Meet the SPP Staff

April 8, 2024

The School of Public Policy (SPP) staff can be found year-round serving members of our Network. Recently our team expanded outside of our Hartford home at UConn Hartford to UConn Stamford. Learn more about our incredible team below!

Catherine Guarino

Catherine Guarino: Director of Student and Academic Affairs

Education

  • BA, Social Science, Providence College
  • MPA, University of Connecticut
  • Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management, University of Connecticut

Professional Experience

  • Administrative Program Director, UConn School of Public Policy
  • Advising and Orientation Coordinator, UConn Hartford Campus
  • Academic Advisor, UConn Hartford Campus

Catherine Guarino is the Director of Student and Academic Affairs for the School of Public Policy. In this role, Catherine directs enrollment management, outreach, and student services functions for the School. She is also the instructor for PP 5372 Capstone Portfolio and the School liaison with the Pi Pi Alpha Honor Society. Prior to joining SPP, Catherine worked in the Office of Student Services at UConn Hartford coordinating the advising and orientation programs for undergraduate students. She also taught two courses in UConn’s First Year Experience program: UNIV 1800 University Learning Skills and UNIV 1820 Study Skills. Catherine earned her Master of Public Administration and Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from UConn in 2010.

Ryan BaldassarioRyan Baldassario: Director of Engagement

Education

  • BA, Political Science, Central Connecticut State University
  • MA, Higher Education and Student Affairs, University of Connecticut
  • Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management, University of Connecticut

Professional Experience

  • Program Coordinator/Administrator, University of Connecticut Full-Time MBA Program
  • Graduate Assistant, University of Connecticut Neag School of Education
    District Aide, US House of Representatives (CT-05)

Ryan Baldassario is the Director of Engagement for the School of Public Policy. In this role, Ryan manages a number of professional development, outreach, and external relations efforts. Ryan will also instruct internship courses and oversee the Internship and Professional Practice (IPP) program, along with the Public Sector Executive Leadership Collaborative.

Prior to joining SPP, Ryan spent six years administering the Full-Time MBA program at the UConn School of Business – overseeing advising, orientation, faculty scheduling, student club advising, and event management efforts for graduate business students. Ryan has also taught a number of sections of UNIV 1800 FYE courses in Hartford and Storrs, along with Field Study Internship courses in the School of Business.

Ryan earned his undergraduate degree from the Honors Program at CCSU, and his MA in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the Neag School of Education at UConn.

Wade GibbsWade Gibbs: Administrative Coordinator

Education

  • BS, University of Connecticut, Management Information Systems, 2000
  • Graduate Certificate in Public Financial Management, University of Connecticut, 2015

Professional Experience

  • Program Assistant, Center for Students with Disabilities, University of Connecticut

Wade Gibbs is the Administrative Coordinator in the School of Public Policy (SPP). He earned his Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from UConn’s School of Business in 2000 and his Graduate Certificate in Public Financial Management from UConn in 2015. Wade was formerly the Program Assistant in UConn’s Center for Students with Disabilities until joining the DPP in July 2012.

He manages a variety of financial and administrative tasks for the SPP and also served as the Editorial Assistant for the Public Budgeting & Finance journal, an internationally renowned journal published quarterly providing analysis of budget processes, policy and financial management, from 2013-2017.

Maura Maloney

Maura Maloney: Operations Coordinator

Education

  • Encore!Hartford, School of Public Policy, University of Connecticut
  • Certificate of Achievement, Project Management, Villanova University
  • BS, Electrical Engineering, University of Massachusetts

Professional Experience

  • Event Coordinator, The Bushnell, Hartford, CT
  • Principal Business Operations Analyst, ESPN, Bristol, CT
  • Sr. Director, Transmission, ESPN, Bristol, CT

Maura Maloney is the Operations Coordinator for the School of Public Policy. In this role, Maura oversees departmental events as well as the department calendar.  Maura is experienced in coordinating meetings, training sessions, STEMfests and events.  While at ESPN, Maura co-created and led the ESPN Women in Technology Group which offered networking, development and support opportunities for women in technology.  She supported HR recruitment by creating and implementing a year-round technology internship program with a focus on diversity and created an on-boarding process and tour for new employees.  Maura collaborated with HR to consolidate and update technology job descriptions as well as develop an annual training and development calendar.

Maura graduated from Encore!Hartford in the fall of 2018 and now assists in the coordination of the Encore! Program as part of her SPP duties.

Bryan Callender: Outreach Coordinator

Education

  • BS, Marketing, Central Connecticut State University

Professional Experience

  • Outreach Coordinator & Executive Assistant, Goodwin University – Goodwin University Magnet Schools
  • University Assistant, Central Connecticut State University- Office of TRiO Programs at CCSU

Bryan Callender is the Outreach Coordinator for the School of Public Policy. He manages the SPP outreach efforts and assists prospective students from initial inquiry to application submission.

Bryan specializes in creating vibrant digital and print recruitment campaigns. He is passionate about using his marketing abilities to grow awareness about social causes and public policy-related issues. Prior to joining the SPP, Bryan spent four years in higher education settings assisting in marketing and recruitment efforts for pre-collegiate programs.

Bryan obtained his undergraduate degree at Central Connecticut State University and is currently pursuing his Master of Public Policy.

Rosie Enyart: Program Coordinator (Stamford)

Education

  • BA, Human Development and Family Studies, University of Connecticut

Professional Experience

  • Violence Prevention Coordinator, YWCA Greenwich
  • Prevention Educator, The Rowan Center
  • Project Consultant, UConn Center for Applied Research

Rosie Enyart is the Program Coordinator of Stamford Programs for the School of Public Policy (SPP). In this role, Rosie manages the recruitment, marketing, and coordination for the School of Public Policy’s Master of Public Administration executive-track and undergraduate Fast-Track programs in Stamford.

Rosie is a passionate educator who believes social change can be achieved through critical community discourse. Before joining the SPP team, Rosie spent eight years serving survivors of domestic and sexual violence through crisis intervention and community education. As a result of this work, Rosie is committed to maintaining a trauma-informed approach in her support of students.

Rosie graduated from the University of Connecticut’s Stamford campus with a B.A. in Human Development and Family Studies, and a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality studies.

David GarveyDavid Garvey: Director of Nonprofit Outreach and Adjunct Professor

Education

  • BA, University of Rhode Island, English
  • MBA, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
  • PhD, University of Connecticut, Educational Administration
  • Harvard University, Management Development Program

Teaching & Research Interests

  • Dynamics of nonprofit strategic networks
  • Communication in the nonprofit sector
  • Human resource capacity issues of the nonprofit sector

David Garvey, Ph.D., is the Director of Partnership and Compliance of Career Resources Inc.’s  WE RISE Together program, a statewide cross-sector employment initiative supported by the Connecticut Office of Workforce Strategy. The program brings together the services of Reentry Welcome Centers from across the state, nonprofits, and Connecticut Workforce Investment Boards in an innovative partnership focused on removing barriers and providing education leading to employment for the reentry population and other justice-involved communities.

Dr. Garvey is also the Director of the UConn School of Public Policy’s Nonprofit Outreach. Dr. Garvey has over twenty five years of experience as a practitioner, editor, researcher, teacher and education designer in the nonprofit field. Prior to joining the University of Connecticut, Garvey founded and was executive editor of the New England Nonprofit Quarterly, now known nationally as the Nonprofit Quarterly.

Dr. Garvey is the Director of the School of Public Policy’s Encore!Connecticut, an award-winning experience and skills transition program for age 50+ managers and professionals seeking an encore career in the nonprofit sector.  He is also the former Director of the School’s Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management and the Internship and Professional Practice (IPP) programs.

Candace FitzpatrickCandace Fitzpatrick: Alumni Relations & Development

Education

  • BSN, University of Virginia
  • MPA, University of Connecticut

Professional Experience

  • Interim Administrative Program Director, UConn Department of Public Policy
  • Grants Manager, Seraphic Fire, Inc.
  • Senior Projects Manager, Department of Public Policy, University of Connecticut
  • Adjunct Professor, Department of Public Policy, University of Connecticut

Candace earned her Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the UConn Department (now School) of Public Policy (DPP) in 2006.  She served as the SPP’s Senior Project Manager from 2006 to 2012 supporting independent research projects as well as faculty research projects.  Candace also taught “Leadership and Management of Nonprofit Organizations” as an adjunct faculty member in the SPP from 2010 to 2011.  She continues to provide support to the SPP as the part-time Director of Alumni Relations and Development.

Lian Kish

Lian Kish: Director of Social Media

Education

University of Connecticut

  • Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science
  • Masters of Public Administration
  • Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management

Professional Experience

  • University of Maryland – Assistant Director of Admissions
  • University of Connecticut – School of Public Policy
    • Director of Social Media
    • Social Media Coordinator
    • Outreach Coordinator
    • Outreach Specialist
    • Administrative Assistant

Lian Kish is the School of Public Policy’s (SPP) Director of Social Media. She manages the SPP social media accounts, website publications and newsletters.

Prior to earning her Masters of Public Administration, Lian was a SPP Fast-Track student. After graduation she began working with SPP full-time in the areas of outreach and admissions. In this capacity she assisted prospective students from initial inquiry through application submission. She also developed marketing campaigns and served as the school lead for social media and Slate Technoloutions. While in Hartford she served as the academic advisor for GAPPS-ICMA and a Career Champion for UConn’s Center for Career Development.

Currently Lian resides in the D.C. Metro area, but you can still find her seven days a week behind our social media. Have news to share? Let Lian know at sppmedia@uconn.edu.