CT State Student Success and Enrollment Summit

Get up-to-speed on the financial aid and policy changes shaping college access and affordability. This session will highlight CT State’s free-college opportunities, key financial aid information and important federal updates, with practical guidance for counselors and partners helping students understand costs, eligibility and next steps. Participants will also learn about Connecticut’s new FAFSA completion graduation requirement for the Class of 2027.

Presenters:

• Omar Livingston, Regional Director of Financial Aid, CT State
• Ryan Jones, Campus Supervisor of Financial Aid, CT State Gateway

Lauren Merrit, COO from College Steps, will explore how educators and student-support professionals can create inclusive learning environments that help neurodivergent students thrive in college. Drawing on College Steps individualized, strengths-based approach and peer-mentoring experience, this session will offer practical strategies for supporting executive functioning, communication, self-advocacy, social connection and access to campus resources. Participants will leave with ideas for fostering greater belonging, confidence and independence in and beyond the classroom.

Presenter:

• Lauren Merritt, Chief Operating Officer, College Steps

Information pending

Presenter:

• Rachel McDonnell, Director, Jobs for the Future

Explore how CT State Transfer Pathways create clear and affordable routes from community college to four-year institutions across Connecticut and beyond, including both public and private colleges and universities. Participants will learn about transfer agreements, pathway options and resources that help students maximize their credits, reduce the cost of a bachelor's degree and transition successfully to their four-year destination.

Presenters:

• Martha Goldstein-Shultz, Director of Transfer Student Success, CT State
• Steve Macelynas, Director for the Office of Transfer and Articulation, CSCU

Discover how CT State’s Guided Pathways Advising model helps students navigate their college journey with greater clarity, connection and purpose. Participants will learn how advisors support students in exploring academic and career goals, selecting the right program and courses, developing an educational plan and staying on track toward completion, transfer and career success.

Presenters:

• Brian Kapinos, Interim AVP of Advising and Transfer Enrollment, CT State
• Michael Goemans, Director of Student Success Technology, CT State

Admission is only the beginning. This session will examine the critical steps between acceptance and enrollment — including financial aid, advising, registration, orientation, required documents and student communications — and identify ways schools, community partners and CT State can work together to reduce summer melt and help students successfully start college.

Presenters:

• Noel Rosamilio, Manager of Enrollment Services, CT State
• Sarah White, Executive Director of Admissions Strategy and Operations, CT State

The traditional college student is no longer the norm. Explore how flexible programs, career-focused pathways, financial aid and student supports can help working adults, caregivers, returning students and other adult learners access college, persist and reach their educational and career goals. 

Presenter:

• Annette Bosley-Boyce, Associate Director of Recruitment Strategy, CT State

Learn how the P-TECH model creates an integrated pathway connecting high school, college coursework and career preparation. This session will highlight the CT State Norwalk experience, dual-enrollment opportunities, partnership structures and how students can build college credit and career momentum before high school graduation. 

Presenters:

• Rachel Cain, Dean of Students, CT State Norwalk
• Matthew Baker, Dual Enrollment Coordinator, CT State Norwalk

Today’s community college students are balancing increasingly complex academic, personal and professional demands. This session will explore how observations of student needs at CT State Tunxis led to an innovative academic coaching program, combining individualized support, skill-building resources, campus partnerships and emerging tools such as AI. Attendees will leave with practical strategies that can be adapted to support persistence, confidence and student success.

Presenter:

• Elizabeth Houston, Student Accessibility and Disabilities Services Associate, CT State Tunxis

Discover how CT State’s workforce development and noncredit programs provide flexible, career-focused pathways into high-demand industries. Participants will learn how short-term training, industry-aligned credentials, employer partnerships and connections to additional education can help learners quickly build skills and advance toward sustainable careers.

Presenter:

• Erika Lynch, Director of Workforce Development and Continuing Education, CT State Gateway

CT State and the Connecticut Department of Public Health will introduce CT State’s new Public Health programs and the career pathways they create for students interested in improving the health and well-being of Connecticut communities. This session will highlight program and scholarship opportunities, emerging public health workforce needs and how education, government and community partners can work together to build a strong and diverse pipeline of future public health professionals. 

Presenters:

• DarShana Rawal, Assistant Professor and Public Health Program Coordinator, CT State Housatonic/Gateway
• Joseph Soto, Assistant Professor and Public Health Program Coordinator, CT State Capital/Three Rivers
• Tom St. Louis, Director of Public Health Workforce Development and Senior Public Health Strategist, Office of the Commissioner

Explore how peer mentoring can strengthen student connection, persistence and success. Miah Lugrand of Let’s Get Ready! (LGR), a national organization providing near-peer mentoring and college success support, will highlight the significant impact of CT State's partnership with LGR, including its reach across the college and positive impact on student retention. Participants will learn how a scalable near-peer mentoring model can help students navigate challenges, build a sense of belonging and stay on track toward their educational goals.

