Office of the Provost

Dear UConn Werth Institute Community:

I am very pleased to announce the reappointment of David Noble as director of the Peter J. Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation for a second term of five years, effective August 23, 2022.

This renewal recognizes Dr. Noble’s effective leadership as the founding director of the center, appointed in January 2018. A few highlights during his tenure thus far include development of several programs to engage a diverse constituency of students, a top 50 ranking for undergraduate and graduate programs in the Princeton Review Survey for Entrepreneurship, and facilitating cross-disciplinary collaboration for faculty broadly across UConn. Notable program developments include NetWerx, a mentorship program matching students with alumni mentors; F3, an initiative that addresses gaps in entrepreneurship by supporting female and underrepresented students in developing entrepreneurial ventures; and HackUConn, which brings together students across all academic disciplines for 24 consecutive hours to form teams and develop solutions to significant problems. Additionally, Dr. Noble has been a driving force in raising the profile of the Werth Institute since its founding, working closely with the UConn Foundation and University Communications to elevate awareness of and support for the Institute.

The review process works best when it is collaborative and comprehensive. I am grateful to all of the faculty, administrators, and other key partners of the center who shared your feedback on Dr. Noble’s leadership. There were several common themes regarding his leadership, including his promotion of entrepreneurial collaboration in all areas of the University, supporting a safe and inclusive environment among his staff and students, and his effective engagement with external partners.

I also want to thank the review committee for their thoughtful oversight of this process. The committee was chaired by Amy Gorin, Professor of Psychological Sciences and Director of the Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP), and included the following members: David Ouimette, Executive Director, First Year Programs and Learning Communities; Kathy Rocha, Operations Director, Werth Institute; Mike Shor, Associate Professor of Economics; David Souder, Interim Director of the Stamford Campus and Professor of Management; Tara Watrous, Head of Entrepreneurial Transformation, Werth Institute; and Edward Weingart, Associate Professor of Technical Direction and Co-Director of the Krenicki Arts and Engineering Institute. Alexis Cassan, Executive Assistant to the Provost and Chief of Staff, managed administration of the committee.

In sum, Dr. Noble has transformed student entrepreneurship at UConn. He is a dynamic and creative leader who I trust to continue to guide the Werth Institute to continued success. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Noble on his reappointment and thanking him for his dedication and hard work on behalf of the Institute.

Sincerely,
Anne

Anne D’Alleva
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs