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The University of New Haven’s Ibrahim Baggili, Ph.D., Elder family Chair and founding director of the Connecticut Institute of Technology, is one of 35 leaders in science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine in Connecticut who have been elected to the .

They will be inducted as members during a virtual annual meeting in May, according to a .

Dr. Baggili expressed sheer gratitude when discussing his election to CASE.

“I come from a humble family from the Middle East, and I am a first-generation Arab American,” he said. “This means more to me than anyone can imagine.”

This honor comes on the heels of Dr. Baggili’s receiving the Civilian Medal of Merit from the adjutant general of the Connecticut National Guard last September.

‘I’m thrilled’

Ronald S. Harichandran, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE, dean of the Tagliatela College of Engineering and vice provost for research, recognized the significance of Dr. Baggili’s election to CASE, explaining that he is one of only three faculty from the University of New Haven to be recognized by CASE, joining Dr. Harichandran, himself, and Dr. Henry C. Lee, a world-renowned forensic scientist who is the founder of the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences.

“Without them, I would definitely not be where I am.”Ibrahim Baggili, Ph.D.

“More and more faculty at the University of New Haven are developing the strong credentials in STEM disciplines to be elected to the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE),” said Dr. Harichandran. “I'm thrilled that Dr. Baggili is the third person from the University to be elected to CASE. Abe has developed an international reputation in cybersecurity based on his research, grants, and training activities, and he deserves this recognition. I hope to see more faculty from the University be elected to CASE in the years to come.”

‘I am indebted to them’

Individuals must meet several criteria in order to be elected to the organization, including achieving a certain level of distinction in the STEM fields through their contributions or their pioneering and accomplishing work in new or developing fields.

CASE was created in 1976 as a private nonprofit to advise the state’s leaders and politicians on STEM-related topics. It is a 200-member organization, serving in a similar capacity as the , providing technological and scientific advice and information for members of the state’s government.

The organization’s members receive funding from the and various state agencies to perform research. That research is considered necessary and important to shaping or understanding the scope of policy in Connecticut, leading to formal reports.

When considering what helped pave the way for him to earn this prestigious designation, Dr. Baggili says it was mostly the result of the support from loved ones, colleagues, students, and many others.

“Without them, I would definitely not be where I am,” he said. “I am indebted to them for the rest of my life.”