Dear Colleagues,

We are writing with a few updates on travel, as you plan for and embark on trips for your summer research- and work-related activities.

• Travel restrictions: The UConn Work-Related Travel FAQs have been recently updated. The key update is that no restrictions remain on domestic travel in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • International travel does not require any additional approvals related to COVID, but travelers should check on restrictions in the country to which they are traveling. In addition, employees are required to complete Global Affairs Travel Waivers when traveling to countries the State Department categorizes as level 3 and 4 for non-COVID related reasons.
• Booking travel: Although COVID-related restrictions are primarily lifted, it is still imperative that all work-related travel is booked through Anthony Travel. This provides you with support and coverage in the event that your travel is cancelled. Likewise, you should use your T-Card for all travel bookings. Per Travel Policy all travel should be pre-approved in Concur prior to travel.
• Discount bookings: If you find a cheaper flight on Expedia or a budget airline, Anthony Travel is usually able to find this option for you in their system. However, flights at the lowest economy tier are often not recommended, as they are prone to last-minute changes, such as bumping passengers in that tier from their flight. Anthony Travel will advise travelers of such concerns before booking.
• Combined business and personal travel: Additional steps are required on the traveler’s part to assure that UConn does not pay for additional personal expenses if the trip is a combination of business and personal travel.  If you plan to extend your business travel, be sure to review the travel policy for justification requirements.  If you have questions, please email travel@uconn.edu for assistance.

You may click here to view the updated FAQs. You may find additional travel information at https://travel.uconn.edu/.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Shoulson
Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs

Trish Casey
Associate Vice President of Financial Operations and Controller

Dear UConn Eversource Energy Center Community:

I am very pleased to announce the reappointment of Emmanouil (Manos) Anagnostou as director of the UConn Eversource Energy Center for a second term of five years, effective August 23, 2022.

This renewal recognizes Dr. Anagnostou’s effective leadership as the founding director of the center both in bringing together internal collaborators and developing and strengthening external partnerships. A few highlights during his tenure thus far include securing nearly $23 million in extramural support, including collaborative projects supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and FEMA, as well as establishing federal centers and institutes, such as a Weather Innovation and Smart Energy Resilience center through NSF. He has also developed a distributed leadership structure that allows for responsive and nimble delegation of work to advance center priorities. Additionally, he has established strong partnerships between UConn and regional partners in industry and government, with a shared goal of enhancing the delivery of reliable power and promoting economic growth throughout New England. And he has led important efforts to promote the diversity of students receiving hands-on experience in the center.

The review process works best when it is collaborative and comprehensive. I am grateful to all of the faculty, administrators, and other key partners of the center who shared your feedback on Dr. Anagnostou’s leadership. There were several common themes regarding his leadership, including high regard for his strategic goal setting and delivery on objectives, a responsive and agile approach to collaboration with faculty and industry partners, and an open communication style.

I also want to thank the review committee for their thoughtful engagement in this process. The committee was chaired by Michael Lynch, Director of the Humanities Institute and Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, and included the following members: S. Pamir Alpay, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor and Interim Vice President for Research; John Chandy, Professor and Department Head of Electrical Engineering; Marisa Chrysochoou, Professor and Department Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Ashley Helton, Associate Professor of Natural Resources and the Environment; Ronny Heredia, Financial Assistant for Eversource Energy Center; and Malaquias Peña, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Alexis Cassan, Executive Assistant to the Provost and Chief of Staff, managed administration of the committee.

In sum, Dr. Anagnostou has charted a visionary path for the center and has significantly contributed to UConn’s strengths as an innovative leader and collaborative partner in the broad landscape of energy. He is an effective and skilled leader who I trust to continue to guide the Eversource Energy Center to ongoing success. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Anagnostou on his reappointment and thanking him for his dedication and hard work on behalf of the center.

Sincerely,
Carl

Carl Lejuez
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs