He was referring to the valuable connections made when personnel from regional commerce and service organizations, University educators, and campus administrators gather to explore ideas and opportunities that help students prepare for the future. The breakfast on campus was attended by 120 representatives from 73 businesses and associations. By all measures, the Industry Partner Appreciation Breakfast continues to grow in popularity—a clear indication that UHart’s community partners, virtually all of whom are potential employers of UHart students, have a strong interest in forging connections with the University.
For the second year in a row, the Industry Partner Appreciation Breakfast functioned as what event organizers call a Reverse Career Fair, in which employers and organization delegates are given the opportunity to connect directly with academic and administrative staff members, rather than following the typical career fair protocol in which attendees visit the tables of outside participants. Several UHart deans, faculty members, and administrative staff members hosted tables highlighting their own programs, creating new possibilities for collaboration.
“We could not do our work in the Allan Center (for Career and Professional Development), or anywhere else on campus, for that matter, without the opportunities you present to us,” said Alex Coury, associate vice president for industry partnerships and career experiences, during one of several speeches to kick off the breakfast.
Guests included representatives from Travelers, Special Olympics, Hartford HealthCare, Masonicare, Berkley Financial, the City of Hartford, The Wadsworth, CVS Health, and dozens of other businesses and organizations.
Nancy LaGrecca, UHart’s newly installed provost and vice president for academic affairs, told guests and participants how enthusiastic she was about the growing network represented by the event.
“I am so excited to work with all of you to transfer so many incredible skills that our students are learning out into the field to help grow and enrich your industries, your companies, and our communities,” LaGrecca said. “We have areas of prestige and renown throughout the University—in our School of Business, in engineering, technology, health professions, the arts, and so much more—second to virtually no other school in the country, all rooted in an incredible core of liberal arts.”
Nancy LaGrecca, Provost and Vice President for Academic AffairsI am so excited to work with all of you to transfer so many incredible skills that our students are learning out into the field to help grow and enrich your industries, your companies, and our communities.
For the University’s community partners, the value of those connections extends well beyond the breakfast itself.
“As robust collaborators with the University of Hartford, we enjoy celebrating the relationship at the Industry Partners Breakfast,” says Matt Fleury, president and CEO of the Connecticut Science Center. “Even though we work together on many levels already, we always seem to make new connections that inspire additional ideas.”
“The breakfast was a great opportunity to connect with University of Hartford leaders and gain valuable insight into the exciting work happening across the University’s academic programs,” notes Kelly Hui, community engagement coordinator at Hartford Steam Boiler. “I especially enjoyed meeting and exchanging ideas with local executives, business owners, and cultural leaders who share a commitment to the future of both UHart and the Greater Hartford area. The energy in the room and the spirit of collaboration made for a truly inspiring event.”
Other participants described how those connections can translate into new partnerships and opportunities for students.
“The appreciation breakfast is always a meaningful experience for me. It not only highlights the outstanding work happening at UHart but also creates a space for genuine networking and collaboration,” says Curtis Eller, senior advisor, Office of the Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. “Each year, I leave with new partnerships, fresh initiative ideas, and renewed energy for the work we all do. The event offers a rare and valuable moment to pause, connect, and reflect, something we often miss while moving at such a fast pace.”
For Phoebe Cos, manager of museum visits and outreach at the New Britain Museum of Art, the breakfast provided an opportunity to explore specific ways the museum could work with UHart’s academic programs.
“The breakfast was a great way to talk in real-time about the possibilities of interdisciplinary partnerships between the University of Hartford and organizations around the region,” Cos notes. “As an art museum, we had fruitful conversations with language departments, the nursing department, the communications department, the business department, and the Hartford Art School about ways we could provide valuable external experiences for their students in their curricula. We feel very lucky to be a part of this community with UHart.”
“This is not just about jobs or internships,” concluded President Ward. “It’s about all of us believing in this University.”