STORRS, CT – The University of Connecticut is pleased to announce a transformative $15 million commitment from longtime supporters Denis and Britta Nayden that will establish The Nayden Center for Academic Excellence within the Bailey Student-Athlete Success Center. This significant investment represents one of the largest private gifts in the university’s history.
The Naydens, both UConn alumni, have maintained a deep connection to the university throughout their successful careers.
“UConn provided us with the foundation for our success, and we believe deeply in the power of education to transform lives,” said Denis Nayden. “Britta and I are committed to ensuring that future generations of UConn student-athletes have access to exceptional academic resources and support systems that empower them to reach their highest potential both on and off the field.”
The Nayden Center for Academic Excellence will serve as a cornerstone of UConn’s commitment to student-athlete success. The $15 million gift will be dedicated to facility development, programming, and providing diverse services and endowed scholarships that will allow the student-athlete population to thrive, directly benefiting UConn student-athletes for generations to come.
Their commitment will help fund the Bailey Student-Athlete Success Center, which completely reimagines over 77,000 square feet of the existing field house footprint. At the core of this transformative project, the 12,000 square foot academic center will become the home for holistic development, academic accomplishment, and well-being for every student-athlete at UConn. This comprehensive space will facilitate learning, testing, meeting, tutoring, and all academic activities.
The Naydens’ gift will make possible goals for UConn’s nearly 600 student-athletes, including improved graduation success rates (GSR), higher grade point averages (GPA), enhanced testing capabilities, early academic intervention programs, and strategic staffing. The funding will also strengthen reporting structures and improve campus partnerships to elevate student-athlete care and achievement across all sports.
“UConn expresses heartfelt gratitude for the generous support from Dennis and Britta Nayden, whose commitment to this esteemed university has been extraordinary,” says President Radenka Maric. “For many years, they have stood by us, and their unwavering dedication will ensure that generations of student-athletes flourish both in their academic pursuits and athletic endeavors at the University of Connecticut. These opportunities will provide lasting benefits throughout their lives, well beyond their time at UConn. This investment reflects a strong commitment to both the present and the future.”
“The impact of this gift extends far beyond the physical building,” said Director of Athletics David Benedict. “The Nayden Center will transform how we support our student-athletes academically, setting new standards for excellence and enabling us to implement innovative approaches to student success that will benefit Huskies for decades to come.”
In recognition of this leadership gift, the UConn Foundation and the Division of Athletics will recommend that the University’s Board of Trustees name the academic center as The Nayden Center for Academic Excellence. The impact of this transformative gift will be visible throughout the campus community through prominently displayed signage within the Bailey Student-Athlete Success Center.
Additionally, the Division of Athletics will annually celebrate student-athletes who achieve a grade point average above 3.00 for the semester as “Nayden Scholars,” establishing the premier academic recognition for UConn Athletics.
The Nayden Center will transform how we support our student-athletes academically, setting new standards for excellence and enabling us to implement innovative approaches to student success that will benefit Huskies for decades to come
About Denis and Britta Nayden
Denis and Britta Nayden’s UConn story began when they met at a dance at Hill Top during their student years. Denis, born in Annapolis, Maryland, grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, earned a B.A., Magna Cum Laude in 1976, and an MBA in finance from UConn in 1977. Britta, born and raised in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, graduated Summa Cum Laude from UConn in 1976 from the College of Agriculture, Health & Natural Resources with a degree in Physical Therapy.
The couple married in December 1977 and have shared more than 47 years together and currently reside in Jupiter, Florida. They have two children, Kelly and Eric.
The Naydens began their philanthropic relationship with UConn in 1988 and have made the university a longtime priority in their giving over the decades. Their generosity has extended across multiple schools and athletic programs, with a particular focus on helping young people succeed through various scholarship funds.
Beyond their significant contributions to UConn, the Naydens are committed philanthropists supporting numerous Connecticut based organizations including Catholic Charities of Connecticut, Thomas Merton Center, Malta House, St. Catherine Center for Special Needs, buildOn (having contributed to the construction of over 2,000 schools in the world’s poorest regions), Kids in Crisis, Save the Children, American Red Cross disaster relief efforts, and many other charitable causes.
Mr. Nayden served on the UConn Board of Trustees from 2001 through June 2019, serving on UConn’s Compensation Committee and was Chairman of UConn’s Audit Committee. Mr. Nayden was a member of the UConn Foundation Board and co-chaired UConn’s first ever capital campaign which raised over $400MM. Mr. Nayden is on the UConn School of Business Advisory Board.
He is Chairman of James Alpha Holdings, LLC, a privately held diversified asset management and financial services company. Mr. Nayden is Chairman at Harkness Capital Partners, a private equity fund. He is the Vice Chairman and Lead Independent Director at Avolon Holdings Limited, an international aircraft leasing company. He also serves on the Global Board of buildOn (a non-profit organization).
Mr. Nayden was formerly a Managing Partner of Oak Hill Capital partners, a private equity fund, from 2003 through 2017. While at Oak Hill Capital, he was the chair of numerous companies Oak Hill controlled.
Prior to joining Oak Hill Capital, he was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at GE Capital, where he was responsible for 20 separate businesses representing $555 billion of aggregate assets and 90,000 employees in 35 countries in the world. After graduating from UConn Business School, he started as a marketing administrator and worked his way up to Chairman.