Community Outreach
About Community Outreach
As a part of the Department of Student Activities, Community Outreach offers students opportunities to engage in service related activities that enhance the quality of life of others in the community while enriching their own learning experience at the University of Connecticut. Our website provides the UConn and local communities with information about initiatives and resources related to volunteerism, community service, service-learning, and community partnerships.
Community Outreach offers the following services:
- One-time and regular service programs that meet self-identified community needs.
- Volunteer and federal work-study positions in local human service agencies and schools.
- Professional and leadership development for participants and coordinators.
- Advising for individual students, student organizations, faculty and staff who desire assistance in developing a service-related project.
- A point of access for community partners wishing to engage the UConn student body in public and community service initiatives.
Staff Members
Community Outreach has two full-time staff and one graduate assistant who support the work of student coordinators, advise and assist students with community
service-related issues, and liaison with community based organizations. Full-time staff members are available by appointment or during regular office hours.
Matt Farley - Assistant Director for Community Outreach (Email)
Matt Farley joined the office on August 2003 replacing the retired Diane Wright as the Community Outreach Coordinator. Matt manages and oversees all of the
initiatives and services offered by Community Outreach. Matt has worked in various aspects of higher education including Residential Life, Campus Ministry, and
Academic Affairs. His primary experience is in developing and sustaining university-community partnerships and organizing community service learning initiatives.
Most recently, Matt was the Associate Director of the Program in Afterschool Education and Research at Harvard University's Graduate School of Education where he
directed the GEAR UP program, an early college awareness and preparation program for low–income youth in Boston.
Gina DeVivo Brassaw - Program Advisor (Email)
Gina joined the Community Outreach staff in January 2005. Gina oversees health and human service placements, the alternative breaks and immersion program, community service days and special projects for the office. Gina earned her Masters in Social Work from Uconn in 2002 with a concentration in community organizing and administration. She previously worked as a community organizer with The Caring Families Coalition in Hartford fighting for stronger health care provisions for Connecticut families. Gina has worked extensively with many local and national community organizations on advocacy issues and is still currently very involved with groups in the area. She is excited to work within the University setting to connect students with new service opportunities.
Miguel Colon - Program Coordinator (Email)
Miguel joined the CO staff in July 2007. He oversees the Youth Development & Education Programs for children and adolescents, the Community Service Learning Community, and CO’s transportation services. Miguel worked at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT for four years as the Assistant Director of Service-Learning and Volunteer Programs, as well as a director of an afterschool mentoring program. While at Sacred Heart he participated in more than 10 immersion programs in Connecticut, North Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi.
Megan Marshall - Program Coordinator (Email)
Meg joined the Community Outreach team in September 2007. Meg oversees all of our Language & Literacy semester long programs including America Reads, Jumpstart, and our ESL programs. Additionally, she directly manages all aspects of the Jumpstart program including volunteer recruitment, training, and reflections. Meg will also have significant program evaluation and administration duties associated with Jumpstart funding. She comes to the office having finished two years of service with the development and relief organization, Catholic Relief Services, where she worked with the human rights of migrants in El Salvador. Meg has volunteered and lived in several places around the world including Providence, Detroit, Belize and Guatemala. Now that she is back in the U.S., Meg is excited be to her home community, experience the passing of seasons and encourage those around her to get out in the world and serve.
Jodi Roth - Graduate Assistant (Email)
Jodi joined the Community Outreach team in August 2006 as the Graduate Assistant overseeing the Language and Literacy Programs and Public Relations. Jodi is currently a student in the Higher Education Student Affairs Master's program. She graduated from Colorado State University in 2004 with a degree in Sociology and a certificate in American Ethnicity Studies. She has spent the last two years as a JCSC Fellow (http://www.jcscfellowship.org/) working for Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life. Her primary focus was on first year programming, leadership students, Alternative Breaks and social justice initiatives. Jodi is thrilled to be working in with the Community Outreach team and is looking forward to an incredible two years at University of Connecticut.
Debby Blanchette- Secretary (Email)
Debby Blanchette, the office's administrative assistant is a major part of the Office of Community Outreach as she is well informed on the various activities
and initiatives that are in existence throughout the campus. Debby has been with the office for over ten years and has been at the University of Connecticut for over
26 years.
Student Leaders
Student leaders coordinate and direct community service initiatives throughout the year. For more information on what student leaders do, how to become a student leader, and who they are, please click here for more information.
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