Kim (Vozzo) Nickolenko ’96 has spent her career doing what she loves most, helping students discover their passions and prepare for life after college. After earning her BS in HDFR from UConn in 1996, Kim continued at UConn to earn her MA in Education while serving as a graduate assistant in the Higher Education and Student Affairs program. It was there that she realized she wanted to build a career supporting students in higher education.
As a UConn student, Kim was deeply involved in campus life. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, served as President of the Panhellenic Council, and mentored fellow students through the UConn Connects program. Those experiences helped shape her passion for leadership, mentorship, and student engagement.
Kim began her professional career at Fairfield University shortly after graduate school and has remained there for the past 28 years. Over the years, she has served in a variety of leadership roles within student affairs and career development. She has served as Director of Judicial Affairs, Assistant and Associate Dean of Students, Director of Internships and Student Support, and now serves as the Senior Director of Career Engagement. In her current role, she works closely with students on everything from resumes and interviews to internships and job searches. She also oversees career programming, develops partnerships with alumni and employers, and manages funding opportunities that support internships, research, and experiential learning.
Kim and her husband Brian, also a UConn alum, live in Hamden with their family. Their daughter Abigail recently graduated from UConn’s School of Business, and their son Tyler just completed his first year at UMASS Amherst. Lifelong fans of UConn Huskies basketball, Kim and Brian have proudly held season tickets since graduating from UConn and have attended several NCAA championship games over the years. When she’s not working with students, Kim enjoys spending time with family, traveling and cheering on UConn basketball.