Friday, April 17, 2026
John J. Cox Center Social Room
244 University Avenue, Bridgeport, CT
UB RISE 2026 Schedule
We are planning a day for you to learn about the interdisciplinary work of our UB faculty, students, staff, alumni; as well as by our colleagues at Goodwin University, and Concurrent University Enrollment (CUE) high school students.
***UB participants must self-enroll in the UB RISE 2026 Canvas course by accessing this URL: https://bridgeport.instructure.com/enroll/AYKBLD, or by pasting the URL into their browser.***
***Goodwin University participants must email ubrise@bridgeport.edu by March 1 so that we can grant you access to the UB RISE 2026 Canvas course.
Some new developments for this year’s event include:
- Registration to Attend UB RISE begins February 27 through April 10 by 5 PM EST – https://www.bridgeport.edu/rise/
- Pre-UB RISE Weeklong Activities – April 6-10 – (Click on this link. )
- Announcement of Lightning Round Poster Finalists Posted on this webpage on Friday, April 10 by 5 PM EST
- Faculty Competitive Finalist Poster Presentations – Monday, April 13 at 12:20-1:20 – via Zoom link – https://bridgeport.zoom.us/s/91942413755
** CHECK BACK HERE REGULARLY FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE UB RISE SCHEDULE (BELOW IS THE AGENDA FOR APRIL 17)!**
Registration
(John J. Cox Student Center)
Check-in
Welcome & Opening Remarks
(Social Room/Zoom link will be posted on April 17 here).
Kierstyn Hunter, PhD
Interim Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs
Kevin Kelliher, PhD & Elizabeth Fles, PhD
Chairs, UB RISE Committee
Poster Gallery Visit
(Social & Great Room )
College of Engineering, Business, and Education (Social Room)
College of Science and Society & College of Health Sciences (Great Room)
Lightning Rounds
(Carlson Hall)
High School Poster Finalists – Rm. 153
Undergraduate Poster Finalists – Rm. 152
Master’s Poster Finalists – Rm. 252
Doctoral Poster Finalists – Rm. 253
NOTE: Zoom links for each category will be posted on April 17 here.
CUE High School Special Programming
(Carlson Hall, Rm. 153)
10:30 – 11:30 Interdisciplinary Emerging Technology Lab Tour
11:30 – 11:35 Break
11:45 – 12:00 “
“Green STEP Program” by Alice Martin of United Illuminating
12:00 – 12:15
“Credit Union 101” by Jeffrey R. Tracey (’15), COO/SVP of
Mutual Security Credit Union
12:30 – 1:00 Awards Ceremony
Keynote Speaker
(Social Room)
“Culinary Medicine: A Path to Health for Self, Family and Community”
Maria Asis, MD
Yale University School of Medicine, Clinical Instructor
Generations Obstetrics and Gynecology, Private Practice
(See Dr. Asis’ biography at this link – https://www.bridgeport.edu/rise/keynote)
Radiance Garden, New Haven – Vetiveah Immanuel
Awards Ceremony & Closing Remarks
(Social Room)
Kierstyn Hunter, PhD
Interim Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs
Kevin Kelliher, PhD & Elizabeth Fles, PhD
Chairs, UB RISE Committee
Undergraduate Awards | Master’s Awards | Doctoral Awards
1st Place Awards Sponsored by Gordon E. Stier
2nd Place Awards Sponsored by William Moran (’74)
3rd Place Awards Sponsored by Lorraine Taylor (’76)
4th Place Awards Sponsored by Dolly Balaji (’22)
“Optimizing Business Profitability Through the Use of AI Awards”
Sponsored by Dr. Shannon Hashemi, CMA and Dr. Al Danessfar, CMA, owners of Tradewinds Shopping Center in Middletown
“Quantum Computing Awards”
Sponsored by Dr. Khaled Elleithy, Dean of the College of Engineering, Business, Education
“UB RISE 2026 Climate Challenge Awards“
Sponsored by Mike Roer (’08), President of the Entrepreneurship Foundation.
Faculty Awards
Sponsored by Mutual Security Credit Union
Reception
(Social Room)
Music by UB Fusion Ensemble Directed by Russell Fisher, EdD