University of Hartford

University of Hartford
University of Hartford
Small Classes, Big Opportunity
At the University of Hartford, classes are small, but
the list of academic offerings is not. The University
is a comprehensive, independent institution, offering educational and career programs in 89 undergraduate and 33 graduate areas of study in its seven schools and colleges. It prides itself on providing
the intimacy of a liberal arts college with the creativity and intellectual excitement of a university.
While the range of studies offered at the University is diverse, so, too, are the people. Enrolled
are 4,796 full-time undergraduates, 841 part-time
undergraduates, and 1,653 graduate students, representing 45 states and 58 countries. The full-time
student-to-faculty ratio is 14:1.
Tradition
The University of Hartford dates back to 1877, when
the first of its original three schools was founded.
The Hartford Art School (1877), Hillyer College
(1879), and The Hartt School (1920) joined in 1957
to form the University of Hartford.
The origins of the University can be traced
back to the wife of Mark Twain. Mrs. Samuel Clemens, along with Harriett Beecher Stowe of Uncle
Tom’s Cabin fame, formed an art society that later
became the Hartford Art School.
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Expansion
The University has undertaken several ambitious
building projects over the past half decade. A
$34-million Integrated Science, Engineering, and
Technology complex, which included major renovations to the adjacent Dana Hall (one of the original buildings on campus), opened in 2005. On its
heels, new turf athletics fields brought a much different look to the opposite end of campus, benefitting students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community
residents.
The new Renée Samuels Center opened in
January 2007, providing the Hartford Art School
with new space for its photography and media arts
programs.
In fall 2007, Hawk Hall, a five-story residential facility for first-year students and its adjacent
Alumni Plaza, a new outdoor gathering place for
students, greeted students returning to campus.
Now open just a mile from the University’s
main campus, the Mort and Irma Handel Performing Arts Center houses five dance studios, four theatre rehearsal studios and two black box theatres. It
is a vibrant center for dance and theatre instruction
and performances at one of the key gateways to the
city of Hartford.
The University of Hartford also houses two
public magnet schools on its campus—an elemen-
tary school for students from Hartford and several
neighboring towns and University High School of
Science and Engineering, which saw its legacy class
graduate this past June.
Quality
The University prides itself on its growing academic
reputation, best illustrated by a consistent year-toyear increase in applications (more than 12,000
received annually) and selectivity (the University’s
acceptance rate is lower than at any time in its history). The educational experience takes place in
small, supportive classroom environments.
Location
The charm of the suburbs and the opportunities of
the city all come alive at the University of Hartford.
Situated on a 340-acre, wooded, suburban campus, the University borders Hartford, West Hartford,
and Bloomfield. Midway between Boston and New
York City, downtown Hartford, only five miles away,
is gaining a name for itself.
Hartford and the Region
Dubbed “New England’s rising star,” Hartford is
enjoying a renaissance fueled by the development
of its riverfront. With retail and residential development taking off, downtown Hartford is poised to
University of Hartford
The University of Hartford
An Exciting Place to Learn
The University of Hartford offers students a
wide range of academic options.
The College of Arts and Sciences is the
largest and most comprehensive division at
the University of Hartford. Its offerings range
from the humanities to the social, physical,
and natural sciences. The School of Communication is housed within the College of Arts
and Sciences.
The Barney School of Business prepares
students to understand the global nature of
today’s business and to acquire work experience through co-ops or internships.
The Hartford Art School offers the kind of
creative climate in which a student can grow
and develop as an artist and as a person.
become a 24-hour hub of culture, arts, and entertainment.
Within Hartford’s borders, one can tour the
home of Mark Twain, mingle with 5,000-plus years
of art at the Wadsworth Atheneum, and explore history at the oldest state house in the country. The
Bushnell and Hartford Stage Company offer traveling Broadway shows and other award-winning productions.
The XL Center and New England Dodge Music
Center offer top-name concerts while the former is
home to the American Hockey League’s Hartford
Wolfpack.
The surrounding Connecticut countryside offers unlimited and varied get-away possibilities,
including skiing, spring garden tours, fall festivals,
and two of the world’s largest casino and entertainment complexes.
It’s no wonder noted economist Richard
Florida has ranked Hartford in the “Top 20” of cool
places to live, work, start a family and have fun.
