IMJR Graduates 2025-26 | Individualized & Interdisciplinary Studies Program | Enrichment Programs

Individualized Major: Marine Mammal Ecology

Graduation Date: August 2026

Why Individualized? As a student at the Avery Point campus, I found it bizarre that there was little focus on marine mammals, even though harbor seals often hang out in our own backyard. Coupled with the fact that we are constantly testing the biological health of our and their territory, the Long Island Sound, I thought to myself, why not combine the best aspects of this beautiful campus to create something new? Marine mammals are the loveable face of the ocean for most people. To protect them, we have to understand the underlying biotic and abiotic conditions that determine whether the species survives.

Future Plans? I plan to work in a zoo or aquarium environment, preferably in the southern United States, where I can work with my favorite marine mammal species, the West Indian Manatee. I would love nothing more than to be an animal trainer for these wonderful creatures. However, recent regulatory changes have put these amazing animals at even greater risk. We must do all we can to protect them.

Individualized Major: Law and Inequality

Graduation Date: May 2026

Why Individualized? An individualized major allowed me to take a deeper dive into the specific academic topics I was interested in. The program allowed me to learn outside the confines of a single major, taking classes in Philosophy, Sociology, Human Rights, Political Science, and Africana Studies. The flexibility of the program gave me the opportunity to tailor my education exactly how I wanted.

Future Plans? I am taking a gap year to work and travel and then going to law school!

Individualized Major: Disability Studies in Media and Food Culture

Graduation Date: May 2026

Why Individualized? With goals that are so unique, most traditional majors are not able to encompass all of my areas of interest in an existing plan of study. I wanted Disability Studies to be the main focus of my work, and since UConn doesn't offer this major, it made perfect sense for me to go the Individualized route. Also, as a disabled person, having some flexibility with choosing classes has helped me get the best experience out of my fours years at UConn.

Future Plans? I am currently looking for jobs in New York in food media, accessibility consulting, or anything related to disability advocacy. My long-term goal is to host a cooking talk show (hopefully on Food Network) where I can share my own recipes, while creating disability representation in an industry that typically lacks it.

Individualized Major: Creating and Educating for the Stage and Screen

Graduation Date: May 2026

Why Individualized? Creating and completing an Individualized Major allowed me to focus on the interdisciplinary work that mattered most to me as an undergraduate. Through it, I had the opportunity to learn not only about the existing corpus of theatre, film, and other dramatic literature, but about the entire process of sitting down to work out an idea and write it into a script, finding collaborators, and bringing those words and people together through performance, as well as about how to educate others on that process with imaginative creativity and real-world practicality both in mind. The Individualized Major program opened doors for me into programs at UConn that I might not have otherwise been able to engage with, including taking courses in departments like English, Dramatic Arts, Digital Media and Design, and Education.

Future Plans? Next year I'll be returning to Storrs to begin work as an MA/PhD student in the English department, with a focus on early modern dramatic literature. I also hope to continue working as a playwright myself, both as I pursue my graduate studies and beyond!

Individualized Major: Fisheries Conservation and Marine Management

Graduation Date: May 2026

Why Individualized? I choose the individualized major of Fisheries Conservation and Marine Management because it combines marine science, natural resources and the environment, maritime studies, and a variety of environmental and ecologically focused courses. From a young age I’ve always been interested in fishing and this individualized major combines my interests in learning about marine fisheries, coastal management, as well as inland fisheries conservation and natural resource management. In wanting a well-rounded educational experience at UConn, a majority of classes have been taken at the Avery Point campus with some classes at the Storrs campus rounding out the natural resources focus.

Having an individualized major allows me the ability to combine all the majors I have an interest in into one that is tailored specific to my career interests. The classes I've taken from a variety of departments will give me a well-rounded education and perspective as it relates to fisheries management and marine conservation that no current major offering could provide individually. My summer seasonal work and internship experiences have also been diversified with the CT DEEP Fisheries Division providing me with a variety of hands-on training applicable to my field of study and major. Having years of experience both with inland fisheries and marine fisheries from a young age, the courses for my independent major also reflect the variety of educational opportunities I have completed at UConn. This interdisciplinary approach to a major allows me the greatest career opportunities when I graduate.

