MPA student Sincere Valentine explores the lasting impact of his grandfather’s legacy in shaping policy and policing in Connecticut. For much of his childhood, Valentine understood that his grandfather had been a respected public servant doing important work in Bridgeport. But it wasn’t until his teenage years that he began to grasp the scope of that legacy. As a participant in the Bridgeport Junior Council Program while in high school, Valentine had the opportunity to shadow town council members, attend public meetings and engage with community leaders. During the program’s closing ceremony, his lineage to Penn was mentioned. “Once people found out, it was like everything shifted,” he says. “Person after person came up to me saying, ‘Your grandfather was a great man.’ That was the first time I really realized how much his name meant.” (click to read more)
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From Graduate Assistant to Graduation: 10 Questions with Jordan Oquendo
The IMRP profiles staffer Jordan Oquendo who is among the School of Public Policy master’s candidates to receive their degree at Monday’s graduation ceremony. Jordan has been working with the IMRP since his enrollment, primarily with the Connecticut Sentencing Commission (CTSC).
From Campus to the Capitol: UConn Student is One Face of the Future of Civic Engagement in Connecticut
School of Public Policy Director Angie Eikenberry welcomed attendees and then took a seat in the audience, watching proudly as one of SPP’s Fast-Track MPA students, UConn junior Ryan Engel, joined the panel of speakers on stage. To Engels’ right: Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas and former Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, who now serves […]
A Year of Transition: 10 Questions with Assistant Research Professor Lydia Wileden
School of Public Policy assistant research professor Dr. Lydia Wileden discusses her work in the classroom, in the community, and with IMRP’s statewide and international initiatives. Dr. Wileden will be instructing PP 5350 – Urban & Regional Policy – in the spring, 2026 semester…
MPA Alum Helps Connecticut through Social Equity
MPA ’22 grad Caesar Valentín credits several School of Public Policy courses and professors for shaping his approach to public service. As a success and strategy analyst at Connecticut’s Social Equity Council, Valentín’s thesis and early research connect directly to his current work…
From Service to Scholarship: MPA Fellow’s Lifelong Commitment to Public Service
Susan Camoroda is an MPA Fellow and research assistant with the Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy (IMRP), where she supports Connecticut State Legislative studies related to Military and Veterans Affairs. She’s also a retired U.S. Army Colonel with 30 years of commissioned service driven by a sense of duty.
On Veterans Day, Camoroda hopes people will take a moment to reflect on the deeper meaning of service. “What’s most meaningful is remembering what this country is about – the lessons of history, the honor, dedication, and sacrifice that military members and their families provide to support and defend the Constitution,” she says.
Fast-Track Student Focuses on Youth Civic Engagement
UConn junior and 4+1 Fast Track student Ryan Engels promotes civic engagement among Connecticut youth through CYPAC, the non-partisan advocacy group he founded from his freshman year dorm room. He doesn’t just suggest students get involved in local government – he models it. Ryan is the youngest chair of a town committee in his hometown of Westbrook. He’s also interning this semester with the Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy.
Lessons in Humanity: MPA Grad Gains Insights from Norway’s Correctional Model
“We all have this perception of what an incarcerated person looks like,” said Chidi Nwuneli, a 2025 MPA graduate of UConn’s School of Public Policy and the current Grants and Contracts Specialist at the Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division of Connecticut’s Office of Policy and Management (OPM). “In Norway, the focus is on humanizing the person, not the punishment.”
From Classroom to Commission: Finding the SPP 4+1 “Fast-Track” to Success
A chance encounter with a fellow undergrad introduced Tommy Dowd to the 4+1 program. A course that sounded interested introduced him to the IMRP and a research opportunity that would lead to his current role as the program assistant for the Connecticut Sentencing Commission. Read on to see his MPP “Fast-Track” to his first professional role…