Campus Activities
Numerous social, recreational, and entertainment
alternatives exist for students on campus. More
than 100 groups, clubs, and organizations, including campus media, student government, fraternities and sororities add to student life. The Campus
Activities Team (CAT) is a student-run organization
whose sole purpose is to schedule events for student enjoyment.
The University of Hartford has gained a national reputation for the quality of cultural activities and
fine-arts exhibits on its campus. The Hartt School
and the Joseloff Gallery of the Hartford Art School
are highly respected. Lincoln Theater, the Sports
Center, and three auditoriums host numerous special events throughout the year.
Student Living
The University of Hartford offers five different housing options, all with the security and tranquility of
a suburban campus. Students begin in traditional
residence halls as freshmen, but may opt for three
different types of apartment-style living during their
upperclass years.
Food options are plentiful on campus, with
two traditional dining facilities, a sit-down restaurant, nighttime eatery, deli, premium coffee outlet,
juice and smoothie bar, and the Village Market, the
University’s own on-campus grocery store.
A 21st-Century University
Today’s University of Hartford has surpassed the
founders’ original but modest plans for a local university in Hartford, becoming instead a vibrant and
growing institution. The University of Hartford has
become a university for the world.
The Hartt School has an international
reputation for preparing many of the world’s
finest performers in music, dance, and theatre.
The College of Engineering, Technology,
and Architecture allows students to learn
in state-of-the-art laboratories from a dedicated faculty that stays current in their fields
through active research and consultation.
The College of Education, Nursing and
Health Professions helps students prepare for a rewarding, service-oriented career
through accredited professional training programs.
Hillyer College is a two-year program offering associate’s degrees in liberal arts. It
is an ideal school for exploring a variety of
potential majors, as well as for developing
new interests.
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City of Hartford
Noted economist Richard Florida has
ranked Hartford in the “Top 20” of cool places
to live, work, start a family and have fun.
Hartford and the Region
Dubbed “New England’s Rising Star,” Hartford is
enjoying a renaissance fueled by the development of
its riverfront. With retail and residential development
taking off, downtown Hartford is poised to become a
24-hour hub of culture, arts, and entertainment.
Within Hartford’s borders, one can tour the home
of Mark Twain, mingle with 5,000-plus years of art
at the Wadsworth Atheneum, and explore history at
the oldest state house in the country. The Bushnell
and Hartford Stage Company offer traveling Broadway
shows and other award-winning productions.
The XL Center and New England Dodge Music
Center offer top-name concerts while the former is
home to the American Hockey League’s Hartford
Wolfpack.
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The surrounding Connecticut countryside offers
unlimited and varied get-away possibilities, including
skiing, spring garden tours, fall festivals, and two of
the world’s largest casino and entertainment complexes.
Hartford boasts an extraordinarily active arts
and entertainment scene with nearly 200 arts, cultural and heritage organizations. The experts agree:
Places Rated Almanac ranked Hartford among the
top six percent of North American cities for arts and
culture. Greater Hartford also runs the 10th-largest
United Arts Fund in the nation, demonstrating its
strong commitment to the arts.
It’s no wonder noted economist Richard Florida
has ranked Hartford in the “Top 20” of cool places
to live, work, start a family and have fun.
Transportation & Lodgings
Hartford is just a two-hour drive from New York or Boston. Bradley International Airport–gateway to Southern New England–is just minutes from the Capital
City. The region is also a part of the AMTRAK system
and is home to a number of major bus lines.
Downtown lodgings include the Hilton Hartford
Hotel, Hartford Marriott, Crowne Plaza, Sheraton
Hartford Hotel, Holiday Inn Express, Residence
Inn Downtown and historic Goodwin Hotel, which
offer luxury hotel rooms within an easy walk of the
convention center and Adriaen’s Landing. If that’s
not enough, there are more than 6,000 hotel rooms
within the Greater Hartford region offering visitors
a variety of accommodations ranging from casino
hotels to quaint New England inns.
Sports Center
Directions to the University
and the Sports Center
The University of Hartford is easily accessible
from interstate highways 84 and 91.
Getting to the University
Traveling I-91 (from Vermont or New Haven)
and I-84 West (from Boston) exiting to Wolcott Avenue:
With the opening of the Sports Center in 1990, the
University of Hartford reached a milestone: the ability to provide a comprehensive athletics complex
that not only showcases the University’s intercollegiate programs but also provides resources for the
entire campus community.
