The Owl's Nest

Campus News for Faculty & Staff

October 2026

Southern Connecticut State University football players run onto the field alongside the Owl mascot and cheerleaders as fans cheer from the stands at Jess Dow Field.

Homecoming & Family Weekend 2026

Southern welcomed alumni, students, families, and friends back to campus for a weekend filled with Owl pride, reunions, traditions and celebration — capped by a thrilling 35–28 football victory.

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STORIES FROM SOUTHERN

A student walks along a pathway on Southern Connecticut State University’s campus, with a sculpture of tall black columns and spheres in the foreground and brick academic buildings and trees in the background.

Expanding Expertise Across Southern

Southern welcomes a new cohort of faculty for the 2026–27 academic year, bringing expertise across the arts and sciences, education, health professions, business, and more.

Portrait of a bald man wearing a gray suit, blue dress shirt and patterned tie against a white and blue background.

Moran Named Head Coach for Swimming and Diving

C.J. Moran, ’99, has been named head coach of Southern’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs, continuing a storied Owl tradition.

A man wearing a blazer and plaid shirt sits at a desk in an office at Southern Connecticut State University’s School of Business.

Smith Named Interim Dean of School of Business

Robert A. Smith, Esq., has been named interim dean of Southern’s School of Business, bringing nearly 30 years of industry and higher education experience.

Sunlight shines through a circular metal sculpture set into a stone wall on Southern Connecticut State University’s campus.

Turning Skills Into Career Advantages

Graduate students can now earn free micro-credentials designed to strengthen research skills and add career-ready credentials to their résumés.

A student adjusts equipment in an astronomy lab, with an image of the Horsehead Nebula displayed on a computer monitor beside him.

Reaching For the Stars

A $427,561 NSF grant is expanding Southern’s role in astronomy through an international project developing a six-telescope array.

Close-up of a navy scrub cap featuring the Southern Connecticut State University School of Nursing seal.

Recognizing Excellence in Nursing Education

Southern’s School of Nursing earned national Center of Excellence status, becoming the first public university in Connecticut to receive the honor.

A young woman sits on a marble staircase inside the U.S. Capitol, surrounded by ornate columns, arches and decorative artwork.

A Semester on Capitol Hill

Through a competitive Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute internship, Allison Zambrano is experiencing the work of Congress firsthand while preparing for her goal of pursuing a law degree and a career in federal service.

A group of faculty, staff and students poses with a $10,000 Liberty Bank Foundation donation check outside Southern Connecticut State University’s School of Business.

Gaining Experience and Giving Back

Southern’s IMPACT Internship Program connects business students with paid nonprofit internships, building career skills while strengthening local organizations.

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Inspiring the Next Generation of Learners

Ian Wildermann, ’03, M.S. ’10, SYC ’21, has been recognized as Cheshire Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year for an approach that emphasizes critical thinking, student voice and meaningful learning.

IN THE MEDIA

A woman in workout clothes checks a smartphone secured to an armband while wearing a smartwatch and headphones around her neck.

Making Sense of Wearable Technology

As running watches offer athletes more data than ever, Professor Robert Gregory is helping runners focus on what matters. He recently shared his expertise on wearable technology with The New York Times’ Wirecutter.

Wirecutter

A woman stands on a rocky shoreline overlooking a tidal area covered with seaweed as waves roll in from the ocean.

Coastal Research with Connecticut Impact

From hands-on fieldwork to international research opportunities, Southern’s coastal resilience program is preparing students to tackle environmental and community challenges while building pathways to careers in the field.

CT LIVE

A woman wearing glasses and a gray sweater participates in a group activity using colorful drumsticks and exercise balls.

Creating Connection with Southern's Memory Cafe

Games, music, conversation and community come together at Southern’s Memory Café, where recreational therapy students help create opportunities for people with dementia and their caregivers to connect with others.

Hartford Courant

Close-up of vintage American political campaign buttons and patriotic pins, including buttons for Roosevelt, Hoover and Wilkie.

A Front-Row Seat to Campaign Season

Professor Jonathan Wharton reflects on the value of experiential learning as students combine a campaign management course with internships working directly on state and congressional races.

CT Insider

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A Long Term Look at NHPS

Carlos Torre, professor of education and former president of the New Haven Board of Education, examines what it will take to preserve the city’s investment in its public schools for future generations.

New Haven Independent

Keeping Things Human in the Age of AI

From accessibility and efficiency to concerns about critical thinking and writing, our experts shared their perspectives with FOX61 on how artificial intelligence is changing the classroom.

FOX61

Southern Signature Generator

Create a professional, on-brand Southern email signature in seconds. Keep your communications consistent, polished, and aligned with Southern’s visual identity—no design experience required.

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Owl mascot: Southern Connecticut State University’s blue owl mascot stands with its wings outstretched on campus beside a banner highlighting the university’s R2 research designation.

Become A Media Expert!

Help amplify Southern’s impact by serving as a media expert. Complete this short form to share your areas of expertise, availability, and media preferences so our team can quickly connect reporters with the right voices across campus.

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A television reporter interviews a Southern Connecticut State University student while a camera operator records them inside a campus event space.

HOOT WORTHY

See what you missed on social media.

Photo 4: A group carrying backpacks and camping gear hikes uphill through a wooded trail surrounded by colorful fall foliage.

Photo 1: A woman holds open a large book while standing beside a man in a blue suit, who looks down at the pages.

Photo 3: Two students work together on a large poster titled “Exploring the Science Framework,” adding notes and connections to a visual diagram.

Photo 2: Three women smile together for a photo, with the woman in the center wearing red and the women on either side wearing floral-patterned tops.

SAVE THE DATE!

Below is a list of highlighted events. Visit here for the full calendar.

THAT'S "OWL" FOR NOW!

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Bright orange fall foliage frames a modern Southern Connecticut State University building beneath a clear blue sky.

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