Presenter:

• Miah LuGrand, Director of Partner Student Success and Enrollment, Let’s Get Ready

Explore CT State’s comprehensive approach to student mental health and well-being, including campus-based counseling, CARE Teams and 24/7 virtual support through TimelyCare. Participants will learn how these resources help identify and address student needs, reduce barriers to persistence and create a coordinated network of support. 

Presenter:

• Meredith Yuhas, Director of Mental Health and Wellness, CT State

Explore how CT State’s Career Services department helps students explore career pathways, build career readiness and connect with internships, employment opportunities and employers throughout Connecticut and beyond. Using the Explore → Plan → Prepare → Connect framework, presenters will highlight how career exploration, advising, resources and experiences are integrated throughout the college journey. These supports help students make informed academic and career decisions and connect their education to meaningful careers and further education. 

Presenters:

• DeWayne Pryce, CT State Career Services, Statewide Director
• Kat Ahern, Director of Career Services and Chair of the Career Services Council, CT State

Discover how the CT State Naugatuck Valley STEM Inclusive Opportunity Network (NViSION) helps academically talented students with financial need pursue STEM degrees at CT State. This NSF-supported S-STEM program combines scholarships of about $4,500 per semester with faculty advising, a Summer Bridge experience, tutoring, STEM workshops, field trips and professional opportunities such as research, internships and job shadowing. Participants will learn how NViSION supports students in completing their degrees, transferring to four-year institutions or entering the STEM workforce.

Presenter:

• Rebecca Stadel Binney, Professor of Biology, NViSION Director and Principal Investigator, CT State Naugatuck Valley

Strong partnerships can do more than expand services – they can improve student outcomes. This session will highlight how CT State is working with partners such as GEAR UP and Let’s Get Ready to strengthen the student journey from college access and transition through persistence and completion. Presenters will share examples of partnership strategies, including near-peer mentoring and targeted student support, that are reaching students across CT State and contributing to stronger engagement and retention.

Presenters:

• Christina Lapierre, Grant Project Director for Systemwide Initiatives and Sponsored Programs, CSCU
• Miah LuGrand, Director of Partner Student Success and Enrollment, Let’s Get Ready

Learn how CT State helps students begin their academic journey at the appropriate level through placement practices and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) pathways. This session will help counselors and partners understand placement considerations, available supports and how students can move successfully into college-level coursework.

Presenter:

• Karlene Ball, ESOL Program Coordinator/Chair of ESOL Council, CT State Naugatuck Valley

Discover credit and noncredit programs across CT State that students and partners may not know about, but can lead to strong career opportunities and sustainable wages. Organized by area of study, this session will spotlight lesser-known pathways and help counselors and community partners broaden the options they share with students.

Presenter:

TBA

Taking the college experience to the next level with CT State’s Honors Program. This session will highlight how this program transforms students’ lives through close mentorship, meaningful academic challenges, high-impact opportunities (e.g., workshops, field trips, leadership roles) and a close community of motivated learners.

 Presenter:

• Andrea Levy, Professor of Human Services and Director of Campus Honors Program, CT State Middlesex

Learn how prospective international students navigate admission to CT State and the F-1 student process. This session will provide an overview of key admissions steps, documentation and SEVIS considerations, student responsibilities, and ways counselors and community partners can better support international students from initial inquiry through enrollment. 

Presenter:

• Ashkhen Strack, Director of International Admissions, CT State

CT State offers a variety of health career programs, from selective admissions programs to short-term, job-focused programs through Workforce Development and Continuing Education. Come explore the various options available to students and gain a clearer understanding of the admissions process. Participants will learn about the full range of possibilities at CT State, as well as key enrollment steps and how counselors and academic partners can help applicants navigate the process with greater confidence.

Presenters:

• Sarah Hendrick, Director of Selective Admissions, CT State
• Erin Sullivan, Director of Workforce Development and Continuing Education, CT State Three Rivers

Discover how CT State supports veterans, active-duty service members and military-affiliated students as they transition to college and pursue their academic and career goals. This session will highlight veterans’ services and OASIS centers at CT State, including assistance with educational benefits, academic advising, military credit, career and wellness resources and welcoming spaces where students can study, connect and build community. 

Presenter:

• Justin Slater, Associate Director of Veterans Affairs, CT State Capital

Learn how CT State expands access to higher education for incarcerated and justice-involved students through Second Chance Pell and related prison education initiatives. This session will highlight academic and vocational pathways, partnerships with Connecticut Department of Correction facilities and reentry supports designed to help students continue their education and move toward future career opportunities.