The Sports Center encompasses 130,000
square feet of space and provides a home for intercollegiate and intramural athletics, fitness and
health-related activities, and recreation and socializing for students, faculty, staff, and alumni. About
5,000 individuals alone use the Sports Center for
wellness alternatives.
Highlighting the Sports Center is the Reich
Family Pavilion, which includes the 3,508-seat
Chase Family Arena, home to the University’s basketball teams and other intercollegiate programs.
The Chase Family Arena is also used for a variety of
special events throughout the year.
The Sports Center features an NCAA competition-size swimming pool; courts for volleyball, badminton, squash, and racquetball; two multi-purpose
rooms for intramural and recreational use; and two
fitness and weight rooms. Six lighted tennis courts
and an outdoor swimming pool are located behind
the Sports Center, adjacent to the soccer fields.
The Sports Center also offers such amenities
as a pro shop, meeting rooms, concession areas,
saunas, locker rooms, and a study hall for studentathletes.
The facility serves the community throughout
the year by hosting numerous regional and national
activities, including trade shows, high school graduations, dinners, and many other outside athletics
events. Some 25 external events take place each
year and draw an estimated 90,000 people to the
campus.
From I-91 South, take exit 35B and turn right
at the end of the ramp onto Wolcott Avenue.
From I-91 North, take the same exit and turn
left at the end of the ramp onto Wolcott Avenue.
From I-84 West, take exit 61 onto I-291 West.
Follow to exit 1 (Route 218). At the end of the
ramp, turn left onto Wolcott Avenue.
Continue straight as Wolcott Avenue turns
into Cottage Grove Road (Route 218). After
traveling four miles from the exit and after
passing a major shopping center on the left,
you will come to the intersection of Routes
218 and 189. Take a left onto Bloomfield Avenue (Route 189 South) and proceed to the
University of Hartford entrance less than two
miles on the left.
Traveling I-84 East (from Waterbury):
Take exit 44 (Prospect Avenue). Bear left at
the stop sign, then take a left onto Prospect.
Follow Prospect Avenue to its downhill end.
Take a right onto Route 44 (Albany Avenue),
followed by a quick, sharp left onto Bloomfield Avenue (Route 189 North). The campus
is a half-mile on the right.
Upon Entering Campus
From the main entrance (at traffic light),
make your first left and follow signs to the
Sports Center. From the north entrance, continue straight and follow signs to the Sports
Center. Parking is located in front of (Lot L)
and behind (Lot M) the Sports Center.
2008-09 Hartford Basketball • 73
Reich Family Pavilion
The University of Hartford honored the long-time
commitment of Tom and Suzy Reich to the University’s Department of Athletics by naming the western portion of the sports center complex, “The Reich Family Pavilion.” The dedication ceremony was
held in April 2004. The Pavilion was dedicated to
the memory of Barbara J. Reich.
“Tom and Suzy have a wonderful track record
of making a difference in the lives of our young people,” said University President Walter Harrison.
In addition to a $2 million lead gift to the University’s “Home Field Advantage” Campaign (which
supported the renovation of the soccer/lacrosse
field, the construction of an on-campus baseball
field, and a new softball field), the Reich family’s record of giving has included money for scholarships,
grants and annual support to various programs in
the Department of Athletics. The Reich Family Athletics Development Fund, established in memory of
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Tom’s late wife, Barbara, provides student-athletes
from the University’s less highly profiled teams with
scholarships. This past year, six student-athletes
benefited from the Reich’s generosity.
“Tom and Suzy also give in ways that can’t be
measured financially–through their time, leadership, personal energy and support. They are our
biggest fans,” said Director of Athletics Patricia H.
Meiser.
Tom Reich, who was named an honorary alumnus of the University in 1994, has been a member
of the University of Hartford’s Board of Regents
since 1995. He retired in 1998 from Underwriter’s
Service Agency (USA) after 33 years with the company, including serving as president of USA from
1988 until he retired. Reich earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Charleston
(West Virginia) and a master’s degree in business
administration from Marshall University.
Chase Arena
To honor David and Rhoda Chase and their family
for an outstanding history of contributions to the
University of Hartford, the school designated the
basketball arena at the University’s Sports Center
as the Chase Family Arena. A ceremony to mark the
occasion and thank the Chase family was held in
1998.
David Chase, whose connection with the University goes back to his days as an engineering
student at Hillyer College (predecessor of the University of Hartford), received an honorary doctorate
of commercial science from the University in May
1998. He also served as the first Distinguished
Visiting Fellow of the University’s Barney School of
Business in 1983. As chairman and chief executive
officer of Hartford-based Chase Enterprises, he led
the expansion of the real estate development and
communications company into the financial services and cable television industries in his native
Poland.
His wife, Rhoda, is a longtime member of The
Hartt School board of trustees. Also honored at the
ceremony were Arnold and Sandra Chase and their
family and Cheryl A. Chase and her family. Sandra
Chase earned a master’s degree in education at the
University.
The Chase Family Arena, which opened in
January 1990 and seats 3,508, not only is home to
the University’s NCAA Division I men’s and women’s
basketball programs but also has hosted a variety
of community events, from a fund-raiser featuring
Christopher Reeve and a Bob Dylan concert to business expositions and a variety of sports clinics.
Other featured events held at the arena in
the past several years include a jersey-retiring ceremony for NBA All-Star and former University of
Hartford basketball player Vin Baker and a sports
card show with Jeff Bagwell, former University of
Hartford baseball star and National League MVP in
1994 with the Houston Astros. The arena was also
used by the U.S. Women’s Olympic basketball team
for practices and a clinic.
2008-09 Hartford Basketball • 75
Athletics Profile
The University of Hartford offers varsity competition
in 18 NCAA Division I sports, nine for men and nine
for women. The University services 350 studentathletes from 23 states and 15 foreign countries.
Hartford is a member of the America East
Conference, whose membership includes nine
schools. The Hawks are joined by Boston University,
the University of Maine, the University of MarylandBaltimore County, the University of New Hampshire,
the University of Vermont, Stony Brook University,
University at Albany, and Binghamton University.
The America East offers championship competition in 21 sports, 12 for women and nine for
men. The conference enjoys automatic qualifier status for 13 NCAA sports, including baseball, men’s
basketball, women’s basketball, field hockey, men’s
soccer, women’s soccer, softball, men’s lacrosse,
women’s lacrosse, men’s tennis, women’s tennis,
and women’s volleyball.
The University also offers athletics competition through an intramural and club program. Approximately 1,800 students in 25 sports participate
each year in the diverse intramural curriculum. The
club program offers five sports.
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university of Hartford
Division I Sports
Sport
Baseball
Men’s Basketball
Women’s Basketball
Men’s Cross Country
Women’s Cross Country
Men’s Golf
Women’s Golf
Men’s Lacrosse
Men’s Soccer
Women’s Soccer
Softball
Men’s Tennis
Women’s Tennis
Men’s Indoor Track
Women’s Indoor Track
Men’s Outdoor Track
Women’s Outdoor Track
Women’s Volleyball
Head Coach
Jeff Calcaterra
Dan Leibovitz
Jennifer Rizzotti
Kathy Manizza
Kathy Manizza
Pete Stankevich
Donna Harris
Peter Lawrence
Dan Gaspar
John Natale
Todd Randall
Mike Raymond
Mike Raymond
Kathy Manizza
Kathy Manizza
Kathy Manizza
Kathy Manizza
Don Ferguson
Athletics Success
vin baker
four-Time nba all-star
jeff bagwell
four-time mlb all-star
pga tour’s patrick sheehan,
jerry kelly and tim petrovic
The University of Hartford began Division I competition in all sports in 1984-85, and the ensuing 24
years have been keynoted by success. The following
is a sampling of some of the achievements.
Hartford has fielded NCAA or national tournament teams in six sports: women’s basketball (2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008), men’s
golf (1985-95, 2001, 2007), women’s soccer
(1989-92, 1994-95, 1997-2002, 2006), men’s
soccer (1991-92, 1996), men’s tennis (2002) and
women’s volleyball (1993). The Hawks have also
received ECAC postseason bids in baseball (1988,
1992) and volleyball (1991).
The Hawks sport conference champions in
seven sports: women’s basketball (2002, 2005,
2006, 2008), men’s soccer (1991, 1992, 1996,
1999), women’s soccer (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994,
1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2006), men’s golf
(1988-95, 2001-02, 2004, 2006-07), men’s tennis
(1990, 1991, 1995, 2002), women’s golf (2005)
and women’s volleyball (1993).
In addition to team success, Hartford players
and coaches have received a multitude of individual
honors. The awards have ranged from All-American
distinction and national Coach of the Year honors
to conference Player of the Year, All-Conference,
individual tournament championships and others.
