University of Saint Joseph

Dylan Levesque '26, a Biology and Chemistry double major, was a recipient of the 2024 American Chemical Society Connecticut Valley Section (ACS CVS) SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship) award. Dylan was selected for this award because he demonstrated academic excellence in chemistry classes and the laboratory. Such distinctions and accomplishments were recognized by the ACS CVS organization.

USJ's Morgan DiNunzio '27 was one of the winners of the 2024 Casualty Actuarial Society (CSA) Student Central Summer Program Case Competition.

The USJ men's tennis team had four student-athletes recognized by the International Tennis Association (ITA), as the quartet was named Division III Men's ITA Scholar-Athletes for the 2023-24 academic year, it was announced by the organization on Wednesday, July 24.

Paltauf received College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors, placing them on the organizations NCAA Division III All-District Team and was selected to advance to the national ballot for Academic All-America honorees.

Four members of the University of Saint Joseph men's lacrosse team have received College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors, placing them on the organizations NCAA Division III All-District Team.

University of Saint Joseph (USJ) has announced the undergraduate students who earned their way to the Dean's List for the spring 2024 semester. Students were awarded this academic achievement for having earned a GPA of 3.50 or higher for the semester, with no grade lower than a "B." Students on the Spring 2024 USJ Dean's List are:

University of Saint Joseph student-athletes participated in the NCAA's 2024 Career in Sports Forum May 30-June 2 in Indianapolis, Ind.

USJ graduate student Paul Januszczyk of Newington, Conn., has won the 2023 Northeast Association of College and University Housing Officers (NEACUHO) Regional Outstanding Graduate Student Award.

University of Saint Joseph (USJ) undergraduate students have announced the students who earned their way to the Dean's List for the fall 2023 semester. Students were awarded this academic achievement for having earned a GPA of 3.50 or higher for the semester, with no grade lower than a "B." Students on the Fall 2023 USJ Dean's List are:

Several members of University of Saint Joseph's social work program were honored at the National Association of Social Workers-Connecticut (NASW/CT) Annual Awards Dinner on Oct. 18.

University of Saint Joseph (USJ) undergraduate students earned their way to the Dean's List for the spring 2023 semester. Students were awarded this academic achievement for having earned a GPA of 3.50 or higher for the semester, with no grade lower than a "B." "Students on the Dean's List exemplify academic excellence and their ability to achieve their goals. We are very proud of these students who join the network of accomplished USJ scholars competitively pursuing a range of studies from health sciences to criminal justice," said Provost Michelle Kalis, Ph.D.

On July 7, University of Saint Joseph second year student Rhys Mendoza Villa successfully completed the three week, 120-hour law enforcement college academy conducted by the West Hartford Police Department on July 7.

Nicole Albert of Meriden earned Dean's List honors from the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Conn. for the spring 2023 semester.

University of Saint Joseph (USJ) undergraduate students earned their way to the Dean's List for the spring 2023 semester. Students were awarded this academic achievement for having earned a GPA of 3.50 or higher for the semester, with no grade lower than a "B." "Students on the Dean's List exemplify academic excellence and their ability to achieve their goals. We are very proud of these students who join the network of accomplished USJ scholars competitively pursuing a range of studies from health sciences to criminal justice," said Provost Michelle Kalis, Ph.D.

University of Saint Joseph junior Jordan Ouellette (Bristol, Conn.) of the USJ women's basketball team have been selected to participate in the upcoming 2023 Career in Sports Forum, which is set to be put on by the NCAA and its leadership development office June 1-4 in Indianapolis, Ind.

Senior Jared Simmons (Newington, Conn.) of the USJ men's basketball team has been selected to participate in the upcoming 2023 Career in Sports Forum, which is set to be put on by the NCAA and its leadership development office June 1-4 in Indianapolis, Ind.

