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
Two MPH candidates received prestigious scholarship awards from the Society for Public Health Education. They recently participated in the organization's national conference focusing on advocacy and equity in healthcare.
July 12, 2023
For Muskan Kohli '24 MPH and Opemipo Olaseni '23 MPH, taking part in the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) national conference on "The New Age of Civil Rights – Advocacy and Equity" was an extraordinary experience.
Kohli received a $2,500 Vivian Drenckhahn Student Scholarship Award presented to students "who have excelled academically and demonstrated a commitment to addressing the public's health through a career in health education."
At the conference, Kohli presented research done in collaboration with her mentor, Alvin Tran, ScD, MPH, director of the B.S. in Public Health program and assistant provost for diversity, equity, and inclusion, on "Muscle Enhancing Supplements and Intimate Partner Violence in Sexual Minority Men: A Call to Action."
Their research found that 16 to 36 percent of adolescent boys and young adult men reported using performance-enhancing substances including protein powders, creatine, and anabolic-androgenic steroids. Compared to those not using the substances, those reporting low use of protein powders were nearly 6 times more likely to experience intimate partner violence, their research found.
"Dietary supplements that are marketed for weight control and muscle building are loosely regulated and are often deceptively marketed for their effectiveness," explained Dr. Tran. "Unfortunately, research has linked some of these products to a number of adverse health outcomes, including cancer, organ failure, and even death. Muskan's project is part of a growing number of research studies that not only aim to highlight the hidden dangers of diet pills, but also strives to introduce legislation to better regulate these products."
Kohli, a fellow in the University's WeEmbody Lab, had never presented a scientific paper at a conference before. "The experience was amazing," she said. "I got to present the paper and take questions from so many leaders and public health experts, people working at the CDC, college and university professors, and students."
Meanwhile, one of her classmates, Opemipo Olaseni, was one of three students to receive the 21st Century Student Scholarship, a $1,500 award which enabled her to attend the conference.
"I knew I would be empowered, hearing what people in public health had to say about civil rights and about advocating for equity, fairness and social justice," she said.
Olaseni, who is from Nigeria, came to the University after studying medicine in Ukraine, determining what she really wanted to do centered on public health, preventive medicine, and epidemiology. She found the University to be the perfect fit. "The professors have always been there for me, and I've had so many wonderful experiences," she said.
She interned at the Yale Cancer Center working with a team developing a novel vaccine for pancreatic cancer and she volunteered with APNH – A Place to Nourish Health in New Haven, which offers free HIV testing and holistic care to people impacted by HIV, substance use, mental illness, and related conditions. She graduated in May and is weighing a number of post-Commencement opportunities.
Both Olaseni and Kohli said they liked contributing to roundtable discussions at the conference and each said a very meaningful moment came when they had the chance to talk with keynote speaker Camara Phyllis Jones, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., a physician, renowned scholar, and activist who has spoken out for years on the effects of racism and social inequalities on health.
"That moment was deep for me," Olaseni said. "It was like having a speed-mentoring session with her."
"It was surreal," Kohli added. "Dr. Jones has always spoken out about social injustice. I look up to her."
Kohli came to the University from Punjab, India where she was a medical officer and worked on the frontlines treating patients during the pandemic. She wanted to move into the field of public health. "From the day I started my first class, I was a fan of the University's MPH program," she said. "I found my voice here."
"I was a complete introvert when I arrived," she said. "I started to speak. I started to advocate, and I enjoy doing it. I'm really grateful to my professors who helped me develop my communications skills and who taught me so much. Now I can speak out on public health issues that matter."
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.