, and the University of Chicago Law School. He is the first Asian American elected to any state office in Connecticut history, and the first Chinese American to be elected Attorney General nationwide.
Daryl R. Bodrick II, MPP ‘25
Daryl Bodrick II is a proud Charlotte, NC native and graduate of Independence High School, where he spent four years wrestling and participating in a wide range of student leadership activities. He went on to attend Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA, where he majored in Finance and served as Senior Class President. Daryl is now completing his Master of Public Policy at the University of Connecticut, along with a graduate certificate in Social Responsibility in Business. As he closes this chapter in academia, he’s preparing applications for Pre-Doctoral fellowships, exploring adjunct teaching opportunities, and finalizing his package to become a Fulbright Scholar in the next.
Wendy G. Mackstutis, MPA Fellow ‘25
Wendy Mackstutis is the First Selectman in the Town of Simsbury, serving her second term as the Chief Elected Official. She is a Fellow in the Executive MPA program, graduating this May after spending the last 2 years of Saturday’s having fun with her peers at UConn Hartford. She was recently inducted into the Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society.
She is a retired Corporate IT professional who worked at both Travelers and UnitedHealth Group over a 25-year career. She is a lifelong CT resident, graduating from Bloomfield High School and getting her B.S. in Business Admin at the University of Hartford. She has 2 adult childrenKevin and Leah, and lives with her husband Brian and their perfectly behaved 8-month-old puppy, Mabel. She is proud to be a UConn Husky!
About the Award, David B. Walker, & Parashar Patel
The David B. Walker Award was established with a generous donation from Parashar Patel, MPA ‘91. This award is given annually to recognize a student in the program who exemplifies tireless dedication to public service. Ideally, the awardee would have an interest in Federalism.
David B. Walker: This endowment honors David B. Walker, former director of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations and Director of UConn's MPA program, who passed away in 2013. Dave dedicated his career to mentoring and supporting future leaders to influence government and politics to improve our country. This endowment, with the continued support of alumni, will ensure the MPA program can carry on Dave’s tradition of recognizing students who demonstrate that relentless dedication he always gave to each of his students.
Parashar Patel is a healthcare and medical devices business leader, with a broad background in global market access, health policy, and reimbursement. He currently serves as a Principal at McDermott+. Parashar holds a B.A. in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Connecticut.
Chelsea K. Smith, MPP ‘26
Chelsea K. Smith is a first-year public policy student at the University of Connecticut passionate about law and K-12 public education reform. Chelsea's passion for education reform is matched by her belief in the transformative power of public service, as she works to drive policy change that ensures every child has access to a high-quality education. Chelsea has gained valuable experiences throughout her first year as an intern at the Provost’s Office and as a student researcher assisting Professor Eric Brunner. Before attending UConn, Chelsea studied at Georgetown University, where she discovered her passion for education policy.
About the Award & Albert G. Ilg
The Albert G. Ilg Fellowship in Local Government award is given to an MPA student who demonstrates interest in local government and public sector service. Awards ("Fellowships") will defray living or academic related expenses. The award was established in 1998 to honor the distinguished service of Al Ilg as the Town Manager of Windsor for 32 years.
Albert G. Ilg: Prior to his service as Town Manager of Windsor, Connecticut, Al Ilg served as the Assistant City Manager of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, after serving as an officer in the U.S. Navy. In 2002, Al’s expertise was called upon to serve as an Interim City Manager of Hartford, and in September 2005, Al was appointed by the Governor to the “State Contracting Reform Standards Board.” Al received a B.A. in Political Science from Bucknell University and a master’s degree in Government Administration from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. For many years, Al has been a friend of the School of Public Policy, speaking in our speaker series and connecting students and alumni with job opportunities. He also supports the Albert Ilg Award, presented annually to a student with outstanding interest in local government.