University of Saint Joseph Senior Marcello Delvalle (Bristol, Conn.) of the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's soccer team has been selected to participate in the upcoming 2023 Career in Sports Forum, which is set to be put on by the NCAA and its leadership development office June 1-4 in Indianapolis, Ind.

USJ Sophomore Emily Seeds has been named a recipient of a 2023 scholarship from the New England Spring & Metalstamping Association (NESMA) in conjunction with the Main Street Community Foundation.

USJ Graduate Nursing student Jace Paul has recently been recognized as the Graduate Nursing Student Academy Liaison for USJ.

This month, University of Saint Joseph (USJ) School of Pharmacy and PA Studies student, and Manchester, CT resident Angel-Rose Weber received the John A. Gans Scholarship from the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation. While at USJ, Weber worked with non-profit organizations like the Connecticut Harm Reduction Alliance (CTHRA) and Wolcott Citizens Against Substance Abuse (CASA) Coalition to create drug-free events, Narcan kits, safe sex kits, fentanyl test kits, and safe smoking kits for different high-risk communities in Connecticut. The yearly $1,000 scholarship honors John A. Gans, the former Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA).

Earlier this month, three USJ Psychology students presented their independent research at the conference of the Eastern Psychological Association! The student presentations were: Emma Kociszewski, "Flattery will get you everywhere: Perceptions on personality testing" Anna Poleyestewa, "Self-objectification and drive for muscularity in men" Kiyah Pelletier, "Societal attitudes toward rehabilitative punishment" Chair of the Department of Psychology, Family, and Justice Studies and Associate Professor of Psychology, Kristin Henkel Cistulli, Ph.D., commented, "I can't tell you how proud I am of these students. All three of them took advantage of every opportunity at the conference, attending several sessions that would offer chances to learn and make connections with people at other universities. The best part of the conference was watching them give their own presentations. All three were incredibly professional, poised, and eloquent as they answered questions and were thoughtful in their responses to comments. They represented USJ beautifully!" Congrats to all!

Melissa DeBella, a third-year student in USJ's Pharmacy program has been awarded a prestigious United States Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award. The award was established to recognize pharmacy students making significant contributions to advancing the Surgeon General's priorities for Healthy People 2030 and the pharmacy profession. Ty Bingham, Pharm.D. Rear Admiral U.S. Public Health Service Assistant Surgeon General Chief Professional Officer, Pharmacist said in his letter to DeBella, "Your achievements clearly support public health and illustrate the importance of incorporating core public health principles into today's pharmacy practice. Furthermore, your demonstrated passion and dedication to advance public health and the profession of pharmacy is truly impressive." DeBella has worked to facilitate various educational outreach events including two Narcan training events, a poison prevention event, and multiple community drug take-back events near the Hartford area. Initiating these events allowed DeBella to partner with various healthcare professionals including American Medical Response of Greater Hartford/Northeast CT and two specialists in poison information pharmacists from CT Poison Control Center to bring enriching opportunities for pharmacy students that highlight drug safety. She said of the award, "I am honored to be awarded the 2022 United States Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Practice Award. Throughout my pharmacy school journey, I have aimed to increase public awareness of prescription medication abuse and to be an advocate for safe medication practices in both the public and healthcare communities." The Dean or School Awards Committee of each US school or college of pharmacy was allowed to select one nominee to forward to the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Pharmacy Professional Advisory Committee (PharmPAC), which then reviewed and selected recipients. USJ Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Administration Lena Rakouki said, "I had the pleasure of having Melissa DeBella on rotation with me. Her passion in optimizing the safety of her patients' treatments was evident when interacting with our care team and her patients." DeBella noted that safe drug practice is a core component of being a pharmacist and a lifelong commitment to the profession that she hoped all future pharmacists might reflect to their community. Learn more about USJ's Pharmacy program here.

