In conjunction with the Neag School of Education the Faculty from the Learning, Leadership, & Education Policy (LLEP) are proud to announce that a prospective student was offered a scholarship from the Dean’s Doctoral Scholars Program (DDS) in the program’s inaugural year:

• Britney Jones (Leadership and Education Policy) – Britney has professional experience working in charter schools in Rhode Island and New York, and has most recently served as a fourth grade science teacher and science teacher leader in New York schools.

The Dean’s Doctoral Scholars Program offers students four years of full funding and a stipend while pursuing their Ph.D. The program will provide opportunities to:

• Become a member of one of several interdisciplinary research teams shaping the future of education
• Conduct high quality and impactful research in education areas, specifically:
  • Equity and social justice
  • STEM education
  • Creativity and innovation
  • Educator quality and effectiveness
• Present at conferences and publish research
• Participate in the development of educational innovations
• Build the knowledge and experience to become national leaders in education research, policy and practice

The program looks forward to working with Britney throughout the

Michael is in his fourth year as a doctoral student in Sport Management. His research interests include sport consumer behavior and the effects of media on fan identification and consumption motives. Some of his research projects have included social media’s influence on fan reactionary behavior, the uniqueness of college recruiting networks and their effects on highly identified fans, emotional attachment to sport brands, the assessment of credibility amongst sport media, and blatant fan support of team failure.

Michael has also taught several courses in the department, including Sport Law, Financial Management in the Sport Industry, and Introduction to Sport Marketing. After completing a degree in journalism at Temple University, Michael came to UCONN in 2009 in pursuance of a master’s degree in sport management, to which he graduated in 2011. Since his arrival to UCONN, Michael has also served several years as a graduate student senator, representing the Neag Graduate Student Association.