Friday, April 4, 2025
Arnold Bernhard Arts & Humanities Center (ABC)
84 Iranistan Avenue, Bridgeport, CT
About the Event
The 3rd Annual UB RISE event showcases the depth and breadth of faculty, staff, and student research as well exhibit our innovation, scholarship, and entrepreneurship.
Check out these pre-UB RISE events happening March 24-27:
March 24: 2025 BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION FINALISTS ANNOUNCED – CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE 5 FINALISTS! On April 4, from 12:50 pm-1:40 pm, come see them pitch LIVE! A special thanks to the following sponsors – The NorthEast Community Innovation Corp. (NCIC) and Tradewinds Shopping Center (Middletown, CT), Dr. Shannon Hashemi, CMA and Dr. Al Daneshfar, CMA!
- Geonna Snyder – MagneTidy
- Riya Regmi – Roam-mate
- Tadiwanshe Prince Mujaya/Patricia Nabayunga – Sweetie
- Daniela Nieto/Luiza Macedo/Manuela Macedo – Slick Brush
- Cat Aucoin/Nova Staruk – SHARP-EYE
March 25: DOCTORAL STUDENTS PANEL (MAND 104, 12:20-1:20)
Hear from UB’s Doctoral students about their research activities.
* Bishad Ghimire (’00, ’04), PhD Candidate in Computer Science & Engineering ; * Eugene Gerety, PhD (’23), Computer Engineering; * Andrew Iorio, PhD Candidate in Computer Science; * Mohammed Aljamal (’21), PhD Candidate in Computer Science & Engineering
March 26: “GROUNDSWELL 2025 LAUNCH PARTY” UB STUDENTS DISCUSS PROSE, POETRY, & ART (MAND 107, 12:20-1:20)
Join a panel of student writers for an interactive discussion about the power of self-expression.
- Nyla Blackmon (’26) Mechanical Engineering, Bridgeport, CT
- Chamique Brown (’28) Electrical Engineering, Bridgeport, CT
- Marisa Crawford (’26) Music Education, Bronx, NY
- Abigail Giron Marroquin (’25) English, Stamford, CT
- Angelise Melendez (’28) Biology, CT
- Sofia Martin (’25) Psychology, Los Angeles, CA
- Emily Ortiz (’26) English and Professional Writing and Education, Bronx, NY
- Kenia Quintero (’26) General Studies and Humanities, Bridgeport, CT
- Steph-Ann Wynter (’26) Criminal Justice and Nursing, Bridgeport, CT
March 27: “RADICALLY PREPARED,” CLINICAL COUNSELORS AS AGENTS OF CHANGE (MAND 107, 12:20-1:20)
Hear from UB’s Masters’ students about their work in clinical counseling.
Rachel Vogt, MS (’25), Lina Orozco, MS (’25), and Nancy Gabriel, MS (’24)
April 3: “Love of Learning Lecture, by Provost Manyul Im, PhD,” Sponsored by Phi Kappa Phi (Carlson 152, 12:00-1:00)
Event Schedule
We have planned a day for you to learn about the interdisciplinary work being done by our UB faculty, students, staff, alumni; as well as by our colleagues at Goodwin University, and Concurrent University Enrollment (CUE) high school students.
We are thrilled by our Alumni and business participation!
- Mutual Security Credit Union is sponsoring the UB Faculty Competitive Prizes
- Mike Roer (08), President of the Entrepreneurship Foundation Inc., is sponsoring the Climate Innovation Award
- Drs. Shannon Hashemi, CMA and Al Daneshfar, CMA, owners of Tradewinds Shopping Center, is sponsoring the Optimizing Business Profitability Through the Use of AI Award
- Dr. Khaled Elleithy, Dean of the College of Engineering, Business and Education, is sponsoring the Quantum Computing Applications Award
- UB Alumni Association – Gordon Stier (’77) for sponsoring the Alumni Awards. A special thanks to Barbara James (’74, ’77), Ajay Shrestha, PhD (’02, ’06, ’19) and Lorraine Taylor (’76) for sponsoring the student poster awardees. We are grateful to our Alumni for their time as poster judges or panel speakers.
- Collectively, we make UB RISE!
Registration
(ABC 1st Floor Lobby)
Check-in
Visit the Bridgeport Accelerator tables for food and drink samples:
Kale Krazy, Juices by Sandy Maignan
Sound Coffee, Coffee by Jeff & Sarah Roy
Suga & Spice Me, Mini-muffins by Shakeema Romero (*V & **NV)
There will be other items for purchase.
Welcome & Opening Remarks
(Littlefield Auditorium)
UB President Danielle Wilken, EdD
UB RISE Chair, Shannon Hashemi, DBA
UB RISE Vice-Chair, Meredith Gaffney, MPH
We encourage poster authors to stand by their posters during this time and view the remarks from their phones. To find your poster number click here.
Poster Gallery Visit
(Schelfhaudt Gallery)
UB College of Health Sciences & College of Science and Society
UB College of Engineering, Business, Education,
Goodwin University
Concurrent University Enrollment High Schools
**NOTE: Attendees are also invited to visit the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety Car Display to learn how this innovative car has the potential to save lives. The car is parked in the Waldemere Hall lot on Ingleside Place.
