Interim President Sandra Bulmer was honored with the 2025 Industry Superstar Award from the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce (GNHCC) at its 23rd Annual Health Care & Life Sciences Awards on July 9 at the Canal Dock Boathouse in New Haven.
Presented annually by the GNHCC, the award is given to a health care or bioscience professional with great public appeal, who is extremely skilled and talented in facilitating meaningful advancements within the industry, and engaging the public and/or private sector.
Garrett Sheehan, president and CEO, Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, called Bulmer “a transformative leader in public health, education, and workforce development” as well as “a dedicated educator, coalition-builder, and champion for community health” who “embodies the excellence and impact this award celebrates.”
“I’m truly honored to receive this award, which I dedicate to all my wonderful colleagues in the College of Health and Human Services, and indeed the whole extended community of Southern Connecticut State University,” Bulmer said.
“It’s been inspiring to have worked at Southern for the last 26 years, first as a faculty member, then as dean, and now as interim president,” she added. “State universities were my pathway, and I firmly believe in the mission of public education. I understand firsthand the transformative impact it can have on individuals, families, and communities.”
Bulmer has extensive experience in higher education, including 26 years at Southern, and began her new role as interim president on July 1, 2025. She previously served as the dean of the university’s College of Health and Human Services and as a professor in Southern’s Department of Public Health.
In response to the evolving needs of Connecticut’s health and human services workforce, Bulmer opened Southern’s new College of Health and Human Services building in September 2022 and together with her team introduced several new innovative degree programs, including a Doctorate of Social Work, B.S. Healthcare Studies, M.S. Occupational Therapy, M.S. in Athletic Training, Executive MPH, and BSRT Respiratory Therapy. Bulmer also spearheaded converting programs to be more accessible to students through online classes.
As dean of Southern’s College of Health and Human Services, Bulmer also oversaw the opening of new departments and centers at the university to improve the health of the Southern and New Haven communities, including the Community Alliance for Research and Engagement (CARE), Institute for Adapted Sport and Inclusive Recreation, the Connecticut Health and Mental Performance Center (CHAMP), and the Department of Healthcare Systems and Innovation. Under her leadership, her college secured more than $20 million in external funding to expand workforce partnerships and advance health equity in Connecticut communities.
She secured funding for and supported the development of a part-time RN program, creating a career pathway for full-time, entry-level health care workers, such as CNAs, and diversifying the nursing workforce. She supported a new model for providing supervision to social work students, which expands services provided to vulnerable populations, and she grew the number of students completing internships and practicum experiences in the community, partnering with more than 300 agencies across the state.
Her involvement in the local community has included service on several boards and committees, including the Clifford Beers Community Health Partners Board of Directors, where she served as vice president; the American Heart Association – Connecticut, where she served as president; the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Healthcare Council; The Whitney Center Board of Directors; and the Yale Center for Research Engagement Steering Committee.
