Director of News and Editorial Communications

Tom Breen

Tom Breen has been at UConn since 2012, serving as a news writer, deputy spokesperson, manager for special projects, UConn Today editor, and, as of January 2021, director of news and editorial communications. Prior to UConn, he worked as a reporter for The Associated Press, covering health care, religion, and state government in West Virginia and North Carolina, and before the AP, he worked at newspapers in Connecticut and Massachusetts. He is the author of two books about Christianity and contemporary culture, and has published short fiction in many periodicals and anthologies. A second-generation Husky, he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2000. He is the co-founder of the award-winning UConn 360 podcast and has given presentations on UConn history to community groups throughout Connecticut. He lives in Manchester, is active in volunteer organizations, and recommends that you try the coconut flavor at the Dairy Bar.

Author Archive

Rachael Manzer, with her husband Ken, receives a 4-H leadership award in 2019. Manzer, a STEM educator who has worked with NASA, is a doctoral candidate in the Neag School of Education. (Courtesy of Defining Studios)

For 4-H Leader and Neag Student, Learning is a Lifelong Process

'To me as a kid, UConn was this big, amazing place'

May 14, 2021 | Jen Cushman, UConn 4-H

young woman in medical face protection mask indoors on blue background.

Are Graphene-Coated Face Masks a COVID-19 Miracle – or Another Health Risk?

Balancing risk with uncertain rewards

May 14, 2021 | Tom Breen

Miguel Cardon at Commencement Podium

‘The Beginning is in Sight,’ Cardona Tells UConn Graduates

The US Secretary of Education reflected on his own experiences as a UConn graduate

May 10, 2021 | Tom Breen

Alumni
A child in a fast food restaurant. Voluntary policies at fast food restaurants have not increased the likelihood that parents will purchase healthier meals for children, according to new research.

Study: Fast Food Restaurants’ Voluntary Healthy Meal Options for Children Unlikely to Result in More Nutritious Food Purchases for Kids

The research assessed purchases of healthier kids’ meals before and after policies were introduced at McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, and Subway

May 6, 2021 | Kristin Messina, UConn Rudd Center

Research & Discovery

Celebrating UConn’s Class of 2021

A tribute to a class who made the seemingly impossible look easy

May 3, 2021 | Tom Breen

WNPR

Insects Around the World Are Disappearing. What Can We Do About It?

April 29, 2021 | Tom Breen

NBC Connecticut

UConn Medical Students Gain Real-World Experience at FEMA Mobile Vaccine Clinic

April 29, 2021 | Tom Breen

A picture of fresh vegetables. Food pantry clients say they want fresh fruits and vegetables, but that those aren't always available.

Rudd Study: Food Pantry Clients Seek Fruits and Vegetables, Despite Limited Availability

Survey results from food pantries also reveal the importance of client choice

April 23, 2021 | Kristin Messina, UConn Rudd Center

ABC News

How Chauvin’s Trial Affected Black Americans

April 22, 2021 | Tom Breen

Teenager with headphones around his neck using his phone. A UConn researcher says social media is turning online arguments among teenagers into real-world violence.

How Social Media Turns Online Arguments Between Teens Into Real-World Violence

Social media isn’t just mirroring conflicts happening in schools and on streets – it’s triggering new ones

April 19, 2021 | Caitlin Elsaesser, Assistant Professor of Social Work