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 both his presenting at various conferences across the U.S. as well as teaching first-year seminar 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 Olivia! I serve in a holistic, multi-functional role within the Career & Life Design Center, managing all operational logistics and overall marketing strategy, along with creative development of the Center’s brand. In addition to leading the team of Career & Life Design Interns, I collaborate with colleagues to gather and assess student and alumni engagement data, employ best practices with regard to systems, and communicate Career & Life Design services and programming through the Center’s new website. My career has included roles within both academic and corporate spheres as well as entrepreneurship! My greatest impacts most often are centralized around my passion for mentoring and dedication to continuous improvement. My desire to continue meaningful work in higher education continues to grow, and I am grateful to be part of an industrious team at Trinity College.

Education: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (both from Western New England University) 

My Professional “Superpower”: Having an optimistic outlook!

Why do I enjoy working at the Career & Life Design Center? I enjoy working in an innovative and collaborative space, where I get to cultivate an exceptional student and overall guest experience.

Hobbies: Party planning; Seasonal activities with family & friends!

Favorite Quote: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou

Favorite Color: Pink! 💖

Favorite Candy: Peanut M&M’s

Fun Fact: I ran a half marathon in 2013!

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 Chloe! I meet with a wide variety of students interested in pursuing many different paths. I also meet with students who would like to learn more about the pre-law track and how they can work towards that goal. My background includes working in state government, where I worked as a legislative liaison for Governor Ned Lamont. I have a passion for public policy, education, and civic engagement. I am excited to work with students, faculty, and staff in the Career & Life Design Center and be part of the Trinity College community.

Education: Bachelor of Science in International Business, Master of Arts in International Relations

My Professional “Superpower”: time management

Why do I enjoy working at the Career & Life Design Center? I love meeting so many new people, students, employers, and helping students achieve their goals.

Hobbies: running, cooking, baking

Favorite Quote: “I knew exactly what to do. But in a much more real sense, I had no idea what to do.” — Michael Scott

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Food: sushi

Fun Fact: In grad school, I studied abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France, where I lived with a French family for a year.

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 Katie! I organize and lead several major initiatives within the Career & Life Design Center: overseeing all administrative duties, social media marketing, the Internship for Credit Program, and the Catalyst Summer and Weingarten Cross-Cultural Internship Funds. Prior to joining Trinity College, I held administrative leadership roles within both the retail and private sectors.

Education: BA in Cultural Anthropology from Central Connecticut State University, and MSc in Forensic Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh

My Professional “Superpower”: Organization

Why do I enjoy working at the Career & Life Design Center? I love my job at The Center because it allows me to inspire and guide students on their career journeys, helping them achieve their dreams and reach their full potential.

Hobbies: Running, cooking/baking/hosting dinner parties with friends, gardening, reading, puzzles, hiking and adventuring with my husband and dog, especially in VT and ME.

Favorite Quote: “Oy with the poodles already!” – Lorelai Gilmore

Favorite Color: Olive green

Favorite Food: Macaroni and cheese

Fun Fact: I have been a vegetarian my entire life!

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 Peter! I provide guidance and structure for a range of student services offered by the Career & Life Design Center, including coaching appointments, internships, entry-level jobs, alumni coaching, staff orientation/training/onboarding, and programming. As an educator, professionally trained life coach, and administrator, I specialize in experiential learning strategies that contribute towards the development of intercultural competence, moral imagination, and socially responsible leadership among college students and early career professionals. I believe that a sound education should not only make people good at what they do, but also in who they are. Prior to joining Trinity College, I worked in different capacities at Miami University of Ohio and University of San Diego, managing study away and study abroad programs. I have also mentored students and scholars from the Americas, Africa and Asia in various international internship, fellowship, and exchange programs. As an avid Life Design educator, I have facilitated ‘Designing Your Life’ workshops both in-person and virtually to international audiences. In the academic sphere, I have taught leadership and management courses at the International Leadership University-Kenya and in the Leadership Minor at the University of San Diego. Connect with Peter on Handshake!

Education: B.Sc.(Computer Science), M.A. (Leadership Studies), PhD (Leadership Studies)

My Professional “Superpower”: My professional superpower is people development.

Why do I enjoy working at the Career & Life Design Center? I get a lot of fulfillment from coaching students to release their potential and discover ways to live a life of meaning in the service of others.

Hobbies: I like to ride my bike and attend live music shows and theatre productions.

Favorite Quote: “Thoughts untangle themselves passing through lips and pencil tips.” – Dawson Trotman

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Food: Barbecue

Unique Talent: I speak 4 languages.

Ruby Matheny (she/hers) is a proud first-generation college graduate. She has a passion for equity, inclusion, and community building which she channels into her work in higher education. While Ruby studied Political Science and Philosophy in her undergrad (MSU Denver), she remained determined to positively shape the world through high-impact practices in higher education. Ruby has worked in new student orientation, data, internship management, relationship management, life design, diversity and equity/antiracism, and career development. At Trinity, Ruby serves as the Internship Coordinator. Alongside the Career & Life Design Team, she implemented the new Internship+ model, Handshake Experience, and accompanying course. She serves as the faculty of note for all of the internship for credit experiences. In her spare time, Ruby is a mom, an avid reader, audiophile, writer, artist, camper, exercise enthusiast, and is always looking to contribute to the relief of suffering in the world. Connect with Ruby on Handshake!

Eily joined the Career & Life Design team in February 2022 as the Summit Fellow for Retention Strategy and Transition Programs. At Trinity, she is contributing to the team by working with Roberta Rogers in supporting retention efforts and helping students navigate transitions. