Dr. Saul Petersen, Executive Director
Dr. Petersen is our first full-time Executive Director. He most recently held the position of director of the Center for Community Research and Engagement at Seton Hall University. In that post, Dr. Petersen oversaw the coordination of all service-learning and community-based research on the campus. With his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the Graduate Center at CUNY and a Bachelors degree from Bard College in New York, Petersen has served as a consultant for Kingsborough Community College’s Center for Economic and Workforce Development and has held a number of teaching positions at both the graduate and undergraduate level in the areas of teacher supervision, child development, and educational psychology.
“Presently, there is both the momentum and opportunity to make great advances in institutional civic engagement practices,” said Dr. Petersen. “We will broaden our civic engagement partnerships to leverage the numerous civic leaders currently working in higher education. These leaders can be found across myriad departments throughout the state and so our work must focus on recognizing their contribution to campus wide engagement initiatives, while at the same time convening leaders to share and co-create capacity to build community and to inspire possibility.”
Katie Coutu, Program Manager
Ms. Coutu is the manger of our AmeriCorps programs along with office operations. Prior to becoming the Program manager, she was CTCC’s first AmeriCorps VISTA Leader.
Katie has her Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast and Electronic Communication from Marquette University in Wisconsin. She completed a year of AmeriCorps VISTA service with Habitat for Humanity of New York State, where she served as their Communications Specialist.
Brandon Cirillo, AmeriCorps VISTA Leader
Brandon started his Leader service with CTCC in July 2012. He will plan and implement VISTA training seminars, coordinating monthly and quarterly reports, maintaining a blog, and support and empower our VISTA team. He is also assisting our office in coordinating communications and maintaining website updates.
He previously served as a VISTA member with the CT Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, working with four different Clubs around the state. Brandon grew up in Michigan (a suburb of Detroit), completed his undergraduate studies in Environmental Science and Entrepreneurship at Miami University (Ohio).
Sam Rigotti, AmeriCorps VISTA Leader
Sam began his Leader service with us in February 2013. He will plan and implement VISTA trainings and Service Day events (MLK Day, AmeriCorps Week), assist in recruiting the 2013-14 VISTA group, coordinate monthly and quarterly reports, maintaining our VISTA blog, and support and empower our VISTA team. Sam is also assisting our office with financial development: research and grant coordination
Sam is from New Castle, PA. He is a 2010 graduate of Allegheny College with a B.A. in Environmental Studies. He also holds a Master’s degree in Legislative Affairs from The George Washington University. He previously served as a VISTA with the Bayfront Maritime Center in Erie, Pennsylvania. He enjoys biking, boating, and keeping up with political news.