Keynote Speaker
(Littlefield Auditorium)
Vahid Behzadan, PhD, Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Data Science
University of New Haven
“The Landscape of AI Research: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Imperative of Safety”
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries and reshaping the boundaries of innovation, from healthcare and finance to education and autonomous systems. This keynote will provide a high-level overview of the current state of AI research, highlighting major trends such as the rise of generative AI, the convergence of multimodal systems, and the deployment of AI at scale in real-world applications. Alongside these advances, the talk will delve into the critical challenges that arise, particularly in the realms of AI safety and security—issues that are central to the long-term success and ethical deployment of AI technologies.
This session aims to engage researchers and students across disciplines, inviting them to contribute to the future of AI by addressing these foundational challenges. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of where AI stands today, where it is headed, and why ensuring its safe and secure integration into society is a challenge we must tackle together.
*SPECIAL PROGRAMMING*
Concurrent University Enrollment
High School Participants
(Waldemere Hall/ABC – 5th Floor)
Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety – Car Display & Sessions
Check out this video link to learn more about how Connecticut’s Department of Transportation is participating in the DADSS Program which has the potential to end impaired driving by drivers under the influence of alcohol or other substances with this INNOVATIVE car.
11:00-11:30 (Concurrent Hands-On Experiences)
Group A: Learn to Code: LED User feedback (Limited to 25 students)
Group B: Data Assessment & Analysis (Limited to 35 students)
Group C: Demonstration Vehicle & UB’s Robotic Dogs (Limited to 45 students)
11:45-12:15 Lunch (Littlefield Auditorium)
Learn about specific careers/disciplines in auto safety & technology
12:20-12:35 UB RISE HS Awards Ceremony (Schelfhaudt Gallery)
UB Provost Manyul Im, PhD
Lunch
(Marina Dining Hall)
Music by UB Fusion Ensemble– Directed by Russell Fisher
UB Purple Knights Coffee Company (PKCC) – 100% Organic Guatemalan Ground Coffee Medium Roast – Available for Purchase!
Afternoon Panels
(Littlefield Auditorium)
12:50 pm-1:40 pm University of Bridgeport Student Business Plan Pitch Competition – NEW!
Moderator: UB’s Student Entrepreneur Center, Director Sherri Dente, Esq.
Judges: Dan Tenney, PhD (’20), Gad Selig, DBA, Shannon Hashemi, DBA, Bill Moran (’74), Art Landi (’75)
1:45 pm-2:30 pm “Shaping the Future of Public Health: UB’s Next Generation of Scholars – Online and On Ground“
Moderator: UB’s Master’s in Public Health Program, Meredith Gaffney, MPH
Alisha Drabek, MPH (‘24), Shari McIntosh, MPH (‘25), Alexis Pudimat, MPH (‘24), Amanda Lounibos, MPH (‘24), Hillary Deane, MPH (‘25)
2:35 pm-3:10 pm
“Overcoming Challenges and Building Foundations in the U.S. Job Market”
Moderator: Lorraine Taylor ‘76
Saddam Alkhamaiesh, PhD ’24, Dolly Balaji ’22, Brittany Harris’16
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12:50 pm – 2:00 pm Visit the DADSS Demonstration Vehicle (Waldemere Hall)
Awards Ceremony & Closing Remarks
(9th Floor Tower Room)
UB Provost Manyul Im, PhD
UB RISE Chair, Shannon Hashemi, DBA
UB RISE Vice-Chair, Meredith Gaffney, MPH
Faculty Competitive Awards
Sponsored by Mutual Security Credit Union, Henry Baum, Pres. & CEO
1st Place Awards, 2nd Place Awards, 3rd Place Awards
Sponsored by Barbara James (’74, ’77) , Ajay Shrestha, PhD (’02, ’06, ’19), & Lorraine Taylor (’76)
Alumni Choice Awards
Sponsored by UB Alumni Association, Gordon Stier (’77)
Climate Innovation Award – NEW!
Sponsored by Entrepreneurship Foundation, Mike Roer (’08)
Judges: Joe Ziskin, Adviser to the UB Innovation Center: George Logan, Aquarion Water Company; and Mike Roer
Optimizing Business Profitability Through the Use of AI Award – NEW!
Sponsored by Tradewinds Shopping Center Middletown, Drs. Shannon Hashemi, CMA & Al Daneshfar, CMA
Quantum Computing Applications Award – NEW!
Sponsored by Dr. Khaled Elleithy, Dean of the College of Engineering, Business, Education
Reception
(9th Floor Tower Room)
Music by UB Fusion Ensemble Directed by Russell Fisher
Visit the Bridgeport Accelerator tables for food/beverage samples
Khemis Vegan Cuisine, Organic Juice Bar by Deja Smith (*Vegan)
Sandie’s Sweet Success LLC, Red Velvet Cake, etc by Sandra Carmichael (**NV)
Suga & Spice Me, Tarts by Shakeema Romero (*V & **NV)
Sound Coffee, Coffee by Jeff & Sarah Roy
*Vegan options; ** Non-Vegan options. There will be items for purchase.
Meet the Speakers
Our afternoon presenters and panels will showcase the research being done with grant support, alumni involvement, and collaborations with our higher education and industry partners. Click here for the panel bios!
Our Sponsors
UB RISE was made possible because of our generous sponsors.
Click on this link for donor and sponsor information.