Matthew N. Rothchild, MPA ‘26
Matthew is a first year SPP student enrolled in the MPA program and will be participating in the IPP program starting in the Fall 2025 semester. Matthew completed his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of Connecticut in May 2024. Mathew is a Connecticut native who currently resides in Milford, CT and works part-time in the retail space. He hopes to use his degree upon completion to better help and support the local government institutions both within the state and beyond.
About the Fund & Morton J. Tenzer
This award is given to an incoming student with undergraduate academic excellence and the potential to succeed in the program. The fellowship was established in 1993, the year Professor Morton Tenzer retired from the University of Connecticut. It is intended to be used to assist in recruiting high-quality in-state and out-of-state students.
Professor Morton J. Tenzer devoted more than 40 years to the development of public administration programming in academia at several nationally recognized universities. For many years, Tenzer headed the University of Connecticut’s Institute of Urban Research while providing consulting services to numerous cities and towns. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut in 1953 and his master’s from Yale University in 1954. Tenzer’s work experience includes consulting for USAID on urban development in the Philippines and for USIS on health administration in Sri Lanka. Throughout the years he has traveled as a visiting professor and instructor to several international universities and has co-authored many articles and reviews in public administration educational training.
Jenna Grasso, MPP ‘27
Jenna is currently at the University of Connecticut’s School of Public Policy, pursuing a master’s degree in public policy.
As a Public Policy Associate with the CBIA and a member of the advocacy team, she supports Connecticut businesses on a broad range of issues, including improving talent pipelines and expanding access to affordable childcare.
Before joining CBIA, Grasso worked in the Connecticut House of Representatives as a legislative aide and public affairs coordinator.
Mary A. Roberts, MPA ‘26
Mary is a first-year Master of Public Administration Student at UConn; having attended three different schools before coming to UConn, she has a unique perspective from interacting with different demographics of people and multiple organizations. She worked as a legislative intern for the Connecticut General Assembly where she developed a passion for education and public health. Her ambition is to work on programs in Connecticut that will ensure quality of life for future generations. In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing, playing guitar, and spending time with her niece and nephews.
Marilia Isabel González Mojica, MPA ‘25
Marilia is a UConn alumna who joined the School of Public Policy as a Fast-Track student. She is earning a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and a graduate certificate in Survey Research. Throughout the program, she interned at Oak Hill as a quality assurance intern.
In her free time, she volunteers virtually as a research assistant for a public health government foundation based in the Basque Country, focusing on oncology interventions for cancer patients. In a few months, she will travel to join the research group and further her involvement. In her future endeavors, she hopes to earn a doctoral degree and pursue a career in the health field that combines her health and science-based undergraduate studies with the knowledge gained throughout her MPA graduate degree.
Juliet Robyn Kapsis, MPA ‘25
Juliet Kapsis is a dedicated public service leader passionate about fostering community, mentorship, and transformative learning. This May, she will graduate with her Master of Public Administration from the UConn School of Public Policy.
As a Program Coordinator in UConn’s Office of University Events and Conference Services, Juliet ensures seamless, impactful experiences for clients while also teaching and mentoring students through UConn’s First Year Experience and UConn Connects programs. Her career spans event planning, program coordination, and public service, earning her the title of “Creative Community Connector” during an internship with the City of Hartford.
Jeffrey A. Currey, MPA Fellow ‘25
Jeff Currey is the Chief of Staff for Connecticut House Majority Leader, Rep. Jason Rojas (UConn '00). A proud graduate of East Hartford Public Schools and Wagner College, his dedication to lifelong learning brought him to the University of CT's School of Public Policy.
Prior to joining the team within CT House Democrats, he served for 10 years as State Rep., representing parts of S. Windsor, Manchester, and E. Hartford. Jeff also served on the E. Hartford Board of Education where, as Chairman, his passion for education and lifelong learning was rediscovered, ultimately providing him the privilege to serve at the House Chairman of the Education Committee within the General Assembly. This led to his relentless advocacy within the legislature for equity in education funding, LGBTQ rights, and policies that supported everyday CT families. His leadership was key to landmark reforms, including the CT Parentage Act, Student-Centered Funding for all public schools, and the creation of CFSIC, a captive insurance company created to assist in the mitigation of crumbling foundations.
