Public Safety is tracking a significant snowfall that will be arriving in our area late Sunday morning (Jan. 25). It will snow heavily throughout the day and evening eventually tapering off Monday (Jan. 26) with 10-14 inches expected statewide. A sleet and freezing rain mix is also possible along the shore. Temperatures will be in the teens and twenties.
Due to this significant winter storm and the extensive campus clean-up operations that will need to take place, all in-person day and evening classes scheduled for Monday, January 26, 2026 have been cancelled. All scheduled in-person classes will transition to being held online or remotely. Additional information on the virtual format for each class will be provided by your instructor.
Faculty have been asked to prepare for Online or Remote sessions in the event of in-person meeting cancellations. These options will be determined by the Faculty member and all questions should be directed to the Faculty teaching each course section. Faculty also have been asked to be very understanding and accommodating of the individual situations of their students who may have difficulty managing these alternative online or remote class meetings on short notice.
Please note that only essential employees, as previously determined by their respective department leaders, should report to campus. All other employees should fulfill the requirements of their role remotely.
Campus operations for residential students, unless otherwise noted, will operate as scheduled, though hours may be modified or changed based on the conditions. Separate messages will be sent from the Peterson Library, the Beckerman Recreation Center, and Dining Services regarding any changes to their normal hours of operation. The Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation will remain open for residential students to use for study space and to participate in online classes.
Off-campus students that live in the City of West Haven should abide by the city’s parking ban during inclement weather to avoid having their vehicle tagged and towed. Please check the City of West Haven’s website for further information on their snow parking ban.
The Charger Blog
Merryl Tengesdal ’94, the first and only African American woman to fly the Air Force’s U-2 spy plane, will be a cast member on the new season of the CBS competition series “Tough As Nails.”
January 20, 2021
When Merryl Tengesdal ’94 was a child growing up in the Bronx, she dreamed of becoming an astronaut. Her career has indeed taken off, bringing her to the skies, and, most recently, among the stars of Hollywood.
The daughter of a single mother, Tengesdal chose to attend the University of New Haven. She was drawn to the small class sizes, hands-on opportunities, and the vibrant campus life. A member of the Chargers women’s basketball team, she fondly remembers traveling with her teammates to what is now her home state of California.
Grateful for the support of her classmates and mentors, she cites one of her physics professors as being especially influential and impactful. She says he kept her focused and encouraged her to take part in an engineering summer research opportunity in Maine – even driving her there and back. Some of her favorite memories of her time as a student include getting to know and making friends with a diverse group of people from around the world.
“I liked that there were so many international students at the University,” said Tengesdal, who earned a degree in electrical engineering. “There was a lot of diversity in terms of culture. I met people from Israel, Russia, and Greece, and I learned about their cultures. This is important because I believe part of the college experience is challenging your own ideas.”
A member of the University’s ROTC program, she went on to join the U.S. Navy, flying helicopters, and, later, she joined the U.S. Air Force. She served in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom and became the first and only African American woman to fly the Lockheed U-2, a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft nicknamed "Dragon Lady.” After more than 23 years, she retired with the rank of Colonel.
“My Navy background and exposure to leadership opportunities set me up for success in the Air Force,” she said. “Flying the U-2 is challenging. It is unforgiving.”
Tengesdal’s alma mater has recognized her exemplary career, awarding her a Distinguished Alumni award in 2013, and she will be presented with an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree at the University’s Virtual Winter Commencement on Saturday, January 23.
“I was blown away when I found out,” she said. “I am very humbled. My husband is pursuing his doctorate, and we joke that I earned my doctorate before he did. He is very proud and has been very supportive.”
Tengesdal’s determination, grit, and success have also gotten the attention of producers in Hollywood, as she has landed a place in the cast of season two of “Tough As Nails,” a competition series airing on CBS. The show celebrates Americans who work long, hard hours, testing their strength, endurance, and mental toughness.
After an extensive selection process that included interviewing and demonstrating her endurance, Tengesdal was selected from thousands of applicants from myriad backgrounds and fields to be one of just 12 contestants. They took part in individual and team competitions, all of which were very physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging, she said. Filming has now wrapped, and the season premiere will air on February 10.
“Filming was similar to serving in the military in that they both required very long days,” she said. “We also had to quarantine for a period before filming because of the pandemic, and it was like being on a boat at sea, since you were in a small space that you could not leave. I enjoyed the quarantine because it was a time of quiet.”
When she’s not in front of the cameras, Tengesdal is “tough as nails” in her work as a fitness trainer, which she continues after a hip replacement. Passionate about fitness, she enjoys the opportunities it offers to inspire and mentor young people. She is also a dedicated inspirational speaker, and she continues to push herself to learn, grow, and innovate.
Tengesdal hopes to continue to inspire and encourage young people – including those she meets as a trainer, her 8-year-old son and 6-year-old foster daughter, and current – and future – University of New Haven students. She says that young people have excellent and disruptive ideas for how to change the current model of working, and she offers this advice to students.
“Now is the time to use the skills you’ve cultivated at the University to bring about the innovation that is so needed and so wanted right now,” she said. “Things like long commutes and a traditional 40-hour work week are changing. How can you help with these changes and make life better?”
University News
New University-wide council will advance strategic partnerships, immersive student opportunities, and innovative research, supporting the University’s strategic plan the development of its pioneering Center for Innovation and Applied Technology.
The Charger Blog
Entrepreneur David Sussman, Pompea College of Business Advisory Board Member and chief visionary officer of The Family Security Plan®, is collaborating with University of New Haven students, faculty, and staff to create a program and app that helps Chargers support each other to achieve academic, personal, and professional goals. It’s called Uccountability.
University News
Vice President for Innovation and Applied Technology Paul Lavoie will serve on the Board of Directors and as America’s Chief Manufacturing Officer for the newly launched American Manufacturing Futures Institute.