June 11, 2001

One of the key building blocks for UConn's Tri-Campus initiative has been put in place, with the announcement last month that Edna L. McBreen, interim vice chancellor for agriculture and natural resources and vice president for the University of Nebraska System, has been named associate vice chancellor for the Tri-Campus.

McBreen, who also has held administrative posts at the University of Wyoming, West Virginia University, and the State University of New York-Albany, begins her new job July 15.

"Edna has a wealth of experience in working with internal and external constituencies and, through her work as leader of the University of Nebraska's cooperative extension system and her oversight of cooperative extension and other programs throughout the state in Nebraska, she is well versed in the intricacies of directing the efforts of multiple campuses," says Fred Maryanski, vice chancellor for academic administration, to whom McBreen will report. "This appointment reflects the seriousness with which UConn is pursuing the Tri-Campus initiative, and the academic opportunities it portends."

Besides overall responsibility for the Hartford, Torrington, and Waterbury campuses and their budgets, McBreen will be charged with implementing a new set of academic programs at the campuses, which currently offer four-year degree programs in business, urban studies, and general studies, and master's degree programs in social work and business. An additional graduate program in public affairs and four other four-year undergraduate degree programs are in the planning stages. They are expected to be offered at the campuses within three years, says Maryanski.

"We are absolutely committed to growing these campuses, both in the number of students and the number of quality four-year programs offered at the three sites. We are well aware of the challenges faced by our area-bound students, and are dedicated to increasing the availability of degree programs, faculty and outreach efforts throughout our regional campuses," he adds.

McBreen says she looks forward to the challenges. "The Tri-Campus has a range of opportunities ahead of it as an integral part of UConn," she says. "My meetings with students and faculty there were especially encouraging. I met a lot of people who are anxious to move the campuses forward, and I'm keen to help guide that transition."

The directors of the three campuses - Adriane Lyon in Torrington, Francis Brennan in Waterbury, and interim director Glen Richardson in Hartford - will report to McBreen. There are currently about 60 faculty in the Tri-Campus system and another 80 staff. McBreen and two staffers will work from offices in the Rowland Government Center, located about three blocks from the Waterbury campus.

McBreen, who also will hold an appointment in the School of Family Studies, earned bachelor's and doctoral degrees from Cornell University, and a master's degree from Texas A&M University in College Station.

Richard Veilleux