Meet the Team

Joseph (Joe) Catrino leads a team of highly dedicated professionals within the Trinity College Career & Life Design Center, who represent the offices of Career & Life Design, International Students and Scholars, and Retention Strategy & Transition Programs. Joe’s expertise includes his focus on life design and design thinking work, in which he encourages individuals to be innovative in their ability to problem-solve, especially as it relates to planning and executing personal and professional life goals. Through his teaching and knowledge of the “design thinking” framework, Joe has been instrumental in transforming the way students think and problem-solve their career goals. Recently, Joe collaborated with other professionals on a new Career Development textbook, Mapping the Future of Undergraduate Career Education: Equitable Career Learning, Development, and Preparation in the New World of Work. Joe’s chapter, Design Thinking and the New Career Center, discusses the origins of design thinking in career development and describes the growing popularity of life design as an approach to career preparation.

Joe has over 20 years of experience in higher education, in various capacities including admissions, enrollment, marketing, and career development, at institutions such as Quinnipiac University, Yale University, and the University of Hartford. Since Joe joined Trinity in 2015, he has strategically collaborated with colleagues across campus to identify and implement creative and forward-thinking programs and initiatives that address evolving employment and education trends, such as connecting the liberal arts to real-world success, and fully supporting the College’s mission. Joe serves as an agent of change and continues to represent Trinity in a progressive way by sharing his passion for design thinking, personal branding, and preparing students for the future of work, through his presenting at various conferences across the U.S., in addition to instructing a first-year seminar and delivering lectures for various college courses. 

Joe holds an MBA from Quinnipiac University, an M.A. in communication from the University of Hartford, and a B.A. in history and communications/public relations from Marist College. Joe is pursuing a PhD in Instructional Systems & Workforce Development at Mississippi State University. 

Hello, I’m Cat! I design flyers, create social media posts, manage the website, and make sure the Center has all the marketing materials they need! My practice has an emphasis on balance and legibility. 

Education: Bachelor of Arts from Hampshire College for Multimedia Design.

My Professional “Superpower”: I am a very honest and open communicator, treating everyone with kindness is a fundamental part of who I am.

Why do I enjoy working at the Career & Life Design Center? I love the opportunity to be creative everyday and work amongst wonderful people!

Hobbies: I love experimenting with any kind of art- drawing, scrapbooking, photoshopping, etc!

Favorite Quote: “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make” -Jane Goodall

Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Food: Elote

Fun Fact: Most of my friends call me “Cat” and I happen to have 3 cats.

Hello, I’m Katie! I advise international students on their personal, academic, and cultural transitions to Trinity College and the U.S. I have worked at Trinity since August 2013. In 2016, I was selected to participate in the Fulbright International Education Administrator’s Seminar in Japan. I have spent time living abroad in Sicily, London, and Bulgaria.  Connect with Katie on Handshake!

Education: Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Elon University, Masters of Education in Higher Education Administration with a Certificate in International Education from Kent State University

My Professional “Superpower”: Public Speaking, Content Expert in Immigration, Very Empathetic, Flexible Problem Solver, Remembers Names Easily

Why do I enjoy working at the Career & Life Design Center? THE PEOPLE. Everyone who works here is interesting and fun.

Hobbies: Traveling, trying new foods, football (not the American kind), films, trivia

Favorite Quote: “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow just as well.” – Mark Twain

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite Candy: All things chocolate!

Fun Fact: I cannot whistle correctly.

Hello, I’m John! I’m here to support my team and you! As an administrator, I have over 10 years’ experience supporting teams in various industries, as well as C-suite executives. Utilizing organization and efficiency, I thrive on formulating solutions for challenging problems, supporting complex schedules, and working in a fast-paced environment. Prior to my administrative career, I was in management for several years honing my skill sets from corporate America to small nonprofits.

Education: BA in Psychology (University of Connecticut)

My Professional “Superpower”: Tenacity.

Why do I enjoy working at the Career & Life Design Center? I enjoy being able to work behind the scenes, supporting a team that is making a profound impact in the lives of our students.

Hobbies: Walking my dogs, exercising, and beginning to learn chess.

Favorite Quote: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle

Favorite Color:  Blue Metallic

Favorite Food: Lasagna

Fun Fact: I am a big fan of classic TV shows and movies, possessing a wealth of useless knowledge on the subject.

Hello, I’m Maria! I coach and advise students on different aspects of their college journey and beyond (life design, career, immigration, and navigating the overall student experience). I work with the colleagues across the Career & Life Design Center and with campus partners to develop structures and initiatives to uphold the vision of empowering our international and domestic students and graduates to be active agents in designing their Trinity College experiences and careers at Trinity and beyond, and to use their liberal arts education to adapt to and transform the future of work around the world and live and lead as global citizens. I am a proud Trinity first-generation international alumna, and was very involved on campus during my Trinity journey as a student. After graduation, I decided to work at my alma mater, where I took on various roles within the Bantam Network. Before making my move back to higher education recently, I worked in the hospitality industry as a director of marketing and communication, and in the consulting industry, as a strategy and management consultant, where I had the opportunity to work with clients from across the globe. I am excited to continue to work with students to help them navigate their journey to, during, and after Trinity.

Education: Master’s degree in Public Policy; Bachelor’s of Science degree in Economics and Computer Science

My Professional “Superpower”: Uncover other people’s superpowers

Why do I enjoy working at the Career & Life Design Center? Getting to know individual students and learning about their stories and who they are at different stages of their Trinity journey as well as partner with them to build their own journey here at Trinity and beyond and see them thrive, and empower others in the process of their own empowerment.

