The Charger Blog
A Charger Blogger’s Guide to Fall in Connecticut
From apple cider to autumn hikes, Connecticut native and Charger Blogger Beatrice Glaviano ’26 shares some of her favorite ways to soak up the season before winter hits.
University News
Donor Triples Commitment to University of New Haven’s Afghan Women’s Scholars Program
Henrik Nielsen, a Scandinavian business executive, has significantly increased his original seven-figure gift, enabling the University to support 42 Afghan women seeking to continue their education in the United States.
February 4, 2025
The University of New Haven announced today that Scandinavian business executive Henrik Nielsen has tripled his original seven-figure commitment to support the establishment of an Afghan Women’s Scholars program. The initiative will now support 42 students, up from the original number of 14, who are from Afghanistan, to enable them to pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree at the university.
Four graduate students being supported by the program arrived in Connecticut earlier this month and began classes at the start of the Spring semester. The remaining students will arrive in August for the start of the 2025-26 academic year.
"Seeing the tremendous number of applicants and hearing their passion for continuing their education amid a horrific humanitarian crisis has been incredibly inspiring," said Nielsen. "I am happy to help support the University of New Haven’s efforts, which will be life-changing for those in the program."
Since launching the program in September, the University has received close to one thousand applications.
The students selected to be part of the Afghan Women’s Scholars program are receiving full-tuition scholarships for the duration of their time as students, as well as support for room, board, and educational expenses. They will also have access to the many educational and career-related resources that are available to all University of New Haven students.
"We frequently talk at the University of New Haven about being a private university with a public mission – and that mission is global," said President Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D. "Our primary mission, which I believe is the true essence of higher education, is to transform lives. Our focus is on supporting students – locally and across the globe – who have the demonstrated drive and work ethic to use a college degree as the launching pad to a successful and fulfilling life – economically, socially, culturally, and personally. We are very grateful to Mr. Nielsen for his support, and we are excited to see what the students in our Afghan Women’s Scholars program will achieve as Chargers."
Recent News
Charger 360
Charger 360 - Season 4, Episode 6: Don Fertman '76
Don Fertman ’76 reflects on being a “shy kid, squared” who joined a group of students that in 1973 launched WNHU, which has become an award-winning radio station. “It was the music that comforted me in my isolation,” he said. He talked about his 1970s new-wave rock band “The Crayons” writing a jingle for the Subway restaurant. That ultimately led to a 40-year career with the chain, culminating with him serving as chief development officer and two appearances on the hit reality show “Undercover Boss.” Today, he continues to host a weekly radio show on WHNU, he’s active with a nationwide organization that supports substance-abuse recovery, and he’s an adjunct professor in the Pompea College of Business, teaching a course he developed on franchising.
The Charger Blog
Visiting Ukrainian Scholar Shares Firsthand Healthcare Insights with Charger Community
Through the BridgeUSA program, the University of New Haven welcomed Dr. Oleksii Boduliev, an assistant professor and military anesthesiologist from Ukraine, whose visit offered students and faculty an unforgettable perspective on healthcare in times of crisis.