UConn Professor Charged With Stealing $58,000 for Personal Trips

STORRS, Conn. — Sherry Lynn Zane, a 56-year-old assistant professor at the University of Connecticut, was charged with first-degree larceny after allegedly misusing over $58,000 in university funds for personal travel between 2021 and 2023.

The university conducted an internal investigation that revealed Zane submitted false information regarding trips to several destinations, including Disney World and Ireland, where she had personal ties. The investigation, which began after an anonymous tip regarding suspicious claims, identified 19 trips totaling 187 days during which Zane purportedly did not claim any personal time.

According to a report released by UConn officials on February 28, Zane’s travel expenses were substantially higher than justified by her stated research purposes. For instance, travel expenses included meals that lacked identifiable recipients and other charges that appeared to be modified or fabricated receipts.

“Dr. Zane expensed trips where there were no actual planned business activities and then provided information or created documentation after the fact to justify the expenses incurred by the university,” the report stated. UConn officials confirmed that 12 of her trips occurred while she was assigned to teach, and that the expenses were not in compliance with university travel policies.

Among the trips listed in the report was a July 2021 excursion to Orlando, Florida, where Zane claimed to be visiting the Central Florida State Archives but later admitted to university investigators that she did not do so. “It’s not uncommon for people to say they are going to go do one thing and then end up going to do another,” Zane purportedly said during the investigation.

Additionally, Zane reportedly attended her daughter’s graduation and wedding during trips to Ireland without disclosing the personal nature of these events. The investigation also pointed out that Zane charged the university for family vacations while justifying them as research trips.

Court records show that after being placed on administrative leave in November 2024, Zane turned herself in to UConn police on February 13, 2025, and was released on a $10,000 non-surety bond. She appeared in Rockville Superior Court on February 26 but did not enter a plea. The case has been continued until April 4.

UConn President Radenka Maric issued a statement reaffirming the university’s commitment to ethical standards and compliance. “UConn takes its ethics and compliance responsibilities very seriously, and it is critical that we always hold ourselves and our workforce to the highest standards of accountability,” Maric said.

The university is also reevaluating its travel policies and increasing oversight to prevent future occurrences of misuse of funds.