As the Director of Leadership Development at The Werth Institute, Katie empowers the next generation of innovators. She oversees the Werth Innovators program, guiding undergraduate students as they transform their ideas into tangible realities. With a passion for creativity and mentorship and a keen eye for talent, Katie fosters a supportive environment where students can thrive through collaborative learning.

Before joining the Werth Institute, Katie worked in regional government and education. She holds degrees from the University of Connecticut - a BA in Sociology and an MA in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Giftedness, Creativity, and Talent Development. Outside of work, Katie enjoys spending time with her family and pets, gardening, and exploring her creative side through floral design.

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Laurie Farros is a seasoned leader and entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience blending technology and innovation.

Laurie serves as a strategic advisor focusing on expanding The Werth Institute's role as a world-class program and building symbiotic relationships within venture, private equity, and corporate communities.

Previously, Laurie was President of Givling, a technology company revolutionizing the crowdfunding space through gaming, funding $10+ million to those with student loan debt. Prior, Laurie was SVP in a public technology company, as well as having held executive positions in various private companies servicing tech and venture sectors.

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Julie ignites entrepreneurial spirits at UConn Werth Institute, empowering students and alumni through mentorship and innovation initiatives. She values connecting communities and fostering personal and professional growth, evidenced by her leadership roles with MENTOR, JP Morgan, Hyatt Hotels, Mentor Europe and the Eurasia Foundation.

An accomplished educator, she has taught at institutions including UConn, UMass Boston, and Emerson College, sharing her passion for communication, entrepreneurship, and public relations. She earned an MA in integrated marketing communication from Emerson College and her bachelor's degree in communication studies & public relations from Towson University. A current Ph.D. candidate in educational leadership and adult learning at UConn, her research digs deep into fostering opportunity recognition skills in aspiring entrepreneurs.

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Zeljko Mirkovic is an award-winning film and TV director, educator, and lecturer with more than 20-years' experience writing, producing, and directing diverse documentaries.  He is a creative and innovative developer of feature films, television series, documentaries, promotional films, media campaigns, and commercials.

With a Ph.D. in Communications and Media Studies, Zeljko has received over 100 international awards and produced two Oscars qualified documentaries. 

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Judy joined The Werth Institute in 2021 to design and direct a national academic center to address barriers that block bright, professionally capable autistic and neurodivergent individuals from meaningful, successful employment outcomes. UConn’s center educates employers in practice change and better connects neurodiverse college students and alumni with opportunities.

Judy is trained in special education law and spent two decades securing services, supports, interventions, and strengths-based approaches to enable neurodivergent children and adults to thrive.

She earned her MBA and bachelor's degree from University of Michigan and is the parent of four adult children, two of whom live with neurodivergent conditions that have significantly impacted their educational and employment journeys.

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Bryan was named director of Championship Labs in August of 2023 and he is excited to return to Storrs after receiving both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in communication science from the University of Connecticut almost exactly 20 years ago.

Prior to his position at UConn, he served as the Associate Dean in the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College for over a decade. Bryan's career began at Purchase College, SUNY where, over several years, he worked in both teaching and administrative capacities.

In his free time, he enjoys watching the Mets and UConn Huskies, reading books on political history, and hitting baseballs. Bryan resides in South Windsor with his daughter, Avery, and two terribly behaved cats.

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Passionate about the student experience, mentorship, and sustainability, Aaron looks to blend the experiences he had as an undergraduate and graduate student at the University of Connecticut into the work he does for the Werth Institute. Aaron seeks to build connections with and mentor students who are interested in sustainability, natural resources, or just looking to navigate UConn. He’d be the first to tell you that most routes in life are “unconventional” but that does not make them any less meaningful!

Aaron holds an MBA and BS in natural resources, both from UConn .

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