All-Americans have been crowned in the following
sports: baseball (2), men’s basketball (1), men’s
golf (6), men’s lacrosse (3), men’s soccer (2) and
women’s soccer (11).
Three former Hartford student-athletes stand
out among those who have played professionally.
Vin Baker, who starred as an All-American
on the basketball court for the Hawks, played 13
seasons in the NBA. A four-time NBA All-Star, he averaged 15.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in
791 career games. Baker was picked eighth overall
in the June 1993 NBA draft. At the time he was the
highest draft pick ever from a Connecticut college
or university.
Jeff Bagwell, who played third base for Hartford from 1987 to 1989 and is the New England
career leader in batting average at .413, played
first base for the Houston Astros. In his 16 years
with the Astros he hit .297 with 449 home runs and
1,529 runs batted in. He ranks among Houston’s
career leaders in batting average, slugging percentage, home runs and RBI. He was the 1994 National
League MVP, 1991 Rookie of the Year, and was a
four-time All-Star (1994, 1996, 1997, 1999).
Men’s golfer Jerry Kelly, who topped the Nike
Tour in earnings in 1995, has been impressive in his
12 years playing on the PGA Tour. He’s topped $2
million in earnings in three of the past six seasons,
and he played on the United States President’s Cup
team in 2003. In 2002, Kelly was sixth on the PGA
money list and finished in the Top 25 at 13 tournaments, including wins at the Sony Open in Hawaii
and the Advil Western Open.
Men’s golfers Tim Petrovic and Patrick Sheehan have also enjoyed success on the PGA Tour.
Petrovic, now in his seventh season, broke through
in 2005 with his first career victory at the Zurich
Classic. Sheehan is in his fifth year on the PGA Tour
and has topped $3 million in career earnings.
Other Hartford athletes who are currently playing in the professional ranks include Tracey Kelusky
(National Lacrosse League), Earl Snyder (minor
league baseball), Chris Doyle (USL First Division
soccer), Daniel Antunez (USL), Saralyn Smith (AVP),
Rory Glaves (NLL), Todd Richard (NLL), Derek Suddons (NLL), Jason Clark (NLL), Josh Wasson (NLL)
and Matt Holman (NLL).
hartford women’s basketball
FOUR-time america east champions
tracey kelusky
five-time nll all-pro selection
hartford women’s soccer
13 ncaa appearances in 19 years
2008-09 Hartford Basketball • 77
Beyond the Court
Academics
The Athletics Counseling Office for Student-Athletes
was established to provide support services to ensure each student-athlete’s personal and academic
success.
Participation in athletics is important, but it
represents only one aspect of the individual’s college experience. Academic achievement is of prime
concern. Since student-athletes are required to
commit a large percentage of their time to athletic
activities, the University realizes the need for a support program to assist student-athletes in achieving
their individual, academic, personal, and athletic
goals. The University is committed to its studentathletes as total persons.
The Athletics Counseling program consists of
the following: study hall; tutors; academic progress
reviews; academic recognition awards; study skills
training; academic orientation; senior exit seminar;
newsletters; career services; drug, alcohol, and eating disorder programs; personal counseling; and
various academic and sports-related workshops.
Study hall is held in the Student-Athlete Academic Center. The facility consists of several computer terminals for use solely by Hartford’s studentathletes.
Hartford has two full-time academic counselors and a part-time tutor to assist its studentathletes. Andrea Gerich-Miller, Assistant Athletics
Director/Academics, received her master’s degree
from Springfield College and has held her current
position for 15 years. Serving as an academic advisor for her 10th year is Arline Robbins, a graduate of
Boston University who earned her master’s degree
from Hartford.
Career Services
The University’s Career Center is available to assist
student-athletes in: identifying skills, interests, and
values; defining career objectives; planning educational goals; planning job-search campaigns; developing self-direction and personal responsibility in
career/life planning; resume writing; and on-campus job-recruitment procedures.
Learning Skills Center
The University’s Learning Skills Center provides
academic support services for students in reading,
writing, and study skills. The professional staff at
the Learning Skills Center can assist individuals
with: written composition and research; reading
comprehension; studying and test taking; learning
disabilities; and English as a second language. In
addition, athletics counselors work with academic
high-risk student-athletes on an individual basis.
Academic Recognition Awards
Twice a year, student-athletes are recognized for
their academic achievements. In mid-winter, there
is a Scholar-Athlete Awards Reception for all students who have achieved a cumulative grade-point
average of 3.0 or above in the previous spring and/
or fall semester. In addition, there is an end-of-theyear banquet at which both academic and athletics
excellence are recognized.
