STAMFORD — The University of Connecticut’s [UConn] Stamford campus honored a professor, a staff member and a member of the community at the presentation of the annual UConn Stamford Recognition Awards Wednesday.

“I think we all know that the evolution of a community campus is very closely tied to the people working on that campus,” said UConn Stamford associate vice provost Michael Ego at the campus’ annual town hall meeting.

This year’s awards were presented to professor of ecology and evolutionary biology Charles Yarish, administrative services assistant Joy Nuckols of the enrollment services department and Richard Taber chief executive and chairman of the board of First County Bank.

“This is the first time an official at a university ever handed me anything,” joked Taber, who elected not to walk with his class when he graduated from college; his diploma was instead mailed to him. “I’m just glad my mother’s here to see it.”

Taber was awarded UConn Stamford’s second Town and Gown Award; a distinction which recognizes a community figure who has forged a relationship with the college and made it possible for UConn to better integrate into the Stamford community. He was honored for his work with University Pals, a program which brings middle school students into UConn Stamford to learn about the college experience. The First County Bank Foundation provided funding for this year’s pilot of the program.

Yarish was selected by a review committee of his peers to receive the faculty recognition award, which recognizes sustained outstanding achievements in teaching, research and services benefiting UConn Stamford. Yarish has been teaching at the college for 30 years. In that time, he’s established an seaweed research laboratory in Stamford and forged a relationship with Chilean scholar Alejandro Buschmann. The two professors are establishing a faculty exchange between the Chilean schools and the Bridgeport Regional Vocational Aquaculture School.

Joy Nuckols, who has worked at the college for a decade, received the staff recognition award, an honor which recognizes the contributions of an outstanding staff person who exemplifies the qualities and characteristics that make the Stamford campus a quality institution, through direct or indirect impact on student success.

“She has made numerous contributions,” said Ego. “She is respected by her peers, not just staff and faculty, but by students as well.”

“Thank you for having faith in me,” said Nuckols, after receiving her award to a standing ovation from the faculty and staff.

The campus was also visited Wednesday by UConn’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs Peter Nicholls and Veronica Makowsky, vice provost of undergraduate education and regional campus administration.

She asked Ego to stay the course on the Stamford campus.

“I think Stamford is doing a splendid job,” she said. “You have remarkable leadership, remarkable staff and remarkable student achievement.”

Mayor Dannel Malloy also put in an appearance, praising UConn Stamford.

“I’m sure it is a jewel in the crown of the University of Connecticut, but it’s somewhat underappreciated,” he told Nicholls and Makowsky. Malloy pledged the city’s continued support for the campus and hoped that the state would also funnel resources into UConn Stamford.

“Now if things had worked out somewhat differently last year I might have been able to guarantee that,” he said, making a jab at his failed 2006 gubernatorial campaign.

Stamford Times Newspaper
By A.J. O’Connell
aoconnell@thestamfordtimes.com

http://www.thestamfordtimes.com/stamford_templates/stamford_story/7776702502459.php