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Fall 2025 UConn ECE Chinese Instructor Workshop

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Here at ECE, we finished our week off with two Friday professional development experiences! First, we wanted to highlight our ECE Chinese workshop, which came together thanks to the tireless efforts of Professor Chunsheng Yang, our ECE faculty coordinator for Chinese.

Instructors convened on the UConn Storrs campus for some networking, as well as two interactive presentations facilitated by some of our very own ECE Chinese instructors! First, Amy Watt from Simsbury High School and Shiffon Theodore from Conard High School led the group in a discussion on strategies to improve L2 Chinese reading. Then, Feng Xia from Amity High School executed a presentation on engaging communicative projects in class. Finally, Yang Wang, an Associate Teaching Professor of East Asian Studies from Brown University, presented a digital story-telling project to the group.

Thank you very much to our contributors, and our instructors for joining us for a successful day! We hope to see many of you next year.

Chinese (CHIN) courses available through UConn Early College Experience.

Fall 2025 UConn ECE Chemistry Instructor Workshop

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Happy October, ECE family!

To kick off a busy month of Professional Development events, our Chemistry instructors met on the Storrs Campus on Thursday, October 9th for an exciting workshop. The keynote address of the day was titled “Introduction to Molecular Quantum Science and Quantum Dots”, and during this session attendees got to hear from Dr. Jing Zhao and Dr. Tomoyasu Mani (you can read more about their research and contributions to the field below)! Instructors were then treated to a tour of some of UConn’s Chemistry lab facilities, for some hands-on experience with our state-of-the-art equipment.

Many thanks to our Faculty Coordinator, Fatma Selampinar, Ph.D., as well as Dr. Zhao and Dr. Mani for their time and efforts in supporting our instructors! We are grateful to all Chemistry instructors who attended as well. See you next year!

 

Dr. Jing Zhao: Dr. Zhao’s research focuses on the optical spectroscopy of semiconductor and metallic nanoparticles, aiming to i) to characterize the optical and structural properties of nanoparticles at the single particle level; ii) to understand the interaction between various materials, e.g. exciton-plasmon interaction between colloidal quantum dots and noble metal nanoparticles; iii) to functionalize the nanoparticles and to control and optimize their properties for biological sensing and imaging, and energy related applications.

Dr. Tomoyasu Mani: Dr. Mani leads a research group focused on exploring photo- and radiation-induced chemical reactions in condensed phases. His work aims to understand how to control electronic excited states, charge and exciton transfer, and spin dynamics in molecules and molecular assemblies. Insights from his research contribute to the development of emerging technologies in quantum information science, biomedical imaging, and green chemistry. His laboratory specializes in the synthesis of molecules with quantum functionalities, as well as time-resolved optical spectroscopy and pulse radiolysis, to investigate ultrafast processes and transient species.

Chemistry (CHEM) courses available through UConn Early College Experience.

Fall 2025 UConn ECE United States History Instructor Workshop

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Welcome back ECE Community! It was our pleasure last Thursday, September 25th to host the first professional development workshop of the 2025-26 school year. Thanks to the efforts of Faculty Coordinator Dr. Matthew McKenzie, our ECE United States History instructors met virtually for a timely discussion entitled “Teaching US History in Our Current Climate: Challenges, Opportunities, and Student Support Strategies”. Thank you to all 52 teachers who joined us, and to Matt for his continued efforts and support for ECE.

We’re glad to be back, and cannot wait to connect with many more of you in the coming months!

UConn History (HIST) courses available through UConn Early College Experience.

Fall 2025 UConn ECE Philosophy Instructor Workshop

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This past Friday, September 26th, ECE Philosophy instructors met virtually with Faculty Coordinator Dr. Mitchell Green and UConn Philosophy Ph.D. candidate Ahmed AboHamad for two discussion sessions. Dr. Green led the group in a conversation surrounding smartphone usage and AI in the classroom, and Mr. AboHamad facilitated a presentation entitled ‘Teaching Literary Stoicism’, which is described in more detail below:

This presentation focused on the contemporary revival of Stoicism and its liberatory potential. At the heart of Stoic ethics is the distinction between what lies within our control and what does not, a distinction that has profound implications for political life. On one hand, Stoicism’s emphasis on virtue as both necessary and sufficient for the good life can be an antidote to consumerist cultures that place excessive value on external goods. On the other, its liberatory promise depends on orienting individuals to see the contingent nature of unjust social and political structures. I take this as a starting point for thinking about the role of education, especially the humanities, in expanding our capacity to imagine more just worlds and making Stoic wisdom truly liberatory.

Finally, UConn Philosophy’s Alina Ahmed and Maria Genova discussed their roles as Philosophers-in-Residence supported by the Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization (PLATO).

We are grateful to all who attended this year’s session, and we extend special thanks to the guest contributors and Mitch for their support of the ECE program.

Philosophy (PHIL) courses available through UConn Early College Experience.

Spring 2025 UConn ECE Library Media Specialists Training

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On Wednesday, June 4th, UConn Early College Experience in collaboration with staff from the Homer Babbidge Library, hosted a professional development day for affiliated UConn ECE Library Media Specialists. Held in person on the Storrs campus, the event offered participants a meaningful opportunity to engage with UConn Library’s Reference & Student Success Services team and explore resources designed to support their critical roles in high school learning environments.

The day began with a guided conversation that fostered open dialogue between high school media specialists and UConn library staff, focusing on shared challenges, best practices, and opportunities for collaboration. Following a brief break, attendees were introduced to key library personnel who support student research and academic success.

Lunch provided a more informal setting for continued discussions and networking, allowing participants to build connections with UConn librarians and with one another. The afternoon wrapped up with guided tours of the Homer Babbidge Library and optional time for self-guided exploration of its spaces and services.