Future plans? My future goal after I graduate in May 2026, is to work full time in the fisheries biology field. I hope to travel to new places to see how other states operate fisheries management. This might include biology, habitat restoration or hatchery work. During the summer of 2026 I will be working for the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEEP) Fisheries Division. I find it rewarding to work in this career field and want to make a difference in ensuring there are sustainable fish populations for future generations to enjoy.

Individualized Major: Fashion Engineering and Durability

Graduation Date: December 2025

Why Individualized? My goal in coming to UConn was to combine a business education with my manufacturing associates and round out the two degrees together. The indie major allowed me to look deeper into my passion for the two and allowed me to add another element of interest. Fashion. While I was getting my Manufacturing degree, I was being taught to sew and draft patterns in my spare time, developing a genuine passion for garment construction and design. That interest, combined with my time on the manufacturing floor, pointed me toward a very specific problem: the glaring lack of quality, practicalness, and durability in women's workwear. The Indie major allowed me to combine my interests into one major and take on a more dynamic view of business, manufacturing, and fashion.

Future Plans? While studying in the Indie major, I discovered that my interest in practical fashion has a very underdeveloped market. So I decided that I would dedicate my time in the major to developing a business plan for women's workwear. I want to develop a durable and sustainable brand, all without sacrificing quality, industry standards, and most importantly, fit. I am excited to continue the process of building a business that I believe can and will be the standard for women's workwear in the future.

Individualized Major: Developmental Neuroscience

Graduation Date: May 2026

Why Individualized? I individualized in developmental neuroscience to combine my interests in pediatric medicine and mental health. As a premed student, I became passionate about being prepared to support both the mental and physical well being of my future patients. Many members of my family have encountered struggles with mental health and did not receive adequate care when being hospitalized for unrelated physical issues. hose experiences motivated me to better understand the connection between psychological and physical health. Being interested in the pediatric population, I pursued coursework in HDFS (human development and family studies) and developmental psychology. As a senior in honors, I centered my thesis around these interests by examining the relationship between psychopathology and physical pain, including how these factors are associated within a single timepoint and how they may predict one another over time in relation to a child’s environment.

Future Plans? Starting in July 2026, I will be pursuing my Masters of Health Sciences in Biomedical Sciences at Quinnipiac University. This accelerated program will help me prepare for medical school while further strengthening my scientific knowledge and clinical readiness. In addition, I will continue working to Connecticut Childrens Medical Center as Patient Care Assistant to improve my bedside abilities and gaining valuable hands-on experience in a pediatric setting.

Individualized Major: Women's Health and Development

Graduation Date: May 2026

Why Individualized? I chose to create an individualized major because I was struggling to find a major that felt truly productive towards my career goals and personal interests. Pursing my individualized major made my time at UConn feel very well spent!

Future Plans? I plan on getting my Masters of Health Administration and going on to work at women's health facility. After some work experience I hope to get my PhD and become a professor.

Individualized Major: Behavioral and Developmental Neuroscience

Graduation Date: May 2026

Why Individualized? I chose to pursue a neuroscience-focused individualized major because I was interested in understanding the relationship between brain function, behavior, and mental health from both a scientific and applied perspective. Through integrating coursework in neuroscience and psychology, I was able to explore how cognitive and emotional processes are studied and translated into real-world clinical settings. This interdisciplinary approach allowed me to develop both analytical and practical skills while preparing for a career in healthcare and clinical research.

Future plans? Following graduation, I plan to gain additional hands-on clinical experience while pursuing certification as a pharmacy technician. I intend to apply to Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programs, with the goal of building a career in industry-level pharmacy where I can contribute to improving patient outcomes through the process of developing safe and effective therapeutics.

