March 26, 2026, at 12 PM

Registration link: https://uconn-cmr.webex.com/weblink/register/r3b9fd3c614ac6e4c040996ffd05400d7

Cristina Colón-Semenza is an emerging leader whose work blends research, education, and community engagement to improve the lives of people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Recognizing that exercise can dramatically slow disease progression but is often inaccessible,

Professor Colón-Semenza created the UConn Parkinson’s disease exercise class, a weekly, community-based program that supports long-term physical activity and social connection. What began as a small initiative has grown into a thriving community impacting nearly 100 individuals with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners, with 100% of participants reporting improved physical activity, health, and social connection.

Her program also provides powerful experiential learning for UConn students, training future clinicians through hands-on engagement with people living with Parkinson’s disease. These community partnerships have directly inspired impactful research, including studies showing a 42% increase in high-intensity physical activity through peer support

March 12, 2026, at 12 PM

March 5, 2026, at 12 PM

Recording

As a Graduate Research Assistant, Kamal plays a leading role in coordinating NIH-funded projects in the U.S., Nepal, and Malaysia, focusing on HIV prevention among men who have sex with men, transgender women, and people who inject drugs. His work integrates mHealth innovation, participatory research methods, and mental health equity, ensuring that marginalized communities are partners at every stage of the research process.

Since 2022, Kamal has first-authored six publications, co-authored more than 20 manuscripts, and presented internationally at the International AIDS Conference and the Society of Behavioral Medicine. He also leads mentorship efforts for undergraduate students and research staff, strengthening the next generation of public health leaders.

Recording

Professor Cisneros is a leader in community-centered environmental education and the Director of the Natural Resources Conservation Academy (NRCA). Her work redefines how science connects with communities, making it accessible, inclusive, and action-driven.

Under Professor Cisneros’s leadership, the NRCA has supported more than 200 environmental action projects across 125 Connecticut towns, engaging more than 570 participants—including teens, educators, volunteers, and undergraduate mentors. These programs empower communities to take meaningful action while cultivating the next generation of environmental leaders.

Recording

Professor Chen’s work examines how food environments, transportation, and socioeconomic factors shape health outcomes across the U.S. He is the creator of the Retail Food Activity Index (RFAI)—a groundbreaking, GPS-based measure of food access published in Nature Communications, and a leader in town-level COVID-19 forecasting that supported local public health decision-making.

Professor Peter Chen is an award-winning scholar whose research uses cutting-edge geospatial methods to advance health equity and food access in underserved communities.

With 64 peer-reviewed publications, major federal and state-funded projects, and deep community partnerships, Professor Chen translates data into real-world impact, from food access tools to policy-relevant dashboards