Message from the Dean

Dear CAHNR Alumni and Friends,

Happy New Year! In my last message, I encouraged you to take a look back at all that the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources accomplished in 2021. Today’s message is also one of reflection and celebration.

In honor of Black History Month, we are telling the story of one of UConn’s most important alumni, Alan T. Busby. The first Black student and graduate of the Connecticut College of Agriculture, which would later become the University of Connecticut, Mr. Busby embodied the spirit of UConn and CAHNR. Please take a moment to hear his story.

The legacy of excellence exemplified by Mr. Busby lives on in CAHNR today. On March 10, we will celebrate student scholarship recipients and the generous donors who make these scholarships possible. These two groups are the heart and soul of our College. I am so thrilled to come together virtually to recognize the tremendous work of our students and the continued commitment from our community to keep education accessible for CAHNR families.

We’ll also come together March 31 to recognize many faculty, staff, students, and donors at our annual Awards & Honors event. While every member of the CAHNR community contributes to our mission, this event provides an opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of a select few. Several new awards will be given this year, including Spirit of the Land Grant; Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; and Excellent in Early Career Research.

While we come together for this event, the third annual UConn Gives campaign will also be wrapping up. I am proud to say that CAHNR has always excelled in this 36-hour event, and I hope 2022 will be no different. Participation and community support are the foundation of our College, so let’s show off our CAHNR pride during UConn Gives March 30-31, 2022.

On behalf of all of us at CAHNR and the Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture, thank you for your continued support of our mission and our students.

Go Huskies.

Indrajeet Chaubey, Dean and Director