There are multiple opportunities for faculty and staff to engage with the Strategic Vision Implementation Committees (SVICs); work is ongoing and relies on the input of our entire college to help fulfill the bold steps identified by the visioning process. Updates will be regularly added to this page for your convenience.
Administrative Support
Dr. Elaine Lee - CAHNR Leadership Fellow - elaine.c.lee@uconn.edu
Stacey Stearns - SVIC Coordination - stacey.stearns@uconn.edu
Dr. Jeantyl Norze - Evaluation - jeantyl.norze@uconn.edu
Erica Maclean - Administrative Support - erica.maclean@uconn.edu
SVIC Co-Chairs
SVIC Co-Chairs
Ensuring a Vibrant and Sustainable Agricultural Industry and Food Supply
Mary Anne Amalaradjou (ANSC)
Yangchao Luo (NUSC)
Advancing Adaptation and Resilience in a Changing Climate
Rob Huggins (KINS)
Anita Morzillo (NRE)
Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Through Anti-Racist Approaches
Cary Chadwick (WGSR) - (EXT)
Mary Anne Amalaradjou (WGSR) - (ANSC)
Laura Cisneros (Diversity Committee) - (NRE)
Enhancing Health and Well-Being Locally, Nationally, and Globally
Linda Pescatello (KINS)
Sarah Reed (ANSC)
Fostering Sustainable Landscapes Across Urban-Rural Interfaces
Tracy Rittenhouse (NRE)
David Dickson (EXT)
SVIC Project Funding Updates
SVIC Project Funding Updates
CAHNR provided $250,000 in funding for SVIC related projects. The purpose of these funds is to accelerate the SVIC’s work, and there were 23 proposals for a total of $395,660 in requested funds.
Review was conducted and proposals were assigned to two categories: 1) immediately fund for January-June 2023 cycle, and 2) discuss alternative funding options.
Category 2 proposals were either too large scope for January-June 2023 cycle or more information was needed to proceed with the project. The SVIC leadership team is meeting with each group to discuss ways to support the proposed project.
Individuals and SVICs were encouraged to submit to receive all potential project ideas and needs for Elaine to proceed with project assignments for the SVIC Leadership Fellow in the coming year. All 23 projects will have attention and some support from Stacey and Elaine to move forward or receive feedback and suggestions.
APPROVED Names of projects and Submitters (Funded for January through June 2023)
| Request Name | PI | SVIC |
| Initiating a Green Infrastructure Planning Tool for Resilient Communities | Z. Grabowski & Dickson | Landscapes (also Climate focus) |
| Supporting CT Ag Producers Needs Assessment | Cristina Connolly | Ag & Food |
| Advancing Environmental & Climate Justice in CT | Rodriguez Gonzalez | Climate (also Diversity focus) |
| Solid Ground Program Stipends | Jiff Martin | Ag & Food (also Diversity focus) |
| Let's Get Growing | Jacqueline Kowalski | Ag & Food (also Diversity focus) |
| Extraction of chitin from seafood shell waste for sustainable agriculture | Yangchao Luo | Ag & Food |
| Enhancing Health & Food Security with EFNEP | Heather Peracchio | Health (also Diversity focus) |
| HartBeat Ensemble, "Stuck in the Tape," An Interactive Play | Amalaradjou, Chadwick, Cisneros, Cooksey-Stowers, Dickson | Diversity |
| Interactive Map of Water Quality Data for the Long Island Sound Watershed | Helton, Wilson, Lei-Parent, Hare | Landscapes |
| Support for CT Trails | Anita Morzillo, Emily Wilson, Michael Puglisi | Climate (also Health, Landscapes & Diversity areas) |
| Development of statewide dataset of high-resolution riparian corridor land cover | Dickson, Chadwick | Climate (also Landscape focus) |
PARTIAL FUNDING
| Request Name | PI | SVIC |
| Addressing the Maternal Mortality Crisis in Black Women | Sherry Pagoto | Health |
| Piloting Methods for 1930s Landcover Dataset | Robert Fahey | Landscapes (also Climate focus) |
ONGOING PROJECT PLANNING – Names of projects and Submitters
| Request Name | PI | SVIC |
| Sustainable Ag @ CAHNR | SVIC | Ag & Food |
| Sustainable Ag & Food Systems Conference (Planning Grant) | SVIC | Ag & Food |
| Developing Proposals Planning Grant | SVIC | Ag & Food |
| ExCEL (Educating, Engagement, Leadership) | Mary Anne Amalaradjou | Ag & Food |
| Translation of Fact Sheets on Ag & Food and Solid Ground into Spanish | Jenifer Nadeau | Ag & Food |
| Human Health Collaborative Initiative | Eleni Diakogeorgiou | Health |
| Extension services in Ugandan Schools | Nathan Fiala | Health (also Ag-Food focus) |
| Digital Health Tools & Resources | Molly Waring | Health |
