student in a ropes harness, high up in a tree

November Faculty and Staff Newsletter

Dear Colleagues,

As we move deeper into the semester, I want to take a moment to share a few timely updates and thank you for your continued engagement across the College.

On Thursday, November 13, we will hold a virtual CAHNR Budget Town Hall focused on our strategic approach to navigating the current financial landscape. We have worked to identify pathways that minimize strain on departments while maintaining the quality of our work and our strong commitment to CAHNR’s mission. Meeting information and a link to join are shared below. I strongly encourage everyone to attend.

I also want to recognize upcoming leadership changes for four of CAHNR’s departments. Department head searches are currently underway in Agricultural and Resource Economics, Allied Health Sciences, Extension, and Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, with start dates for new leaders anticipated in summer 2026. I would like to thank the current department heads for their leadership, and the faculty and staff serving on the search committees for their time, thoughtfulness, and dedication to a collaborative process in finding the best candidates for these important roles.

To the rest of the CAHNR community, thank you for all you do to support our mission, our students, and one another.

Warm regards,

Kumar Venkitanarayanan
Interim Dean and Director

Have an idea for the newsletter? We are grateful for the creativity and diverse opinions of our College community.

Contact cahnrdean@uconn.edu for consideration

Featured Story of the Month

Health

Insufficient Sunlight Exposure Linked to Higher Rates of Suicide

This study from UConn health economist Shinsuke Tanaka is a major addition to the literature on suicide risk factors as suicide remains the only major cause of death in the U.S. that is increasing rather than decreasing over time

Read the full article

Department of Extension Head Search

As the extended appointment of the Extension Department Head concludes in August 2026, we are launching an internal search to appoint a permanent Department Head for a 5-year term. This is a vital leadership role, responsible for advocating for and guiding the Department of Extension while fostering strong engagement with our external stakeholders.

CAHNR welcomes applications from all faculty across our nine departments who meet the minimum qualifications. If you are eligible and passionate about providing strong leadership for Department of Extension in alignment with the strategic priorities of the College and the University, please consider applying.

Please review the job description here, and submit your application materials to Ginny White (virginia.white@uconn.edu) by Thursday, November 6, 2025.

Save the Date

Fall 2025

November 14, 2025: One Health Conference
November 15, 2025: Scholars Celebration
December 5, 2025: CAHNR Gingerbread Competition – Team Registration
December 5, 2025: Holiday Potluck Lunch – Sign up sheet
December 15, 2025: Fall CAHNR Faculty & Staff Meeting

CAHNR Budget Town Hall

Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025
Time: 12:15-1:00pm

Teams Meeting Information: Meeting Link
Meeting ID: 275 516 591 661 0
Passcode: LX2Uc7dq

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One Health Conference

Join us for the 2025 One Health Conference on Friday, November 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Ratcliffe Hicks Arena. This event will bring together students, staff, faculty, and partners to explore One Health across human, animal, environmental, and plant systems. The morning will feature guided roundtable discussions with actionable outcomes, each incorporating different aspects of CAHNR’s three missions—teaching, research, and Extension. The afternoon will highlight posters, interactive One Health tables from CAHNR groups, and time for networking and collaboration.

Open call for CAHNR Excellence Award nominations!

At CAHNR, we take pride in acknowledging the exceptional work of our faculty, staff, and graduate students who consistently go above and beyond in the realms of teaching, research, extension, and service.

Nominations are crucial in recognizing the outstanding contributions of our college members. The criteria, nomination procedures, and nature of the awards can be found here for review. Nominations must be submitted no later than Friday, November 21, 2025.

Hallmark Husky

November Awardee

Charlie Case – Department of Kinesiology

Charlie has been recognized as the Hallmark Husky for his exceptional initiative and impact in the Department of Kinesiology. In less than a year, he has greatly increased the office’s productivity by quickly learning new tasks and taking on key responsibilities for both his supervisor and the department head. Charlie has streamlined the tracking process for the Institute for Sports Medicine Return to Play Clinic, improving communication, ensuring timely payments, and significantly reducing administrative workload. His efficiency, organization, and proactive approach have made a lasting difference in the department’s operations, and we are grateful for his outstanding contributions.

Updates from the Business Office

What did the turkey say to the farmer on Thanksgiving Day? “Moo!” (It’s worth a try.)

There’s more fun in this month’s edition of the CAHNR Business Office newsletter. Each month, the team in CAHNR’s Business Office will update the CAHNR community on deadlines, policies, procedures, staffing changes, and all kinds of other useful information. Visit the CAHNR Business Office site for more.

CAHNR Impacts 2024

CAHNR makes an impact each and every year. We have an annual magazine to highlight some of the phenomenal work being done within our College’s research enterprise, academic programs, and Extension activities.

Take a look at CAHNR Impacts 2024