Hobbies: Dancing, hiking, reading books about self-development, and hanging out with family and friends.

Favorite Quote: “Don’t count the days; make the days count.” – Muhammad Ali

Favorite Color: Ultramarine Blue

Favorite Candies: Dark Chocolate, Swedish fish

Unique Talent: I love languages and constantly want to learn new ones. I speak 6 languages and I’m trying to learn Spanish now, so please help me practice!

Hello, I’m Paul! I support alumni with highly responsive and strategic guidance in all their career search endeavors, whether it be as they seek their first career role, transition to a new job and/or industry, or further their education by gaining admission into graduate degree or Ph.D. programs. My career is really four careers rolled into one. The first 10 years were devoted to learning everything about the golf industry. After my time in Malaysia participating in the U.S. Peace Corps, I earned my MBA and then went on to work for 14 years in strategic planning, financial research and analysis, new business development, mergers and acquisitions and product marketing with three Fortune 500 organizations. Since that time and over the past 25 years, I started and managed my own management consulting firm where I advised executives of government agencies and small businesses, and then diversified into roles in higher education where I designed curricula for and taught numerous college courses in entrepreneurship, business and management, counseled students on career management, helped launch Wesleyan University’s Social Entrepreneurship Center, and even served as the Interim Associate Dean at Central Connecticut State University, School of Business. My most recent higher education experience is as a Career Counselor with UConn’s Master of Science in Business Analytics & Project Management program, and prior to that worked at the UConn Center for Career Development, where I served students and alumni from the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, School of Nursing and School of Pharmacy. Connect with Paul on Handshake!

Education: A.S. B.S. in Agronomy (University of Massachusetts); MBA (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute); M.S. in Public Policy (Trinity College)

My Professional “Superpower”: Visualizing a problem from A-Z

Why do I enjoy working at the Career & Life Design Center? I get to work with colleagues who are dedicated to their craft in support of our diverse and talented alumni.

Hobbies: landscape gardening, playing basketball, and going to concerts

Favorite Quote: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”  – Sir Winston Churchill

Favorite Color: Indigo

Favorite Foods/Beverage: Any one of the three basic food groups: ice cream, wine, pizza

Fun Fact:  Despite a half century of horticulture training and experience I find it ironic that I still have a hard time growing a nice front lawn. 🙂 (See my favorite quote.)

Hello, I’m Lisel! I support students as they explore college transitions, career opportunities and the internship/job search process. While I meet with all students on topics related to life design and those in the exploratory stage of their major/career, I also focus on students interested in pursuing opportunities in Business, Finance, and Consulting. I have worked in education throughout my career, and my background includes work as a Career Advisor for undergraduate business students at the McCombs School of Business, The University of Texas at Austin. I have two daughters in college and enjoy bringing my perspective, both as a career professional and parent, to the students of Trinity College.

Education: Bachelor of Arts in History, Minor in Art History

My Professional “Superpower”: Active Listener/Empathetic

Why do I enjoy working at the Career & Life Design Center? The students!

Hobbies: Spending time with my daughters

Favorite quote: “You don’t get what you don’t ask for.” – Anonymous

Favorite color: Blue

Favorite Candy: Peanut M&M’s

Fun Fact: I have a twin brother who lives in Singapore!

Roberta’s career centers on identifying and interceding on behalf of observed trends and helping constituents effectively navigate transitions. Roberta has developed and implemented robust orientation and transition, student leadership, and peer mentor training programs and implemented a strategic plan for Retention Strategy & Transition Programs. She mentors and supervises both professional and student staff and though she supports all students and families at Trinity, Roberta is steeped in experience with transfer, first-generation, post-traditional, student-athletes, and high-achieving students. As Trinity College’s Director of Retention Strategy & Transition Programs, Roberta is the architect of Trinity’s retention strategy, collaborating with key divisions to continue the cultivation of a data-informed retention eco-system. Roberta is deeply connected to the mission and power of higher education and is not only a Trinity alum (Bachelor’s and Master’s), but she is also a ‘legacy’ (Roberta’s mother graduated among the first class of women at Trinity ’73) and is the parent of a student-athlete from the class of ’18. #ProudBantFam

Hello, I’m Sev! I work with employers from a variety of industries and sectors – and often alumni – to generate internships and jobs that are right for Trinity students, enabling them to lay strong foundations for their professional lives. I came to Trinity in 2014 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and television production. After college, I joined ABC News as a production assistant, advancing to coordinating producer on such programs as PrimeTime Live, The Century with Peter Jennings, and Hopkins 24/7. At ESPN/ABC Sports, I moved into finance and operational roles, overseeing teams covering the PGA Tour, the X Games, Thoroughbred horse racing events including the Belmont Stakes and Breeders’ Cup, national and international figure skating championships, and two NFL Super Bowls.

Education: BS in Mass Communications with a concentration in Marketing Management, Boston University

My Professional “Superpower”: steel-trap memory

Why do I enjoy working at the Career & Life Design Center? There’s a success story every day.

Hobbies: white-water rafting, hiking, biking

Favorite Color: blue

Favorite Dessert: chocolate cupcakes with white icing

Fun Fact: I once spilled a huge cup of coffee on TV anchor Diane Sawyer!