This workshop highlighted the collaborative spirit of the UConn ECE program and reinforced the shared commitment to enriching the academic experience of ECE students across Connecticut.

UConn ECE Lib Guide  designed to assist ECE students, library media specialists, and instructors with navigating and accessing library resources.  

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2025 UConn ECE New Instructor Orientation

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UConn ECE Welcomes 290 Newly Certified Instructors This Spring

This spring, UConn Early College Experience (ECE) celebrated the certification of 290 instructors, including 224 new partners who completed New Instructor Orientation. These educators earned certification in 242 courses, expanding access to UConn courses across Connecticut high schools.

Led by Program Director Chris Todd and the ECE staff, the day-long orientation introduced instructors to key aspects of the program, including teaching responsibilities, student registration, and alignment with NACEP standards. Breakout sessions covered UConn instructional resources, program operations, and student enrichment opportunities such as Pre-College Summer.

Afternoon discipline-specific meetings connected instructors with Faculty Coordinators and peers, fostering collaboration and community. With over 40 Faculty Coordinators participating, the event underscored UConn ECE’s commitment to supporting its growing network.

As the academic year concludes, UConn ECE celebrates this milestone and remains focused on enriching educational opportunities for both teachers and students statewide.

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Spring 2025 UConn ECE LLAS Instructor Workshop

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On Friday, May 16th, UConn Early College Experience and the faculty from Latino and Latin American Studies (LLAS) welcomed certified ECE LLAS instructors to their annual professional development conference, held at the UConn Hartford campus in the Hartford Times Building. This year’s theme, “Contextualizing the Present in the Past: Lessons from Latin America to Help Us Understand Today’s World,” invited participants to reflect on how historical patterns in Latin America—such as authoritarianism, populism, and censorship—can help illuminate current global political challenges.

The day began with program updates, followed by a compelling presentation from Dr. Rodolfo Fernandez, Assistant Professor in Residence, El Instituto who explored how Latin American history offers critical insights into contemporary threats to democracy and the ways individuals have historically resisted them. After lunch, ECE Instructor Bonnie Nietupski presented “Digital Humanities: Empowering Students to Explore and Compare Justice & Law, Memory & Hope in Latin America,” highlighting innovative approaches to student engagement and research. The afternoon concluded with a collaborative session on teaching in times of fear and the role of emerging technologies like ChatGPT. Instructors shared strategies for navigating challenging classroom discussions while equipping students with the tools to connect past and present. The conference offered valuable perspectives, practical resources, and a renewed sense of purpose for educators teaching at the intersection of history, politics, and social justice.

UConn LLAS courses offered through UConn Early College Experience.

Spring 2025 UConn ECE Statistics Instructor Workshop

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On Wednesday, May 14th, UConn Early College Experience (ECE) and the Department of Statistics hosted their annual professional development workshop for all certified UConn ECE STAT instructors. The day was filled with insightful discussions and academic exchange. The workshop began with  short welcome and preliminary announcements, setting a collegial tone for the day. Later Prof. Nalini Ravishanker led a dynamic discussion focused on teaching strategies and course materials, encouraging instructors to share their experiences and ideas for enhancing student learning.

Following a short break the group reconvened for a presentation by Professor Kun Chen from the Department of Statistics. Attendees appreciated the opportunity to hear directly from a leading faculty member on current developments in the field.

UConn Statistics courses offered through UConn Early College Experience.

Spring 2025 UConn ECE HDFS Instructor Workshop

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On Tuesday, May 13th, UConn Early College Experience (ECE) and the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) hosted their annual professional development workshop for all certified UConn ECE HDFS instructors. The event brought together educators from across the state to reflect on the past year, share best practices, and engage in meaningful professional learning.

The day began with a warm welcome and program updates from Dr. Shannon E. Weaver, Faculty Coordinator of the HDFS 1070 and Naomi Inman, Graduate Assistant. Attendees also heard from ECE Program Director, Chris Todd, who provided an important update about all things UConn ECE. Morning sessions included discussions on syllabi requirements and yearly evaluations, led by Dr. Weaver. A keynote presentation on Emerging Topics in Developmental Science followed, offering insights into current trends in the field/ After lunch, instructors participated in a session on evaluating textbooks and engaged in breakout roundtable discussions to share their reviews. The afternoon concluded with a larger group discussion and closing remarks from Dr. Weaver and Naomi Inman. The workshop provided a valuable space for collaboration, reflection, and continued growth within the ECE HDFS teaching community.

UConn HDFS courses offered through UConn Early College Experience.

Spring 2025 UConn ECE EDLR 2001 Instructor Workshop

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It was a beautiful day on Friday, April 25, when we were joined by a group of 15 EDLR 2001: Contemporary Social Issues in Sport instructors on the UConn Storrs Campus. Thanks to the continued efforts of Dr. Danielle DeRosa, Faculty Coordinator for Educational Leadership, this group has grown to include teachers from a variety of unique disciplines, including History, English, Health/Physical Education, and Social Studies. Each provides a unique lens through which to teach their students about the industry of sport. Instructors were given the opportunity to meet with Eric Schneider, Associate Director of Athletics and Compliance at UConn, to discuss the ever-evolving landscape of college athletics, including NIL (name, image, and likeness) policies.

The afternoon was topped off by a walking tour of several of UConn’s athletic facilities, including Gampel Pavilion, the flagship site of the “Basketball Capitol of the World”, along with the baseball, softball, volleyball, and ice hockey facilities. Many thanks to Dan Petrik, a Master’s candidate in Sports Management, for the exciting tour.

Thank you to all who joined us for the day’s events, and especially to Danielle for her continued collaboration with the ECE program.

UConn Education (EDLR/EDCI) courses available through UConn Early College Experience.