Jeff remains deeply involved in civic life, having served on numerous nonprofit boards. He currently devotes his time to the one closest to his heart, the East Hartford Education Alumni Association and Education Fund, where he is a founding member, and se
J Wren Pennington, MPA Fellow ‘25
J Wren has a BA in anthropology with a minor focus in psychology. After an early career in technology, they found the perfect home for their love of knowledge and learning working for Austin Independent School District. J Wren served as Library Technology Facilitator, and then Library Automation Coordinator. During their time at AISD they had a lifetime of amazing experiences providing information services to 80,000 students and support and leadership to over 100 hundred school librarians. During that time, they acquired certifications in web development and adult education and presented at the Texas Computer Education Agency and Texas Library Association conferences.
They moved to Connecticut in 2022 and now use their wide variety of skills and knowledge in a supervisory role at The New Haven Free Public Library. They enjoy hiking, painting, reading and working with LGBTQIA+ advocacy organizations. J Wren will receive their master's in public administration in Spring 2025.
Matthew R. Hono, MPP ‘25
Matthew Hono is a 2025 Master of Public Policy (MPP) graduate with a concentration in social policy.
He earned a BA in Political Science & Psychology from Stony Brook University. As an undergraduate, getting involved in local elections and working for Senator Charles Schumer sparked his interest in public policy and civil service. At the UConn School of Public Policy, (SPP) Matthew served as a graduate research assistant under Professor Renzo de la Riva Agüero, a research intern at the CT Sentencing Commission within the Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy, and an IPP intern at the Office of Policy and Management’s Data and Policy Analytics Division.
He is grateful to the SPP for the exceptional opportunities it has offered, the analytical skills refined through its coursework, & the mentorship of its dedicated faculty and staff. Matthew aspires to pursue career in public policy research and evaluation, with a focus on criminal justice and education.
Christopher N. Tyburski, MPP ‘25
Christopher Tyburski holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in History with a Political Science minor from the University of Connecticut. He completed his Internship and Professional Practice (IPP) placement at the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management in the Budget Division, where he created a multivariate regression model to forecast sales tax revenues, contributed to the annual Economic Report of the Governor, and assisted in drafting Governor Lamont’s Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Biennium Budget. In May 2024, Christopher completed his undergraduate thesis, “‘The Price of Progress’: A Historical Narrative and Economic Analysis of the Planning and Construction of Interstate 84 in Hartford, CT.” The paper utilized regression analysis and GIS to assess the highway’s impact on population movement in Hartford, as well as exploring the physical and cultural effects of the road’s construction on the communities it passed through.
Jens Schriver, MA SRDA ‘25
Jens Schriver is a UX and market researcher focused on understanding user behavior and decision-making. With over a decade of experience, he has worked with companies like Meta, Spotify, and Booking, helping them turn research into actionable insights.
As Head of Research at Loop UX, Jens leads research projects, conducts interviews in multiple languages, and helps teams make sense of complex user needs. He enjoys blending qualitative and quantitative methods to tell compelling stories with data and looks forward to applying the tools from his Master’s in Survey Research and Data Analysis to complement his qualitative research background.
He’s grateful to receive the Master of Arts in Survey Research and Data Analysis Academic Excellence Award and is excited to continue learning and growing in the field.
Julia A. Zikopoulos, MA SRDA ‘25
Julia Zikopoulos is a Senior Research Manager at Deerfield Management, specializing in survey methodology and data analysis within the healthcare investment sector. She holds a B.S. in applied mathematics with a minor in economics from the City University of New York’s Macaulay Honors College where she graduated summa cum laude.