Whitney Losapio

Executive Director

Undergraduate Programs

Dr. Whitney Losapio has worked for UConn’s College of Engineering since 2014 and serves as a Dean’s Designee, supports the College’s ABET accreditation, and oversees the College’s advising system, promoting student success, equity, and engagement from orientation to graduation and beyond. Dr. Losapio’s research on the role of the academic advisor helped to define and inform Engineering’s advising mission, vision, and goals. Dr. Losapio has co-chaired University Advising Council since 2021. Dr. Losapio’s current research interests are in academic advising, organizational systems, leadership and teamwork, engineering education, cognitive coaching, and emotional and self-regulation. Dr. Losapio was nominated for Outstanding Undergraduate Advisor of the Year in 2018, 2019, and 2021.

Dr. Losapio teaches first-year experience courses for the Engineering House Learning Community along with a doctoral course for the NEAG School of Education’s Educational Leadership Department. Dr. Losapio previously taught the Engineering Student Success Seminar and Peer Mentor course. Dr. Losapio has been a guest lecturer for ENGR 1000: Orientation to Engineering, the UConn Connects Mentor course, the Engineering Peer Advisor Program, and the Engineering Tutoring Center. In 2017, Dr. Losapio won UConn’s First Year Experience Instructor of the Year Award.

Prior to coming to UConn, Dr. Losapio worked for a non-profit college access program in upstate New York. Dr. Losapio also has experience in the following higher education functional areas across a variety of institutional types: academic coaching and support, student conduct, off-campus and commuter services, residence life, summer bridge programs, and international admissions. Dr. Losapio initially became interested in educating students outside of the classroom as a camp counselor and ropes course instructor at Holiday Hill Day Camp in Mansfield, CT and as a karate instructor at Villari’s Martial Arts in Windham, CT.

Dr. Losapio graduated summa cum laude from the UConn Honors Program with a BA in Italian and English and a minor in Classics (Latin). Dr. Losapio has an MS from Syracuse University in Higher Education and an Ed.D from UConn in Educational Leadership.

Dr. Losapio is a second-degree blackbelt, beekeeper, crocheter, reader, yogi, and cat mom.