Student-Athlete advisory Committee
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee acts as a
liaison between the student-athletes, student support personnel, and the Department of Athletics.
The council has many responsibilities, including
broadening the involvement of student-athletes,
representing respective teams and special support
groups, organizing studies of matters of concern
in intercollegiate athletics, and developing service
programs to benefit the University and surrounding
communities.
Impact on the Community
Hartford student-athletes, staff, and coaches provide community outreach throughout the year
by visiting nursing homes and schools and by attending a variety of local charity events. Hartford’s
student-athletes have also been honored by the
Connecticut Department of Higher Education Community Service Award.
The men’s basketball team began a new tradition in 2006, creating the “Run with the Hawks
for Cystic Fibrosis” 5K road race. The event, which
raised money for the Connecticut Chapter of the CF
Foundation, will be an annual project for the men’s
basketball team in the future.
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External Support
Hartford athletics joins with about 50 corporate
sponsors each year, and the partnerships result
in approximately $400,000 of support annually
for the University through cash sponsorships and
gifts in kind. Additional funds are raised through
annual and restricted giving. The equivalent of approximately $250,000 worth of advertising is generated each year as the activities of the Hawks are
reported by the print media.
Hartford and the Media
The Hartford athletics program has received much
attention since its jump to Division I in 1984-85.
Southern New England is one of the most mediaintensive areas in the country. Connecticut media
alone include about 20 daily newspapers, more
than 100 weekly newspapers, in excess of 75 radio
stations, and four major television stations. Getting the word out to the media about University of
Hartford athletics are two full-time public relations
professionals.
Beyond the Court
Sports Medicine
Three full-time sports medicine professionals provide a comprehensive list of services, including
injury care and rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, drug and alcohol education, and general
personal health advisement.
The sports medicine staff is aided by a wide
range of equipment for the prevention of injuries
and the rehabilitation and conditioning of studentathletes. A weight room, used solely by studentathletes and supervised by the training staff and a
strength and conditioning professional, is housed in
the sports medicine wing of the Sports Center.
The sports medicine staff is supported by a
network of highly qualified medical and counseling professionals practicing in the Greater Hartford
area.
Student Health Services staff, also located in
the Sports Center, work in concert with the sports
medicine staff in providing student-athletes with a
full complement of coverage.
Strength and Conditioning
The Hartford Hawks strength and conditioning program is designed to develop the best gains, in the
least amount of time, in the safest way possible. It
is the goal of the staff to develop both the muscular and cardiovascular systems in a manner that is
compatible with the demands of competing as a
Division I student-athlete.
The hands-on approach not only increases
safety in the weight room, but augments results of
each athlete. The commitment from the coaching
staff is the single most determining factor which
maximizes results both in- and off-season.
The methods endorsed at Hartford are based
on research, physiological fact and years of experience. The college experience is a learning environment and the weight room is no different. The
lessons that are learned in the weight room will be
applicable to life once your playing days are over at
Hartford.
The purpose of the Hartford Hawks strength
and conditioning program is to create a bigger,
stronger, better-conditioned student-athlete that is
less susceptible to injury.
2008-09 Hartford Basketball • 79
Administration
Walter Harrison
University of Hartford President
Growth, vitality, and service to the community are key attributes of Walter Harrison’s first 10 years as president of
the University of Hartford. Since his appointment as the
University of Hartford’s fifth president in 1998, the University has experienced a period of energy and momentum
unmatched in its history. President Harrison has overseen
dramatic improvements in academic quality, finances, and
fundraising.
More than 7,300 students (5,600 undergraduates
and 1,700 graduate students) study at the seven schools
and colleges of the University of Hartford, which is classified as a doctoral research–intensive university by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The
institution has seen a 15 percent increase in undergraduate enrollment, and a 23 percent increase in degrees
awarded, over the past decade. A highly visible figure on
campus, President Harrison is known for his enthusiasm
for student life and University activities, and is fondly referred to as Walt by many students.
During President Harrison’s tenure, the University
has undertaken a vigorous and comprehensive building
campaign. Many of the University’s residence halls have
been renovated, and Hawk Hall, the University’s new
five-story, 208-bed residence for first-year students, was
completed during the summer of 2007. The oval-shaped
Alumni Plaza, constructed out of concrete of various colors
and finishes, now provides students with a large gathering
spot on the residential side of campus.
