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
Several alumni of the University’s undergraduate and graduate programs in forensic science and graduate program in forensic technology are now applying what they learned in the classroom to their work at Bode Technology, a company that specializes in DNA testing.
December 2, 2022
When Chrissy Campanelli ’21 M.S. was growing up, she loved watching the popular show "NCIS". She wanted to be just like Abby, the forensic scientist on the show.
Campanelli was inspired to pursue her own career in forensic science. After earning her master’s degree in forensic technology from the University of New Haven, she began working for Bode Technology, specializing in evidence sampling. Within a year, she was promoted to forensic DNA technologist. She’s now being trained to perform DNA analysis, including extraction, separation, and detection of a DNA profile.
“My degree focused primarily on how to identify and collect evidence from crime scenes,” said Campanelli. “The courses I took provided me the forensic knowledge required to work in a forensic laboratory. Throughout my studies, I also met those who presented Bode Technology to me as a career opportunity.”
Campanelli is one of at least 11 Chargers who now work for the Virginia-based Bode Technology, which provides DNA testing on current and backlogged cases. Her colleague and fellow forensic DNA technologist Kenny Jean-Bart ’22 M.S. also earned her master’s degree in forensic technology. She chose the program because she already had some lab experience and wanted to learn more about the dynamics of crime scene investigation, as well as how it connects with analyses done in the lab.
As a Charger, Jean-Bart was a member of the University’s Graduate Forensic Science Club, serving as the sergeant in arms during her final year. It was through her involvement in the club that she learned about the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Conference. When she attended, she met representatives from Bode Technology, which, ultimately, led to her job offer.
“My favorite thing about my job – and forensics in general, really – is that to me it feels like I'm putting together a puzzle,” she said. “We only get a snippet of the case as a whole, but using the information we do get to make decisions that could potentially help get victims justice feels amazing.”
Kaitlyn Gencarelli ’19, also a forensic DNA technologist, earned bachelor’s degrees in biology and forensic science from the University. She says her classes and labs enabled her to learn all the aspects of forensic lab work that are now key parts of her job, such as sterile techniques and how to handle a variety of specimens.
A member of Bode Technology’s North Carolina team, Gencarelli samples the evidence sent by clients. She and her team are also working to process the state’s backlog of sexual assault kits.
“This includes maintaining a proper chain of custody, sampling evidence such as swabs, underwear, and sanitary pads,” explains Gencarelli, who also earned a master’s degree in forensic medicine from the University of Maryland-Baltimore. “I love knowing I am providing some form of justice for the victims, and I like knowing I can make a difference. I hope to continue my career in forensics, possibly by going into physical science or death investigation.”
For the past year, Michael “Ike” Ireland ’21 was a member of the sampling team at Bode Technology, processing evidence to best allow for extraction of DNA. Recently promoted to be a forensic DNA technologist, he is now a member of the lab support team. He enjoys taking an “active part in the criminal justice process,” helping to process the backlog of sexual assault kits. He says his time as a forensic science major at the University prepared him well.
“I didn't fully appreciate the classes I took until I started working here and I had the opportunity to employ the lessons I’d learned,” he said. “Because of my University of New Haven education, I am able to fully grasp the concepts and practices far more readily. I am grateful to all of my professors. Their time teaching the next generation goes so far, further than most realize.”
Campanelli, the grad of the master’s program in forensic technology, is still “obsessed” with "NCIS", and she’s excited that she’s now working in a lab just like Abby, doing what “I always wanted to do.
“Working at Bode surrounds me with co-workers who are able to bring light to my day, even on the cloudy ones, and who enjoy their job just as much as I do,” she continued. “I love knowing the work I do truly makes a difference in the victims’ lives. While sometimes the individual work we do seems small, working together as a team really makes a huge difference, and that’s what keeps me going.”
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.