Presenters:

• Teresa Foley, Director of Non-Traditional Programs and Partnerships, CT State Asnuntuck
• Susan Gunderman, Program Operations Director for Reentry Services, Community Partners in Action

Information pending.

Presenter:

• Alice Pritchard, Executive Director, CT Technical Education and Career System

Ghost students have emerged as a significant challenge across higher education. Learn how CT State is identifying and responding to fraudulent or non-genuine enrollment activity while working to protect institutional resources, preserve access for legitimate students and strengthen admissions and enrollment practices.

Presenters:

• Sarah White, Executive Director of Admissions Strategy and Operations
• Cheslea Wright, Admissions Communications Specialist

Explore how CT State supports students as they move from admission to becoming confident, connected members of the college community through comprehensive orientation and onboarding. Participants will learn about CT State’s online and on-ground orientation experiences, designed to provide flexible access to essential resources, academic expectations, technology, support services and campus connections while building a sense of belonging that supports a successful start and continued persistence.

Presenter:

• Jesselica Rodriguez, Assistant Director of Student Orientation and Onboarding, CT State

Explore CT State’s Criminal Justice pathways and the many directions they can take students – from law enforcement, corrections and criminal investigations to homeland security, juvenile justice, computer crime investigations, legal studies and victimology. Participants will learn about degree and certificate options, opportunities to prepare for employment or transfer and how students can match their interests with a specialized area of study. 

Presenters:

• Rebecca Rist-Brown, Professor of Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice and Criminology Program Coordinator, CT State Middlesex

Learn how CT State's Office for Disability and Accessibility Services (ODAS) helps students with disabilities obtain reasonable and appropriate academic accommodations across all campuses. This session will help counselors and partners understand how the college accommodation process differs from high school, the steps students take to request support and how ODAS promotes equal access, self-advocacy and success throughout the college journey.

Presenter:

• Vera Dimoplon, Director of Disability and Accessibility Services, CT State

Explore strategies to reconnect with students who began college but stepped away before completing a credential. This session will examine common barriers to re-enrollment, approaches to targeted outreach and readmission, opportunities such as Fresh Start and near-completion pathways and ways institutions and community partners can help returning students regain momentum.

Presenters:

• Jesselica Rodriguez, Assistant Director of Student Orientation and Onboarding, CT State
• Gayle Barrett, Associate Vice President of Enrollment and Retention Services, CT State

Hear from private college and university partners about transfer opportunities available to CT State students. Participants will learn about admissions pathways, transfer-credit considerations, affordability and scholarship opportunities and resources that can help students make a successful transition to a private four-year institution.

Presenter:

• Jennifer Widness, President, Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges

Explore the pathways that can turn an interest in education into a rewarding career in teaching. This session will highlight opportunities for students beginning their journey at CT State to build a strong academic foundation and transition into teacher preparation and certification pathways. Participants will learn about accessible routes into the teaching profession and how CT State is helping develop a strong and diverse pipeline of future educators.

Presenter:

• LaKisha Grant-Washington, Associate Professor of Psychology, Program Coordinator, Pathways to Teaching Careers

10:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
Explore the many pathways into Connecticut’s growing healthcare workforce through this interactive allied health experience. Participants will engage with CT State faculty, students and industry partners while exploring programs and learning environments with hands-on demonstrations that bring healthcare education to life. This session will highlight pathways from high school to college and career, opportunities across a range of allied health professions and ways educators and community partners can help students navigate the journey into these high-demand fields. 

Presenter:

Lisa Silk, Academic Division Director for Nursing and Allied Health, CT State Naugatuck Valley

10:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
Get an inside look at automotive education and career pathways through this interactive, hands-on experience. Participants will explore CT State’s automotive facilities, engage with faculty and industry professionals and experience demonstrations that highlight the technology, skills and training shaping today’s automotive workforce. This session will also showcase pathways that connect high school, college and careers while highlighting opportunities for stronger partnerships among educators, employers and CT State. 

Presenter:

• Thomas Pannullo, Assistant Professor of PC/Auto Tech, CT State Naugatuck Valley

1:30-3:15 p.m.
Connecticut's advanced manufacturing industry offers students pathways to high-demand, high-skill careers across a rapidly evolving workforce. This interactive symposium will highlight CT State's manufacturing programs, training opportunities and partnerships designed to connect students with education and career pathways in advanced manufacturing. Participants will explore how CT State works with K–12 schools, community partners and employers to build awareness of manufacturing careers, create accessible pathways into college and training and prepare students for Connecticut’s workforce needs.

Presenters:

• Mary Bidwell, Director of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, CT State Asnuntuck
• Sharon Lutkus, Program Director of Advanced Manufacturing AMTC, CT State Naugatuck Valley