BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MARINE & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Through her senior thesis, Jennifer Arena ’26 is transforming a small patch of land behind Celentano Hall into an ecosystem that invites beneficial insects, inspires sustainability, and connects the University of New Haven to the broader environmental community.

Environmental Science major Jennifer Arena ’26 says she was struck by the University's urban setting on her first visit to campus. “It felt that it needed more areas of natural landscape,” she said. That initial observation eventually grew into her senior thesis project: a set of raised garden beds behind Celentano Hall designed to attract pollinators and study the ecological benefits of native plants.

Arena’s project, which began in spring 2025, is a blend of scientific inquiry and environmental advocacy. She is tracking the number and frequency of pollinators and other organisms not classified as pollinators that visit two garden plots.

“One goal of this project is to attract bees, birds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects to urban areas,” she said. “Another goal is to restore the Monarch butterfly population as they are endangered.”

The BFSI program also plays a critical role in career preparation, allowing students to focus on skill development without financial burden. Since its inception, nearly 100 students have received financial support through the program.

“Someone I worked with said, ‘I really hate unpaid internships,’ and I said, ‘Me too,’” program coordinator and executive director of the Career Development Center Matt Caporale recalled. “We pitched this program, and the Bergami family has funded it ever since.”

For marine biology major Giavanna Cucarese ’25, this support allowed her to intern with Oceans Research Institute in South Africa, where she studied white shark populations. “I spent 2-3 days a week on a boat, studying a population in decline,” Cucarese explained. “It was eye-opening work, and I learned so much about field research.”

Sophia Ruh ’25, president of the University of New Haven’s Marine Conservation Society, is proud to be a vocal supporter of the University’s marine and environmental sciences major.

“I cannot say enough good things about this program,” says Ruh, a peer tutor for her classmates. “While content in the sciences may be challenging, the professors do an amazing job of preparing us in the best way for our future, from giving field experience and teaching you how to write a lab report freshman year to guiding you while designing your own research project senior year. This program really builds you from the ground up, and there's support all along the way.”

Ruh reflected on her experiences as a Charger as University of New Haven and City of New Haven leaders came together for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the University’s new Robert M. Lee and Linda M. Wilkins Marine Science Center at the Canal Dock Boathouse on the Long Island Sound.

“While the program is already filled with tons of hands-on experience, Canal Dock is only going to increase those opportunities for the students,” said Ruh who plans to pursue a master’s degree before pursuing a career in marine fisheries or oceanography. “With direct access to the Sound, students are going to be able to work in the environment that we're learning about in the classroom, which is really awesome. The professors here have prepared me for the future, and I'm super confident in taking the next steps when I graduate.”