| CAHNR Transformation Plan Toward Belonging, Racial Equity, Access, Diversity, & Inclusion | Amalaradjou, Chadwick, Cisneros, Cooksey-Stowers | Diversity |
| Increasing Household Food Waste Composting | Connolly & Somers | Landscapes (also Ag-Food focus) |
SVIC Winter Workshop Updates
Spring 2023 Action Items
Thank you to everyone that attended our 2023 SVIC Winter Workshop. The action items created by each of the SVICs are listed below. This is the first of many opportunities for everyone to work with their SVIC this semester, and for the SVICs to collaborate among each other too. Action items and updates on objectives and outcomes will be regularly added.
Agriculture and Food
Sustainable Agriculture Networking and Conference
Outcome: Advance awareness, knowledge, and adoption of innovative, sustainable approaches to agriculture, including controlled environment agriculture so that all producers are aware of and incorporate practices.
Objective: To host a conference/workshop on sustainable agriculture production that increases networking and collaboration among CAHNR and others at UConn working in this area.
Identify Research Topics for Controlled Environment Agriculture
Outcome: Advance awareness, knowledge, and adoption of innovative, sustainable approaches to agriculture, including controlled environment agriculture so that all producers are aware of and incorporate practices.
Objective: Identify two to three research topics in controlled environment agriculture and potential interdisciplinary research grant opportunities.
Enhancing Health and Well-being Locally, Nationally, and Globally
Maximizing Sport and Physical Performance and Improving Injury Prevention, Recovery and Rehabilitation
Outcome: CAHNR Collaboration Workshop on 2/7/23. We are hopeful that this can continue as a working group that meets 1x/semester to discuss progress and initiatives.
Objective: To host a workshop and have a round table discussion to describe activities as they relate to human health within the college, identify intersectionality between programs and discuss opportunities for collaboration
Build Connections at the Nexus of Human, Animal, Plant, and Environmental Health (aka ONEHEALTH@CAHNR)
Outcome: OneHealth Expo
Objective: Plan and obtain funding for a OneHealth Expo
Build Connections at the Nexus of Human, Animal, Plant, and Environmental Health (aka ONEHEALTH@CAHNR)
Outcome: Updated website that is a resource for current and prospective students, faculty, staff, administration, and the general public, that is “the” place to go for OneHealth information.
Objective: Update the website with new content, promote the website, move to the college level (currently under extension).
Build Connections at the Nexus of Human, Animal, Plant, and Environmental Health (aka ONEHEALTH@CAHNR)
Outcome: Identify overlap among co-occurring, separate efforts to design One Health curricula including courses, micro-credentials, and minors.
Objective: Meeting will be held by June 2023 of key leaders from One Health curricula initiatives to find synergies, limit overlap, and finalize courses for One Health minor.
Build Connections at the Nexus of Human, Animal, Plant, and Environmental Health (aka ONEHEALTH@CAHNR)
Outcome: Meet and Greet activity for CAHNR faculty/staff to come together to network and learn about OneHealth efforts
Objective: Informal gathering for social networking and open introduction/dialogue
Working Group on Structural Racism/Diversity and Inclusion Committee
SVIC Big Goal for CAHNR: A Strategic Vision & Diversity Plan (with resources) for CAHNR
SVIC 2023 Focus Goal: Conduct an Equity Audit of CAHNR Organization Policies, Practices, Systems and Content
Objective & Outcome: The objective is to identify policies, programs, and practices that directly or indirectly impact CAHNR students, faculty or staff relative to their race, ethnicity, gender, national origin, color, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, or other socio-culturally significant factors. Data collected through a policy audit can be used to inform the process of removing institutional barriers that impede full participation, access and opportunity to students, faculty, staff, and community partnerships across the College. This effort must be broken down into manageable phases and will require resources (faculty and staff time, DEI professional guidance, student hire). The objective for the spring 2023 semester is to identify a leadership structure to coordinate the work, assemble content experts to inform the process, and outline a data collection plan.