At the heart of this construction campaign are three
major new additions to the University’s signature academic programs: The Renée Samuels Center of the Hartford Art
School (opened in January 2007), the Integrated Science,
Engineering, and Technology Complex (opened in 2005),
and the Mort and Irma Handel Performing Arts Center
(opened in September 2008), which houses the Dance and
Theatre divisions of The Hartt School. The Handel Center,
located in the Upper Albany and Blue Hills neighborhoods
of Hartford, one mile east of the University’s campus, also
contains space for community activities.
Two buildings have been renovated to house two
of the University’s leading liberal arts programs: Psychology (East Hall) and Communications and Cinema Studies
(Abrahms Hall). In 2006, the University opened new stateof-the-art athletic fields for soccer, lacrosse, softball, and
baseball.
The University’s vibrant relationship with the Greater
Hartford community is a hallmark of President Harrison’s
tenure. The University has become a recognized leader in
helping to improve public schools. It is the only private uni-
80 • 2008-09 Hartford Basketball
versity in the country with two public magnet schools on
campus—the University of Hartford Magnet School and the
University High School of Science and Engineering.
President Harrison’s community involvement is extensive. He serves on the boards of directors of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges and the Hartford Consortium of Higher Education. He is currently the
president of the board of the Hartford Stage Company. He
serves as trustee or director of a number of other Hartfordarea organizations, including the Greater Hartford Arts
Council, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, the
Connecticut Science Center, and Suffield Academy. He is
also a director of WorldBusiness Capital, an international
finance firm based in Hartford.
Reflecting his longtime interest in intercollegiate
athletics, President Harrison chairs the National Collegiate
Athletic Association’s Committee on Academic Performance, the group charged with implementing academic
reforms among the nation’s leading intercollegiate athletic
programs, and serves on a number of other NCAA committees. He is the immediate past chair of the NCAA Executive
Committee. He also serves on the Presidential Advisory
Committee of the Association of Governing Boards.
All this is a long way from President Harrison’s beginnings as a scholar of American literature and culture.
A native of Pittsburgh, he graduated from Trinity College in
Hartford in 1968, then earned a master’s degree from the
University of Michigan in 1969. After an interim of three
years to serve as a captain in the United States Air Force,
President Harrison earned a doctorate from the University
of California–Davis. His doctoral dissertation, “Out of Play:
Baseball Fiction from Pulp to Art,” was one of the earliest
scholarly treatments of baseball and its place in American
life.
In 1982 President Harrison left full-time teaching
to take an administrative position at Colorado College. He
joined Gehrung Associates University Relations Counselors
in 1985, becoming president of the firm shortly thereafter. In 1989 President Harrison moved to the University of
Michigan, where he became vice president of university
relations and secretary of the university.
President Harrison and his wife, Dianne, a scholar
of 19th-century Victorian literature and mystery literature,
make their home in Russell House, the president’s residence at the University of Hartford.
Administration
Patricia H. Meiser
Director of Athletics
Special Assistant to the President
Pat Meiser, in her 16th year at the University of Hartford,
serves as the director of athletics and special assistant to
the president.
One of only 22 women director of athletics among
the 329 institutions competing at the Division I level,
Meiser has 37 years of experience in coaching and athletics administration. In May of 1999, she was named one of
the nation’s top 50 women’s sports executives by Street
& Smith’s Sports Business Journal, and in June of 2006
she was named the Northeast Region I-AAA GeneralSports
TURF Systems Athletics Director of the Year.
At Hartford, Meiser heads a team that is responsible
for growing the athletics and academic quality of the program, enhancing revenue and extending the program into
the community.
In Meiser’s tenure, seven sports (women’s basketball,
men’s soccer, women’s soccer, men’s golf, women’s golf,
men’s tennis and women’s volleyball) have won America
East Conference championships and either reached NCAA
Division I tournament or national postseason play. Basketball, in particular, has emerged with Meiser’s hiring of Jennifer Rizzotti and Dan Leibovitz. The women’s basketball
team has been crowned America East Conference champion and reached the NCAA Tournament in 2002, 2005,
2006 and 2008. The men’s team set a school record with
18 wins in 2007-08 and advanced to the America East
Championship finals for the first time in school history.
