DIVISION OF STUDENT LIFE & ENROLLMENT
APPOINTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UCONN RECREATION
The Division of Student Life and Enrollment has appointed Jay Frain as the Executive Director of UConn Recreation. As the Executive Director, Jay will provide a strategic vision for the development, management, and fiscal administration of the University’s comprehensive collegiate recreation and wellness program. He will oversee multifaceted programmatic units, including Outdoor Adventure, Fitness and Wellness, Club Sports, and Competitive Sports, as well as manage a range of facilities, including exterior fields and venues. He will collaborate with colleagues throughout the Division of Student Life and Enrollment and other community stakeholders to ensure the delivery of high-quality recreational wellness programs and services to the UConn community, in alignment with institutional goals and priorities.
Over the last 20 years, Jay has led UConn Recreation in multiple professional capacities, including Assistant Director for Outdoor Adventure and Fitness/Wellness Programs, Associate Director for Programming, Director of Recreation, and Interim Executive Director. He played an integral role on the project team responsible for the development, design, and construction of UConn’s state-of-the-art recreation center. He also led the recruitment, hiring, and training of the expanded personnel team that successfully opened the building, which has served over 3.5 million participants since opening in 2019.
Beyond his primary responsibilities in Recreation, Jay has contributed to a variety of work teams and committees, including Technology Oversight, Divisional Assessment, Transportation, and Welcoming and Inclusive Communities. He has also served in regional and national leadership roles, including NIRSA CT/RI State Director, Chair of the NIRSA National Outdoor Program Committee, and founding board member of the Willimantic Whitewater Partnership. His work has been recognized by NIRSA with the 2001 National Service Award and by UConn with the 2016 Husky School Spirit Award. He was also part of the team that received the 2021 NIRSA Outstanding Facility Award, the 2021 Athletic Business Facility of Merit Award, and the 2020 AGC Build CT Large New Construction Award of Merit for the UConn Student Recreation Center.
Jay earned his Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Tennessee in 1995 and a Master of Science in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation from Middle Tennessee State University in 1998.
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DIVISION OF STUDENT LIFE & ENROLLMENT
APPOINTS DIRECTOR OF UCONN RECREATION
The Division of Student Life and Enrollment has appointed Michael D'Alfonso as the Director of UConn Recreation. In this role, Michael will provide broad departmental leadership, overseeing strategic initiatives to ensure that UConn Recreation continues to deliver an engaging and innovative recreational experience for the campus community.
Michael has been a valued leader within UConn Recreation since 2005, serving in multiple pivotal roles that have significantly contributed to the department’s growth and the development of a wide range of programming initiatives. His career began during graduate school, with a focus on Fitness, Wellness, and Outdoor programming. Upon joining the team full-time in 2005, he served as Coordinator for Fitness. Since then, he has held roles as Assistant Director for Fitness and Wellbeing, Associate Director for Programming and Special Events, and most recently, Senior Associate Director for UConn Recreation. Over the years, his responsibilities have expanded to include oversight of Special Events, the Adventure Center, Climbing Center, Marketing & Digital Media, and Technology.
Michael played an integral role on the planning and design team for the Student Recreation Center, completed in 2019. His expertise in fitness, programming, and technology proved invaluable during the facility’s development, particularly in leading the move-management and equipment procurement teams to ensure a seamless transition. He has also developed a robust portfolio of community engagement and signature collaborative events—including Oozeball, Huskies Forever 5K, Husky Run & Ruck, Road Dogs, and Sunset Yoga—which have become staples in UConn’s traditional programming.
Michael earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Kinesiology from the University of Connecticut in 2000 and 2002, respectively.
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For more information, contact: Cyndi Costanzo at cynthia.costanzo@uconn.edu