Three faculty members from the University of Hartford have been selected to serve as research mentors to STEM high school students this summer as part of an exciting new partnership between UHart and the Talcott Mountain Science Center and Academy (TMSCA) in Avon, Connecticut.
Olivia Soliman, assistant professor of chemistry at the College of Arts and Sciences, along with two colleagues from the College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture—Xin Shen, electrical and computer engineering program director, and Solaleh Miar, assistant professor of civil, environmental, and biomedical engineering—will help the Academy inaugurate its summer program of advanced learning. These three UHart mentors will guide high school students as they immerse themselves in STEM research at the Academy.
“We are thrilled to launch this partnership with the Talcott Mountain Science Center and Academy,” says UHart Provost Katherine Black. “Drs. Miar, Shen, and Soliman are exceptional faculty members who are deeply committed to student success and STEM education. Their mentorship will play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of this inaugural cohort."
Located atop Talcott Mountain on the eastern edge of the Farmington Valley—just seven miles from the UHart campus—TMSCA serves as an incubator for new ideas, bringing together scientists, educators, and students to push the boundaries of knowledge. Founded in 1967, the center has advanced science education through hands-on learning that fosters inquiry, exploration, and deep student engagement.