Revenue enhancement has also been an area of
growth for Hartford under Meiser’s leadership. This has
taken place through an expanded fund raising and alumni
relations effort, development of a corporate sponsorship
program, implementation of a licensing program and successful grant submissions. Most significantly, Hartford
athletics embarked on a $10 million athletics capital campaign in April of 2003. The campaign, called Home Field
Advantage, funded the renovation of the existing soccer
and lacrosse field, the relocation and construction of a
softball field, the construction of a baseball field and will
include construction of a track surrounding an all-purpose
field. The ground breaking for Home Field Advantage took
place in April of 2005, and Phase I of the project was completed in 2007. Phase II is presently under way.
Meiser’s commitment to academics is well documented and demonstrated through the success of her
student-athletes. Hartford has been among the leaders in
The America’s East’s Academic Cup standings each of the
past 10 years. The Hawks won the Cup in 1996-97. This
past academic year, the average student-athlete GPA was
2.98.
Reaching out in the community is important for Meiser. She is past chair of the Greater Hartford Convention
and Visitors Bureau and her appointment came at a critical
time as the city opened a $350 million convention center.
Meiser was named a Connecticut “Woman of Merit” by the
Girl Scouts in June 2000. She is a board member of both
the Connecticut Special Olympics and the Connecticut
Women’s Hall of Fame. In October of 2007, Meiser served
as Co-Chair of the CWHF Gala that celebrated the 35th anniversary of Title IX. The evening brought together the top
female Olympians and national champions with ties to the
state of Connecticut.
Meiser has also been involved with various intercollegiate committees and organizations at the conference,
regional and national levels. She serves on the Executive
Committee of NACDA and is a past President of the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association (NACDA), has
been a professional sport liaison, member of the soccer
rules committee and active as a NCAA Certification representative. Over the years, she has also served a variety of
roles in the America East Conference and is presently a
member of the Executive Committee.
Prior to joining the Hawks, Meiser was the associate
athletics director for administration and senior women’s
administrator at the University of Connecticut. During her
10 years at Connecticut, she played a pivotal role in the
rejuvenation of the athletics program.
Before arriving at Connecticut, Meiser was the head
women’s basketball coach and a tenured faculty member
at Penn State (1971-81). She gave the first women’s basketball scholarship at Penn State in 1974 and advanced
the program to Top-20 status in the late 1970s. In addition, she coached the Gold Medal-winning East team in the
inaugural 1979 National Sports Festival.
Meiser holds a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education (1969) from West Chester University and a
M.Ed. in education (1971) and an MBA in business administration (1986) from Penn State. She is a native of Lancaster, PA, and has four children: Katherine, 36, wife of
Jason Steadman of London; Christopher, 34, husband of
Renee Jansen, Boston; Julie, 32, wife of Robert Rioux of
State College, PA; and Daniel, 30, West Hartford. She also
has one grandson, Lincoln.
2008-09 Hartford Basketball • 81
Athletics Support Staff
Melanie Angel
Melissa Camerato
Catherine Certo
Ellen Crandall
Kelli Cullen
ATHLETIC
Business
Chair
Associate ad
Assistant director
Assistant AD
TICKET MANAGER
manager
Athletics Council
senior women’s admin.
of the sports center
External Relations
Matthew Dudek
Laurie Fasciano
Tyrone Fuertes
Al Furrow
Dr. Jacob Harney
David Houser
Assistant
AssT. dir. of marketing,
director of
head Athletic
NCAA FAculty
Strength and
Athletic trainer
Corporate Relations
intramurals
Equipment Manager
Athletics Representative
conditioning coach
K.C. Jones
Jim Keener
Shaun Krafthofer
Nancy Lilliquist
Shawn McCarthy
Lisa Meyers
Special assistant to the
Associate AD
Assistant
President of the
Head athletic
assistant
Facilities Director
Hawks athletics board
trainer
business manager
Chris Sanford
director of athletics
Scott Dolch
Andrea Miller
Alex Morley
Nancy Olson
Michael Raymond
Arline Robbins
Assistant ad
Compliance
Assistant to the
Compliance
Academic
M/W Basketball
Counseling
administrative assistant
academics
director of athletics
Ted Stavropoulos
Ryan Steele
April Thomas
Susan Ward
Harold Watson
Laurie Weinstein
Associate AD
Assistant
Assistant
cheerleading
Asst. Dir. of marketing,
Assistant AD
Sports Center Director
Facilities director
athletic trainer
head coach
promotions & Events
Compliance
82 • 2008-09 Hartford Basketball