Alumni Council
The School of Public Policy (SPP) Alumni Council helps current and future students connect with alumni to explore the wide variety of career opportunities available to UConn SPP graduates. Alumni Council members also connect and network with their former classmates.
History
In 2019, the UConn MPA Alumni Council combined with the Survey Research Alumni Council to form the Department of Public Policy (DPP) Alumni Council, supporting alumni of all DPP programs. In 2022, the DPP became the School of Public Policy (SPP). The MPA Alumni Council was established more than a decade ago to support both the MPA program and its students. Over the years, Alumni Council members have served as mentors and role models for our aspiring administrators. Alumni are willing to talk with students, review resumes, and set up job shadows in order to help students have the same great opportunities as the people who went before them.
UConn SPP graduates have taken jobs both in Connecticut and throughout the country in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Connecting our alumni with students – and with each other – is at the core of the Council’s mission.
2022-2023 Council Members
NC = Nominating Committee members | AC = Awards Committee members
President: Christopher Brechlin '18 MPP
Vice President: Tara Downes '20 MPA
Secretary: Tony Patelunas '19 MPP
Term Expires June 30, 2023
Lauren Hunt '18 MPA
Development Program Coordinator
Yale School of Public Health
laurenhunt77@gmail.com
Alissa Johnston '07 MPA
Performance Measurement Coordinator
Capital Workforce Partners
alissabess@gmail.com
Larisa Kottke '13 MPA
President & CEO
Leadership Greater Hartford
larisavk@gmail.com
Jessica Legnos Kearney '12 MPA, AC
Second Vice President
Travelers Institute
jlkearne@travelers.com
Jennifer McDermott '13 MPA, NC
Vice President, Senior Underwriter, Public Sector Finance
Webster Bank
jmcdermott@websterbank.com
Ron Schack '93 MPA
Director
The Charter Oak Group, LLC
rschack@charteroakgroup.com
Term Expires June 30, 2024
Janice Castle '11 MPA
Director, Office of Community Engagement
City of Hartford
janice.castle80@gmail.com
Tara Downes '20 MPA, Vice President
Assistant State Comptroller
Connecticut Office of the State Comptroller
tara.downes@uconn.edu
Parashar Patel '91 MPA
Senior Vice President, Government Affairs & Market Access
Viewray, Inc
pacoinconn@gmail.com
Tony Patelunas '19 MPP, Secretary
Program Manager
Seven Bridges Genomics
anthony.patelunas@gmail.com
Ashley Plosky '07 MASR, AC
2VP, Business Insurance (BI) Sales Analytics and Execution
The Travelers Companies, Inc.
ashley.plosky@gmail.com
Matt Robinson '11 MPA
Senior Consultant
Systems Evolution, Inc.
mrobinson860@gmail.com
Term Expires June 30, 2025
Melissa Appleby '13 MPA, NC
Deputy Town Manager
Town of Simsbury
melissa.ashley.jones@gmail.com
Christopher Brechlin '18 MPP, President, AC
Director of Data and Digital Systems
COMPASS Youth Collaborative
christopherbrechlin@gmail.com
Candace Fitzpatrick '06 MPA, NC
Alumni Relations & Development Director
School of Public Policy, University of Connecticut
cvwfitz@gmail.com
Charlie Grab '18 MPA
Director Business Operations & Mobility Services, Central Administration
Harvard University
charlie_grab@harvard.edu
Chaz Plungis '10 MPA
Assistant Director, Medicaid Finance
Rhode Island Office of Health and Human Services
chaz.plungis@gmail.com
Bill Craven '15 MPA
Senior Financial Analyst, Financial Planning & Analysis
Yale University
william.craven@yale.edu
Alternates
Maureen Goulet '20 MPA, Alternate (2023)
Director of Purchasing
Town of Manchester
mgoulet@manchesterct.gov
Morgan Spencer '12 MPA, Alternate (2024)
Compliance and Quality Control Officer
Mindful Urgent Care
m.hollenbeck.spencer@gmail.com
Tina Prakash '07 MASR, '21 MPA, Alternate (2025)
Special Assistant to the Deputy
Secretary of the State of Connecticut
tina.b.prakash@gmail.com
School Representatives
School Director
Mohamad Alkadry
(959) 200-3858
mohamad.alkadry@uconn.edu
Director of Graduate Programs
Eric Brunner
(959) 200-3795
eric.brunner@uconn.edu
Student Representative
Brighten Critchfield
GAPPS/ICMA
gapps.icma@gmail.com