Closing the Loop and Empowering Students
The College of Engineering and the Innovation Shop are excited to announce an annual fundraiser for the Innovation Shop here at the College of Engineering.
To keep this momentum going, we launched the 2025-26 Innovation Shop Annual Fundraiser with a goal of raising $50,000.
Why This Initiative?
The Innovation Shop’s mission is to empower student innovators through experiential learning. With a cutting-edge space designed to foster academic and research projects, the Innovation Shop supports the departments, faculty, staff, and students at the College of Engineering.
About Our Team
Comprised of four individuals spanning backgrounds in engineering, medical devices, accounting, architecture, precision machining, electronics and more, students can gain skills in varied fields on their way to a complete engineering education.

Anthony Beatty
Mechanical Engineer
anthony.beatty@uconn.edu

Peter Glaude
Manufacturing Engineer
peter.glaude@uconn.edu

Joe Luciani
Design & Manufacturing Instructor
joseph.luciani@uconn.edu

Ken Premo
Electrical Engineer
kenneth.premo@uconn.edu
About Our Space
The Innovation Shop is composed of a 6,000-square foot space with key manufacturing equipment like CNC mills, 3D printers, and welding tools. Students and Innovation Shop employees proceed through the space from ideation, prototyping, and finally creation.
What's Happening @
University News
- UConn Establishes Honors College to Expand Opportunities for Outstanding Students October 28, 2026Building on a strong Honors tradition, the new college will help more students pursue ambitious work and thrive at UConn
- Professor Sir Cato T. Laurencin Delivers Keynote Address at the National Academy of Inventors 15th Annual Conference October 26, 2026Laurencin Gives Talk on Regenerative Engineering with a Book Signing at Los Angeles Conference.
- M&T Bank, UConn Announce Expansion of Strategic Partnership October 21, 2026As the official bank of the University and the UConn Huskies, the evolution of the partnership includes the multiyear naming rights for the facility that houses Gampel Pavilion, home of the UConn men’s and women’s basketball teams.
- Transformational UConn Initiative to Integrate Student-to-Workforce Services Earns Federal Grant October 7, 2026The wide-ranging ASCEND initiative brings together strengths of UConn Storrs and UConn Hartford
Engineering News
- Professor Sir Cato T. Laurencin Named UConn Engineering Faculty Innovator of the Year October 27, 2026The award recognizes Laurencin’s technological innovations with significant real-world impact.
- Professor Sir Cato T. Laurencin Delivers Keynote Address at the National Academy of Inventors 15th Annual Conference October 26, 2026Laurencin Gives Talk on Regenerative Engineering with a Book Signing at Los Angeles Conference.
- IDEA Grants Allow Sisters to Share Passion October 26, 2026'UConn helped me realize I can be a STEM student, but that doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to be creative and have fun hobbies. You get to be multidisciplined here. It’s encouraged'
- On the Ice with Ainsley Svetek October 22, 2026Ainsley Svetek is using her personal experience recovering from injury to inform her graduate studies in kinesiology and help other players get back on the ice safely
Community News
- Professor Sir Cato T. Laurencin Named UConn Engineering Faculty Innovator of the Year October 27, 2026The award recognizes Laurencin’s technological innovations with significant real-world impact.Sara Capozzi
- IDEA Grants Allow Sisters to Share Passion October 26, 2026'UConn helped me realize I can be a STEM student, but that doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to be creative and have fun hobbies. You get to be multidisciplined here. It’s encouraged'Kimberly Phillips
- UConn’s Queer Science Conference Challenges Stereotypes, Inspires Students October 22, 2026UConn hosts fifth annual event for high schoolersMac Murray
- Dyslexia Awareness Month: UConn Waterbury Connects Awareness With Research and Student Success October 21, 2026'By illuminating familiar landmarks in red, the campaign helped spark conversations, increase public understanding, and show support for individuals with dyslexia'Tom Breen