Quinnipiac University President Judy Olian Recognized

Quinnipiac University President Judy Olian recognized for Outstanding Contribution to the Community

HAMDEN, Conn. – Nov. 21, 2024 – Quinnipiac University President Judy Olian was recently recognized by the Hamden Regional Chamber of Commerce for her outstanding contributions to the local community.

“Some of the most impactful growth at Quinnipiac has been in the improved relationship between Quinnipiac and the town of Hamden,” Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett said. “The Hamden community has benefited from President Olian’s strategic vision of being a good neighbor through numerous partnerships. The Quinnipiac School of Business in partnership with ConnCORP formed the ConnCORP/Quinnipiac Community Entrepreneurship Academy and Clinics. They also host the Big Event, where they do a lot of cleanup and gardening in the spring. It's wonderful.”

“Quinnipiac accounting students offer free tax assistance. Occupational therapy students help at the Keefe Community Center benefiting our community while students gain practical experience,” the mayor added. “And President Olian co-chairs the AdvanceCT board of directors, an organization charged with recruiting businesses to Connecticut. Over the last few years, Quinnipiac has provided funding for ice skates at Louis Astorino rink so we can bring back public skating, summer concerts and fireworks, middle school sports, help fund renovations to our high school tennis courts that our engineering office is currently designing, scholarships for town residents and the Quinnipiac presidential fellowship program.”

Olian said the commitment the university has to the community is core to who we are today.

“What we try to do is make sure that our students are not just schooled in their professions, but they're schooled in being civically engaged residents who are responsible neighbors, but also are going to be contributing to the communities in which they live as responsible residents and as future community leaders,” Olian said. “We are so proud that when we send them out into the community, and some of them live in the community, they have become great neighbors, and we hardly ever hear anything but compliments from the neighbors.”

She said Quinnipiac is committed to the well-being of the community.

“We always say, as goes Hamden so goes Quinnipiac and as goes Quinnipiac, so goes Hamden. We are totally co-dependent to each other, on each other and we lift each other because of this great partnership in thriving together and in making sure that we care for each other.”

She praised Bethany Zemba, vice president for strategy and community relations and chief of staff, for her work in strengthening the university’s relationship with our local communities.
“I would like to include Bethany in this award, since she actually deserves more than I did,” Olian said. “Many of these initiatives, and there are many more, start with Bethany, derived for her passion for community impact.”