Professor Martin O'Connor to Develop Special Topics Course for Fall 2010
West Haven, CT, January 21, 2010-Martin O'Connor, J.D., associate professor of fire science at the University of New Haven (UNH), has been selected as the university's second Oskar Schindler Humanities Foundation Endowed Professor. The Oskar Schindler Humanities Endowed Professorship at UNH was established through a major gift in honor of the inauguration of Steven H Kaplan, the sixth president of the university.
O'Connor has had a significant role in developing the internship program at the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences and serves as UNH campus minister. During his three-year endowed professorship, O'Connor intends to develop a special topics course for the fall of 2010 and oversee independent study projects with undergraduate and graduate students.
Prior to his appointment at UNH, O'Connor served in several roles with the New Haven Fire Department including firefighter, fire lieutenant, commanding officer of the arson squad, director of planning and information, captain, battalion chief, and assistant chief for administration. He served as chief of the New Haven Fire Department from 1996 to 1998 and as secretary/treasurer of the New Haven firefighters union.
O'Connor earned his B.A. in history from UNH, his M.Div. from Yale University Divinity School, and his J.D. from the University of Connecticut, and is currently pursuing his D. Min. from Fordham University. He is the recipient of numerous awards and honors related to his efforts in higher education and fire service as well as for his church and community involvement.
A leader in experiential education, the University of New Haven is experiencing a historic and nationally recognized surge in enrollment. Founded in 1920, the University provides its students with a unique combination of solid liberal arts and real-world, hands-on professional training. UNH is a private university with an 80-acre main campus. The University has an enrollment of more than 5,200; approximately 1,700 graduate students and more than 3,500 undergraduates, 70 percent of whom reside in University housing. The University offers more than 80 undergraduate degrees and more than 25 graduate degrees through its five colleges, in fields such as sports management, nutrition, forensic science, music and sound recording, engineering, computer science and criminal justice. University College at UNH develops programs and courses to meet the emerging educational and training needs of educators, businesses and public and social agencies, focusing on academic excellence, convenience and flexibility. University of New Haven students study abroad through a variety of distinctive programs.