Former Connecticut TV News Anchor Lands Dream Job

BRANFORD, CT — Chris Velardi, who spent 15 years at WTNH-TV 8, five of them as anchor on Good Morning Connecticut, is now working where he was a college graduate - Syracuse University.

Velardi was recently hired by Syracuse as director of digital engagement and communications.

He describes his new job this way: "I work with our communications team to connect and engage with Syracuse University's 241,000 alumni around the globe. We do this through storytelling about the university and its alumni and events on campus, across the country, and around the world, using email, social media, and our alumni community website.

Velardi added: "I've always been passionate about my alma mater, and this is such a great opportunity for me to return to SU and be a storyteller for the university."

If you've ever visited Velardi's Twitter account, @cvelardi, you know he bleeds Orange and has for a long time as he tweets along to all of Syracuse's sporting events. Just this past week he wrote "*Checks pulse* ... Still alive. Okay... Overtime!" during a close Syracuse basketball game.

While he is far away - Velardi hasn't forgotten the Nutmeg State.

"Connecticut -- Branford, in particular -- will always be home and we plan to return often to visit our family and many friends. In fact, I'll be doing a lot of traveling between Connecticut and Central New York between now and the end of the school year, when my family is able to make the move," Velardi said.

After he left WTNH-TV in 2015, and before he landed his new gig in Syracuse, Velardi worked at a New Britain public relations firm.

At Channel 8, Velardi was the weekday morning anchor at WTNH-TV, NEWS 8. He helped build the newscast, working with a team of producers and reporters to suggest stories, write content, and schedule and interview guests, He also led the morning show's social media efforts, developing a strong online connection with our audience.

See related: WTNH News 8's Anchor Chris Velardi Left 'Speechless' Over Career Change Reaction

Former News 8 Anchor Chris Velardi Still Adjusting to Life After TV

He started at WTNH in 2000. "In my first decade at WTNH, I worked every shift on the schedule -- mornings, days, nights and weekends. I anchored weekend evening newscasts for awhile and anchored our weekend morning show for six years. I was a general assignment reporter who brought ideas to the table and covered news as it broke."