Individualized Major: Global Health

Graduation Date: May 2026

Why Individualized? I chose an individualized major in Global Health because it gave me the freedom to build a curriculum that actually reflects what I care about, culture, equity, and healthcare on a global scale. Being able to pick courses that genuinely interested me made me love my major even more, and it let me study how different societies shape health outcomes in a way that feels meaningful and aligned with the work I want to do.

Future Plans? I plan on attending medical school to become a physician. While being able to apply my knowledge I gained in my Global Health concentration, such as SDOH and other social barriers, to become to most ethical physician I can be and show my patients that they can trust me and show them that I hear them. Of course, while also working to make sure that quality healthcare is accessible. Before this, I am taking a gap year to work, travel, and strengthen my medical school application!

Individualized Major: Human Ecology

Graduation Date: May 2026

Why Individualized? Without the IMJR program, I would not have been able to aggregate my highly interdisciplinary interests into a single framework, a unifying idea. Creating and planning my individualized major forced me to ask myself what I wanted to do after I graduated, and ultimately led me to shifting my focus towards policy rather than research.

Additionally, I got to know Dr. Cormier through the University Scholar program, and that relationship made me feel confident that I would be supported as I pursued a second major. I am happy to report, now that I am graduating, that I was right to place my confidence in him. He has been a pillar for me throughout my last two-and-a-half years at UConn, and has made the program what it is today..

Future plans? I will be attending William and Mary in the fall to earn my Master's Degree in Public Policy. Additionally, I co-founded a board game company with a friend about four years ago. We will be launching our first game in the summer, and continuing to produce games after that!

Individualized Major: Social Inequities in Neurodevelopment

Graduation Date: August 2026

Why Individualized? I chose to become an individualized major because when I entered college, I quickly realized that my interests did not fit neatly within one traditional degree. As I took biology and chemistry courses, explored different research labs, and pursued a liberal arts education through fields like anthropology and sociology, I found that my real interest was at the intersection of these disciplines. I wanted to study neurodevelopment not only from a chemical and biological perspective, but also from a social perspective that considers advocacy, equity, and lived experience.
The Individualized Major Program allowed me to build a major that genuinely reflected those interests: Chemical and Social Dimensions of Neurodevelopment. Through this major, I have been able to connect scientific questions about neurodevelopment with broader questions about how social systems shape diagnosis and support for neurodivergent individuals. It gave me the flexibility to pursue research, take courses across multiple departments, and work closely with faculty who encouraged me to follow my interests in both neurodevelopment and advocacy.
Most importantly, the Individualized Major Program transformed my experience at UConn by giving me access to mentorship and guidance that I deeply value. Working with my faculty mentor, Professor Françoise Dussart, and connecting with other faculty helped me think more intentionally about my education and my long-term goals. Creating my own major pushed me to take ownership of my academic path, while also giving me a stronger sense of community and support.

I feel so fortunate to have been able to be a part of this program, and I am excited to carry the knowledge and skills I have gained beyond college!!

Future Plans? NIH Postbac fellow, apply to med school, travel, and fine tune my dj skills!

Kathryn Adinolfi

Jade Ahumada

Ethar Al-Hawari

Cam Altmann

Genesis Augustin

Hunter Austrie

Katharine Batchelar

Kimberly Beslanga

Cindy Biraci

Breanna Bonner

Tarah Cena

Jazlynn Claudio

Ava Cunningham

Gabriella DiSalvo

Alana Ellis

Emily Finch

Gillian Frey

Ricky Garcia

Olivia Gianatasio

Suheera Haq

Clerin John

Alexander Johnson

Heather Keane

Rachel Levy

Vaxis Linley

Lucas Lloyd

Mike Longo

Kevin Ly

Jose Matute Galvez

Alexsia Newman

Hanya Ouda

Sophia Peron

Maya Presume

Mukrim Rahman

Selina Rivera

Christopher Santoro

Connor Sharp

Amira Shatara

Haritha Subramanian

Brielle Trudeau

Keerthi Uppalapati

Chloe Vargo

Laxmi Vobbineni