Impact Stories

Meet the Owls that are flying high…

Owls Awarded Prestigious Arts Council Grants.

Two Southern students, Jonah Craggett, MFA ’24, and Daniel Ramirez, ’25 (also known as “silencio”) have been chosen to be part of a cohort of artists in The New Haven Artist Corps. Each of the awardees received a $20,000 grant to create projects about New Haven, for New Haven.

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…thanks to donor support.

A Heart of Gold.

A landmark gift to the School of Business is part of a series of generous donations designed to break the cycle of poverty through education. The Amour Propre Fund, led by Lindy Lee Gold, donated half a million dollars to establish the School of Business Endowment for Leadership Development.

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Meet Southern Students

“Whether it’s in the weight room, or traveling to faraway track meets, Jordan has always impressed me not only with his tremendous work ethic and confidence but also his high level of integrity.”

—Coach John Wallin

Southern Connecticut State University All-American Jordan Davis was named the 2024 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division II National Field Athlete of the Year.

“I didn’t know how I was going to handle college with a baby. Watching my son’s ongoing development, seeing him become so comfortable and play with the staff and other students, it’s been such a breath of fresh air. It’s made it a lot easier to go to college—mentally, emotionally, and financially.”

—Cailonni Haywood

Former U.S. Navy Corpsman Cailonni Haywood is a sophomore at Southern planning to major in social work. She credits an aptly named university program—COMPASS—with easing her journey to a college degree.

Meet Southern Donors

“So much of my gift is inspired by the way Southern—a state university—gave me the opportunity to be upwardly mobile in my career and life. Southern provided me with an exceptional education and I was able to parlay that into a successful business career.”

—Tony Verlezza, ‘74

Anthony and Beth Verlezza have both made their mark in the business world. Today, they’re committed to supporting the next generation of leaders.

”From its inception, Southern has encouraged and supported values that define civic duty in America. They matter to me. Values born of hard choices soundly made; that insist on fairness, the fearless intellect, insightful and shared reasoning, and the skilled exercise of ethical thoughtfulness.”

—Neil Proto, ’67

Southern Connecticut State University’s long-held commitment to social justice is echoed by Neil Thomas Proto, ’67, a celebrated lawyer, author, and teacher.