UCONN MPA Alumni Council
January 20, 2012
Department of Public Policy Office, West Hartford
Minutes
Members Present: Maria Capriola (phone), Jason Giulietti, Eric Gray, Jeff Hallin, Jason Jakubowski
(phone), Alissa Johnston, Lauren Miller, Rebecca Myshrall (phone), Barbara Rua, Scott Simoneau
Students and Staff Present: Bill Simonsen, Larisa Kottke
I. Welcome/Introductions
The meeting was called to order at 12:05 pm.
II Approval of Minutes
By consensus the minutes of 11/23/11 were adopted as amended (noted a correction in the spelling of
Johnston’s name).
III. Alumni Awards
After meeting with McMahon and reviewing all nominations for the Distinguished MPA Alumni Award,
Simoneau recommended James (Jim) Trainor, Special Agent in Charge, New York Office – Intelligence
Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and MPA graduate of 1993. The Council agreed by consensus
that Trainor will be the recipient of this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Simoneau will confirm the
attendance of Trainor. The recent alumni award recipient, Chrissy Rocco-Caruolo, has been confirmed.
The Awards Banquet will be April 27th at Town and County on Woodland Street in Hartford. Tickets are
$40 for faculty, staff and alumni, $35 for students.
Giulietti suggested that alumni who cannot attend be given the opportunity to sponsor the attendance
of a current student to help make the event more affordable for students. The Council is tasked with
bringing more alumni with them to the Banquet this year and Simonsen will reach out to the UConn
Foundation to try and acquire door prizes to be given to the alum that brings the most alumni, or
perhaps an alum from the furthest distance, with him/her to the event.
Official invitations/save-the-dates will be sent electronically from Kottke soon and an update will
provided at the next Council meeting.
IV. Alumni Council Vacancy/Vice President
Council agreed that Giulietti will survey the current Council to determine if any member wants to fill the
VP position before it is opened to all alumni. There has been stated interest in the Council vacancy
position from Beau Anderson, Sean Kimball, and Alyssa Goduti, however Giulietti will draft an email to
advertise the vacancy to all alumni. Kottke will send the email and Capriola will be the contact person
for all inquiries.
V. Alumni and Student Program Offerings
 Student/Alumni Informational Interviews
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Johnston’s alumni survey is ready to send (okayed by Giulietti, Simoneau, Rogers, and Kottke).
Kottke will send email from Council to all alumni with link to survey. Johnston will keep Council
updated with responses. The survey will create a database of alumni to pull from for future
student program offerings. The DPP will also post a link to the survey on their website.
Matches were made during the meeting for the 6 students currently interested in an
informational interview. Johnston will email each pairing to connect participants and it will be
the responsibility of each student to set up a meeting with their alum.

Career Night Update (2/9 6:45-8:30pm Library Room 308)
Career Night is shaping up well with Barry Feldman facilitating and three confirmed panelists:
 Steve Bartha (Assistant Town Manager of Avon)
 Andy Fournier (Lieutenant of the UConn Police Department)
 Jim Trainor (Special Agent in Charge, NY Office – Intelligence Division, FBI)
Capriola will email information to Kottke in order to advertise the event to students and alumni.
The DPP will also advertise on Facebook and the website.
VI. 40th Anniversary
The Committee is still setting a date to meet. After the initial meeting, they will work with Simonsen
and the CLAS Foundation to work jointly on the event. The event is still scheduled for either the spring
or fall of 2013 and the Council awaits a full update at the next meeting.
VII. IPP
The department is still looking for interested organizations to take on an intern for the entirety of the
2012-2013 school year. There are more students interested in the IPP program than in past years, so
there is an acute need for organizations. Interested organizations should contact the DPP by March 1st.
Interviews will be conducted towards the middle/end of March. This year, the DPP is offering an option
of “speed interviewing” for organizations. If desired, the DPP will provide space on campus for
organizations to hold their interviews so that they can see applicants more efficiently.
VIII. Program Update
Simonsen provided an update on admissions. So far the program has 75 completed applications for the
fall of 2012 and expects to receive at least 100 in total (this will meet, if not surpass, the numbers from
last year). The program is able to continue to be selective and this is in large part due to the recruiting
efforts of Rogers and the 2011-2012 graduate assistants.
Simonson provided an update on the search for a new Department Head. The DPP has been given
permission to do a senior hire and to search outside of the program for a new Department Head and
Associate/Full Professor. Applications are currently being collected and the department hopes to hold
interviews in February. Alumni will be invited to interviews in order to provide input on the hiring
selection.
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Simonsen provided an update on Valerie Roger’s medical leave. Rogers is out until the end of February,
recovering from knee surgery. Diane Stock, an MPA alum, is helping to fill-in in Rogers’ absence. Her
main focus is on the IPP program and admissions.
IX. Other Business
 Website:
o Speaker Series – Kottke will follow-up on inquiry about videotaping the series and
posting it online.
o Capriola has old Council meeting minutes from Matt Hart and will provide them to the
DPP to post online.
o Discussion of uploading the Foundation’s list of alumni to the website and passwordprotecting it. Kottke to follow-up and provide update at next meeting. In the
meantime, an electronic copy of the list of alumni will be sent to the entire Council.
 GAPPS:
o Fundraising for the 2012 New Orleans Relief and Reconstruction Project has begun and
appeal letters will be sent out soon.
o Saturday, February 18: Connecticut Whale Fundraiser. Tickets are $14 and proceeds
benefit the New Orleans trip. Contact larisa.kottke@uconn.edu for information.
 Request for next meeting’s agenda:
o Examine/discuss the official role of Alumni Council members and the Executive
Committee, as outlined in the bylaws.
X. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 1:00 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Larisa Kottke, Graduate Assistant and Alumni Liaison
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