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
Selena Chom ’21, ’23 MPH is a co-author of a paper examining the impact of food insecurity on sexual minority men that was recently published in a leading academic journal. She is now continuing her research on food insecurity, and she hopes to help address the impact it is having on college students.
February 27, 2022
Selena Chom ’21, ’23 MPH is passionate about addressing health inequity. She is particularly interested in food insecurity, a challenge that individuals around the globe face and that can affect them physically and mentally.
A candidate in the University’s Master of Public Health program who earned a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from the University, Chom is interested in the social determinants of health and in the different ways in which it can impact individuals. She hopes to go beyond simply addressing these issues. She hopes to help make real and lasting improvements.
Chom was recently part of a team that published a research paper titled “Association between perceived discrimination and food insecurity among sexual minority men” in Nutrition and Health, an online international peer-reviewed journal. The study examined how food insecurity impacted sexual minority men – including gay and bisexual men – in the United States.
“We decided to focus on sexual minority men specifically because if you were to research the data right now, it is very limited and outdated,” explains Chom. “Sexual minority individuals do experience stigma, prejudice, and discrimination because of their sexual orientation identity. In some cases, they are denied access to assistance and food services. As we investigate the data of food insecurity from across the country, it is very important that they are included.”
Working with Alvin Tran, Sc.D., MPH, an assistant professor of public health and assistant provost for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Chom examined current research and literature reviews focused on food insecurity and its impact on sexual minority men and assisted with drafting the manuscript. The team collaborated remotely, discussing their work and communicating via Zoom and email.
“It was a great experience because I learned how to adapt to working and communicating with my team through technology in an efficient way,” she said. “Dr. Tran is a great mentor and assisted me the entire time. Knowing that he believed in me meant everything to me. One of the University’s librarians, Anna Malicka, was also such a pleasure to work with and helped me navigate my entire research process.”
The team found that nearly 36 percent of the sexual minority men they surveyed reported eating less than they should because of financial barriers to buying food in the past year – something Dr. Tran describes as a “concerning” percentage. They also found that food insecurity was associated with their perceived experiences of discrimination. Those who reported more experiences of interpersonal discrimination – such as being treated with less respect than others – were found to be linked to experiencing food insecurity.
“This finding raises the possibility of discrimination being a barrier to sexual minority men accessing and utilizing food insecurity support services, such as food banks and pantries,” said Dr. Tran. “These men may be afraid to go to specific food banks, fearing they will experience discrimination.”
Dr. Tran says the pandemic has exacerbated food insecurity for many people across the country, as food banks have seen an increase in need. Chom also presented this research at an American Public Health Association (APHA) conference last semester – an experience that she calls “nerve wracking, but amazing.
“This was such a great opportunity to me because the APHA is one of the biggest public health associations, with experts from all over the country,” she said. “I was excited to present and also to see other students present their work. I was so honored to be a part of this conference and to learn from peers who have been to several conferences. I am now a member of APHA and have access to all of the great resources that they provide.”
The results of this particular study, which also included researchers from Harvard and Yale, have inspired University of New Haven public health researchers to conduct additional research and take steps toward addressing food insecurity.
“Overall, our results fill an existing gap in the scientific literature,” said Dr. Tran. “Our findings have inspired us to pursue additional research and action steps in addressing food insecurity, which is an issue colleges and universities cannot ignore, especially during this ongoing pandemic.”
Chom is looking forward to being a part of that initiative. She and several of her classmates will be conducting interviews to collect more data to identify barriers and make recommendations to improve access to and utilization of food pantries across Connecticut. She says college students are experiencing food insecurity at “an alarming rate,” and she hopes to help determine why, and to explore how college administrators are addressing this issue.
“I learned that new research is always needed, especially for communities and populations that have yet to be examined,” she said. “It is important that there is representation everywhere, especially with current research. Being published is such a humbling experience, and I never thought I would ever be a part of a well-known publication. It is a constant reminder that I am on the right path.”
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.