A very important aspect of the job for Freund, he said, is representing the number of UConn engineers who work within Connecticut. (Courtesy/Twitter)
University of Connecticut journalism alumnus Eli Freund will be taking over as the School of Engineering’s new Editorial Communications Manager.
Freund, who graduated in 2014 with a degree in Journalism, came into this role after years of experience working for various publications and communications departments such as The Chronicle Newspaper of Willimantic, The Journal Inquirer of Manchester, Clarus Commerce, and the East Hartford mayor’s office. Freund is currently working on a Master’s Degree at the University of Hartford, he said.
“If I could synthesize my role into one thing, I am the communicator for the School (of Engineering)… I make sure that the School’s message gets out there, and I convey to people the impact that the School of Engineering has on both the University and the State,” Freund said.
Freund emphasizes the importance of engineers in the workforce, and said he wants the UConn community to see the work happening within the school.
“Since it has been around for over 100 years, so much research and so many students have come through the School of Engineering and it is one of the top colleges at UConn, sort of a hidden gem to me,” Freund said. “The students are participating in so much hands on experience that leads to new discoveries and patents in the real world.”
Increased use of social media is something that Freund hopes to spearhead in his new position, he said.
“Social media is going to be a priority,” Freund said. “I hope to have a more hands-on role with students and tell their stories. I want to interact with them and showcase some of the amazing work students participate in, like the senior design projects and the work of the Engineering Ambassadors.”
A very important aspect of the job for Freund, he said, is representing the number of UConn engineers who work within Connecticut.
“I really want people to know how much of an economic impact the School of Engineering is making on the state of Connecticut,” Freund said. “We have so many partnerships with large corporations like Pratt and Whitney, Eversource and United Technologies that are not only based in the state but have a footprint internationally.”
The School of Engineering is a major contributor to the workforce, according to Freund.
“Fifty percent of the engineering graduates that graduate from Connecticut schools and colleges come from UConn, and it is important that people know about the role that UConn plays in educating future engineers,” Freund said.
Overall, Freund said that he is excited to be back on campus.
“I was hit with a wave of nostalgia,” Freund said. “When I first stepped on campus again, I realized that when I was an undergrad, I didn’t know how great it was to be a student at UConn.”
EllieAnn Lesko is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. She can be reached via email at ellieann.lesko@uconn.edu.