Outcome: Identification of structural barriers and opportunity gaps that contribute to a negative climate for some students, faculty and staff in CAHNR. Use of information to inform change.
SVIC Big Goal for CAHNR: A Strategic Vision & Diversity Plan (with resources) for CAHNR
SVIC 2023 Focus Goal: Build the Capacity of the SVIC and Improve Communication of DEI Initiatives across CAHNR
Objective: The objective is to strengthen communication structure around DEI within CAHNR to facilitate flow of information, knowledge, ideas and feelings. This is both top-down (Admin leadership level) & bottom up (students, staff, faculty, community partners). Also across SVICs. This might include establishing a meeting structure, student, faculty, staff round table discussions or forums, etc. to collate around common values, goals and objectives; explore various methods for gathering input, feedback, complaints and compliments, encourage greater participation in discussions and initiatives.
Outcome: Outcomes would include increased participation in DEI initiatives, better communication between the SVIC and College leadership, opportunities for CAHNR students, faculty, and staff to contribute input and feedback, and a more representative and transparent communication strategy for the College.
Advancing Climate Adaptation and Resilence
Climate Alliance
Outcome: To bring together key stakeholders and establish the foundational tenants for a functioning Climate Alliance within CAHNR
Objective:
Long Term: To Develop a Climate Alliance that serves the needs of UCONN, CAHNR, the state, and beyond.
Short Term: To assemble the group with the purpose of developing a mission/vison, determine subgroups/working groups, develop synergies.
Networking Tree
Outcome: To grow a functioning internal communication platform with engagement by all CAHNR users
Objective: To provide training on Connect Extension to the departments and capabilities to grow our CAHNR Family Tree
Fostering Sustainable Landscapes
Outcome: Improve Water Quality in the State and LISS
Objective: Enhance data informing sustainable landscape decisions
Action Items: water quality dashboard, riparian data layer collection, green infrastructure planning tool, inventory of statewide natural resource data, among others.
Outcome: Advancing landscape sustainability science and practice in Connecticut
Objective: Enhance connections between CAHNR faculty & with other faculty across campus
Action Items: Joint SVIC meeting with Gene Likens and Climate, Connect with planning committee for Securing our Environment symposium, Lunch and Learn, Identify next big ideas
Lunch and Learn Series
Sustainable Landscapes Lunch and Learn Series
The first Landscape Lunch and Learn of the spring semester is Friday, February 10th at 12 PM. Dr. Chandi Witharana’s topic is Drones: The Eyes in the Sky. We invite you to join us virtually for a 10-minute presentation, followed by 20 minutes of discussion. Join us at https://uconnvtc.webex.com/meet/sustainablelandscapes
Upcoming presentations include:
- April 7th - Dr. Sohyun Park - Municipal Land Bank Properties
- April 21st - Jacqueline Kowalski - Urban Agriculture - Successes and Barriers to Sustainability
- May 9th - Save the Date for a potential in person learning experience
Expectations
Expectations for the SVICs
- Increase collaboration among faculty and staff in CAHNR.
- Increase grant funding and scholarship, including expansion in the funding agencies.
- Develop new curriculum and courses for workforce readiness among undergraduate students.
- Develop and strengthen statewide partnerships and outreach through Extension and other services.
- Identify and advocate for new positions in CAHNR departments where expertise is needed for the SVIC.
- Foster innovative ideas and projects in research, teaching, and extension that further the mission.
- Improve the outcomes addressed in our vision through measurable progress in these areas (the SVICs define the objectives with input from CAHNR leadership and support teams).
- Contribute to the collective impact that CAHNR has on the state, regional, and national levels.