Please join us in celebrating and recognizing Kiara Ruesta Schliphack, RISE College Success Coach, and Neag School Alumnus '21 MA, Higher Education and Student Affairs who has been named UConn Connects Program’s Spring 2025 David T. Ouimette Outstanding Mentor Award in recognition of her exceptional service and unwavering dedication to student success.
David T. Ouimette currently serves as the Interim Executive Director for the Institute for Student Success. As the founder of the UConn Connects Program and with over 30 years of working in higher education, he is a pioneer in peer education and mentoring. In 2020, the UConn Connect Outstanding Mentor award was renamed in honor of David’s work in mentoring and leadership.
Each semester the UConn Connects program likes to recognize UConn Connects mentors for their work in the program. Participants are encouraged to nominate their mentor for this recognition, and Kiara’s mentee nominated her. Kiara was recognized on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, during the Fall 2025 UConn Connects Reception at Hartford campus.
We're so proud of Kiara’s care and support of our students. Congratulations, Kiara!
For more information about UConn Connects, and to apply to be a mentor, please go to: UConn Connects | Academic Achievement Center
For more information, contact: Joanna Rivera Davis at Joanna.Rivera@uconn.edu