Southern Connecticut State University unveiled its new College of Health and Human Services building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022.
Before the program started, the energy and excitement of the new building were palpable among the attendees.
Andrea Adimando, associate professor of nursing and MSN program director, said, “We’ve waited a long time for this building, and we’re so excited to be here to celebrate its opening. We can’t wait to use the labs and study space to meet with our students, be with our students, and really embrace this building.”
The four-story, 94,750-square-foot new building features collaborative spaces, state-of-the-art teaching and training spaces, lecture halls, a demonstration kitchen, and modern human performance laboratories. The new building was designed to meet the needs of Connecticut’s health and human services workforce.
President Joe Bertolino, who welcomed the crowd of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the New Haven community, said, “As you know, there are critical shortages in many areas of Connecticut’s healthcare industry and this new building will allow us to both increase enrollment and further diversify the state’s healthcare professional workforce.”
Audiology, communication disorders, and human performance labs and clinics, currently used to train students and assist at-need populations in Connecticut, have also expanded in size and capabilities in the new building.
“Reflecting our social justice mission as a public university, it will also serve as a wonderful resource for the off-campus community through our expanded speech therapy and hearing clinics, human performance lab, and our center for adaptive sport and inclusive recreation,” said President Bertolino.
Other speakers included: Sandra Bulmer, dean, College of Health and Human Services; Susan Bysiewicz, Lt. Governor, State of Connecticut; Dan Ybanez, sophomore nursing student; Melody Lehrman, Communication Disorders Clinic advocate; Michelle Gilman, Commissioner, State Department of Administrative Services; Terrence Cheng, president, CSCU System; and Will Ginsberg, president and CEO, Community Foundation of Greater New Haven.
After the speaking program, College of Health and Human Services Student Ambassadors led tours of the new building.
