Dear UConn community,

It is with great sadness that I share that professor Lisa Sanetti passed away last week. Some of you may be aware that Dr. Sanetti was battling an illness, but this news is still shocking to us all. My heart is heavy as we mourn the loss of such an extraordinary friend, researcher, teacher, and mentor.

Dr. Sanetti joined our School Psychology program and Educational Psychology department in 2007. In her nearly 20 years at the Neag School, she had become a nationally renowned expert in implementation science, educator well-being, and school-based mental health. Her dedication to the field and exemplary scholarship earned her both the Lightner Witmer Early Career Award and Thomas Oakland Mid-Career Award from the American Psychological Association. She was also recognized as a Fellow of the APA and a member of the Society for the Study of School Psychology.

In addition to being an award-winning researcher, Dr. Sanetti was also an amazing teacher and was named a University of Connecticut Teaching Fellow in 2015-2016. This prestigious honor highlighted her unparalleled commitment to her students, many of whom have embarked on impactful careers thanks to her guidance. A true champion for all educators, Dr. Sanetti innately understood how teacher well-being affects students and how implementation science can improve the impact of interventions in real-world settings, influencing public health and student achievement.

I offer my deepest condolences to the Sanetti family, as well as Dr. Sanetti’s School Psychology program colleagues, students, and alumni. You can read more about her life and legacy, and ways to honor her, on the Vincent Funeral Home website. Calling hours will be held on Aug. 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Vincent Funeral Home in Simsbury, Connecticut. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Aug. 23 at 10 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in West Simsbury.

This is a profoundly sad day as we all grieve a beloved member of the Neag School and our UConn community, so please offer each other love and support during this difficult time. The University’s mental health support services are also available to all, so I encourage you to visit Student Health and Wellness or the Employee Assistance Program as needed.

Sincerely,

Jason G. Irizarry
Dean and Professor
Neag School of Education