Leadership

Alex Jacobs-Hajian is a Senior Advisory Manager of Technology, Media, and Telecom Deals Strategy with PwC in the San Francisco Bay Area. He holds bachelor’s degrees from both the University of Tehran ’07 and The University of British Columbia ’11, an MBA from the Ivey Business School at Western University ’13 and an LLM from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law ’18.

“My desire to give back is reflected in my professional success born from humble beginnings and an appreciation for multicultural environments,” said Jacobs-Hajian.

Brittany Baisch is the Regulatory Toxicology Lead at Enko Chem in Mystic, Conn., a crop health company that designs safe and sustainable solutions to farmers’ biggest crop threats from pest resistance to new diseases. She is also an adjunct professor at Western Connecticut State University in the Chemistry Department. She holds three bachelor’s degrees from Western Connecticut State University ’08, an MS degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry ’11, a PhD. from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry ’13 and is a Diplomat of the American Board of Toxicology (DABT) ’17.

“As a Connecticut State University alumna and Barnard awardee, I would like to give back to students and provide more opportunities for them to build successful careers,” said Baisch.

David Wan retired as Chief Executive Officer of Harvard Business Publishing (HBP) in July 2021 with more than 30 years of experience in publishing, media, and educational technology. He continues to serve on the HBP Board of Directors. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale University ’76 and an MBA from Harvard Business School ’81.

“I am committed to supporting lifelong learners,” said Wan. “Since 2002, I have worked to inform and inspire students, educators, professionals, and corporations around the world with the best in management thinking and practice.”

Nick Ciantra, is a Managing Partner for the independent brand, communications, and creative consulting firm, Talisman Consulting. He is an expert in developing creative brand strategies and executing internal and external communications campaigns, with extensive international experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst ’85 and an MBA from Western New England University ’91.

“A product of community college and a public university, I value the opportunities that can be realized with a quality, affordable education, and I want to support and expand the reach of it,” said Ciantra.

Sean McCaffery is a Research Analyst – Global Public Markets at Fiducient Advisors in the Public Research Group where he is focused on multi-asset, target date, retirement Income and managed accounts. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut ’14, and an MBA from the University of Hartford ’14.

“As an alum of two Connecticut Universities (UConn & UHart), involved in internship programs,” said McCaffery. “I believe the value that can be achieved with internships can be incredibly impactful”.

Todd Cooper is a Management Program Analyst with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management working in several broad categories to recruit, retain, and honor a world-class workforce for the American people. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut ’82 and an MBA from the University of Connecticut ’14.

“It is my mission to ensure students receive an equitable stake in education and the workplace,” said Cooper. “The work we do inspires me to do more.”

Whitney Libby is the Human Resources Director with HNTB in New York City, where she is known for her business acumen, change agent experience, and developing people to align with business goals. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Connecticut State University ’04.

“I see the tremendous opportunity for partnership between education and business.” said Libby. “Creating avenues to develop students outside the classroom with practical experience in fields like construction, engineering and architecture where demand for these skills is high is critical for students and businesses alike.”