On Feb. 10, 2023, University of Saint Joseph Assistant Professor of Business Administration Janet Howes, Ph.D., accompanied USJ Sport Management and Promotion students to the third annual Worcester Sport Summit at Worcester State University. At the 2023 Sport Management Summit, an environment was created where students had the opportunity to gain insight and information from speakers and panelists on current topics in Sport Management and Promotion. A few of the participating organizations included ESPN, the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots, the New York Mets, and the Boston Celtics.The summit also allowed students to have personal interactions with recruiters, in which they were able to share their resumes in the hopes of establishing long lasting professional relationships. "The summit was an incredibly helpful networking event that I really enjoyed. I appreciate Professor Howes for helping set up and coordinate this event for us," said USJ Sport Management and Promotion Student Ben Marchetti. Learn more about USJ's Sport Management and Promotion program.

When University of Saint Joseph graduate student Ryan Hinton tells his rich and multi-faceted life story, his commitment to service shines through. A student in USJ's Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program, Hinton also directs the first Veterans Upward Bound Program in Connecticut, and is an Army veteran, former high school principal, teacher, and Army Chaplin Assistant. The Office of Veteran Affairs and Military Programs at UCONN, which houses the state's Veterans Upward Bound Program, recently recognized Hinton as Veteran of the Month. He and fellow veteran Jessica Gossett work from the Storrs campus on the first state chapter of the federal program, which has existed since 1973. Hinton says the program mostly serves first-generation, low-income, or at-risk Connecticut veterans to assist them to develop the skills necessary for acceptance and success in a program of postsecondary education in the state. The program mandates that veterans have an address in the state and not have a dishonorable discharge from the military. In addition to helping prepare veterans with the skills to be successful in a four-year degree program, Veterans Upward Bound offers them educational counseling, and liaisons with colleges and universities for accommodations for veterans to be met.

University of Saint Joseph undergraduate transfer student Anna Falt finds success as a Math major with USJ's unique student-centered learning and an inquiry-based approach to the subject. "USJ helped reshape my life," says Falt, who is currently on track to graduate summa cum laude this spring. She arrived on campus in the fall of 2021 as a Math major and added a concentration in Computer Science as she began to excel. She was named to the Dean's List in fall 2021, spring 2022, and fall 2022, and holds a 3.9 GPA. She also received the Dora and Antonio Iadarola Award for excellence in Mathematics and Computer Science, an annual award given by the department to an outstanding student in the program.

On Thursday, December 15, 2022, the University of Saint Joseph's department of Nursing held their Graduate Nursing Awards, Hooding and Pinning Ceremony. This ceremony honored the graduates of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner master's degree and certificate programs, and the Family Nurse Practitioner master's degree program. USJ's Provost, Dr. Michelle Kalis, said, "The USJ Nursing faculty are incredibly proud of this group of nurses who completed their graduate degrees and are poised to contribute to the health care needs of the state of Connecticut at an advanced level, especially at this time of high demand for advanced practice nurses, both Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners." The ceremony included the tradition and meaning of the pin, as well as the tradition and meaning of the academic hood. Along with conferring degrees and hooding each graduate, students were honored with a series of graduate nursing awards. Learn more about USJ's Graduate Nursing programs.

The following undergraduate students have been named to the University of Saint Joseph Dean's List for the fall 2022 semester. Students who are awarded this academic achievement have earned a GPA of 3.50 or higher for the semester, with no grade lower than a "B." "Once again, USJ students proved that they are committed to academic excellence," said Provost Michelle Kalis, Ph.D. "These students are the future nurses, teachers, social workers, scientists, actuaries, and leaders our community needs. The entire University community is proud of their accomplishments." List:

Gladencia Majule's path to being an Honors student at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) started more than 7,000 miles away, in the East African country of Tanzania. Born and raised there by her mother, whom she calls "an incredible leader," Majule says she wants to follow the footstep of the woman who she says, "lifted herself out of poverty through education, started her own school, and was recently elected to local politics." Majule added that she hopes to "be brave, study abroad, and to make a mark in this world just like she did." Tanzania, known for its beautiful wilderness areas, including the Kilimanjaro National Park, and Africa's highest mountain, is also a country plagued by government corruption, and this problem area is where Majule wants to make her mark. Specifically, she'd like to become a lawyer and help improve her country's governance by making its institutions less corrupt. "The way I see it, I have two options. I can go back to my home country and change the institutions to make them less corrupt or I can stay in the U.S. and advocate for policy changes, either at the United Nations or the Embassy." Majule isn't sure which path she will take, but she offered an example of one policy change she'd like to see: allow women to go to school after they face unexpected pregnancy. Right now, a law denies access to education to young women in Tanzania who become pregnant. Again, one may see the influence of Majule's mother advocating for vulnerable students. In her school Majule's mother sponsors HIV-infected students, as well as young women who have suffered genital mutilation. "How could I not want to follow in her footsteps?" Majule says. Four years ago, Majule left Tanzania for Schiller International University in Paris, where she studied International Relations. She transferred to USJ in the middle of her second year and switched her major to Political Science because "I became interested in how policies are made and how to influence them." Her initial impression of Connecticut and USJ was that "the people were really friendly. Everyone has been so willing to help me. That's the first thing I noticed, just how much support I have received as I pursue my path." She credits Professor of History and Political Science Kenneth Long, Ph.D., and other USJ faculty, and the classes she's taken as opening her eyes to ideas, encouraging her "to think outside the box, to look deeper into things." Her path since coming to USJ has included two important internships as well as a packed campus life commitment. In Fall 2021, Majule interned for the Office of the Connecticut Secretary of State, where she learned more about the inner workings of state government, directed constituent inquiries, and did an independent research project about how refugees, before gaining citizenship, engage in their communities. But it was Majule's second internship this past summer as a legal intern for Eversource, that really helped her see herself as a lawyer. "At Eversource's legal department, I was awed that I got to sit at the table with judges, and law partners--amazing people who have accomplished so much. I got to listen to their life stories, including one law partner who had also been an international student and went through the same things as me. Through his story, I saw that with continued perseverance, I could one day get to that place, seated at the table." Majule maintains a 3.9 GPA, is a cheerleader and was a member of the Student Government Organization until last semester. At the same time, she's found even more opportunities for giving back by being a Resident Assistant on campus. "Being a voice for other students, and a student advocate has also helped me see that I would enjoy that aspect of the law," she said. Majule is set to graduate in May 2023 with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. She hopes to start law school in the fall; she plans to focus on international law, immigration, and human rights. Though Majule hasn't been home to Tanzania since she left in January 2019, she spoke of the opportunities she's been given as a privilege she doesn't take for granted. "If we give people the opportunity to shine, especially those who haven't been given that opportunity, they will. I'm here today because people believed in me. Through those people believing in me, I'm able to stand where I am and tell the story I'm able to tell." To learn about USJ's Political Science program and others visit: usj.edu

This Fall, at the Connecticut Pharmacists Association's 2022 Annual Awards Ceremony and Board Installation USJ had a strong showing. Four USJ School of Pharmacy students, all in their last year, received awards at the annual ceremony:

Each fall, students from colleges and universities all over the country gather on campuses to discuss books assigned through a program called The Common Read. The Common Read provides a shared experience of intellectual and community engagement and was primarily designed to engage first-year students, but often includes an entire university community, as has been the case with the University of Saint Joseph's reading this year of "Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body" by Rebekah Taussig. For USJ doctoral Nursing student Jeslyn Dinowitz, of West Hartford, Conn., the reading of Taussig's book about living with a disability was personal, as she herself has cerebral palsy. As part of USJ's Common Read program, Dinowitz gave a talk, "Defining and Redefining Disability in Health Care," to offer more understanding of disability, particularly in health care. Dinowitz said, "I felt like Rebekah Taussig's book about disability and advocating for people with disabilities really spoke to me as a registered nurse. Being able to talk about disability in a health care setting is important, but more than that, having cerebral palsy gives me a unique perspective of what it's like having a disability and how we can make improvements to health care and in society."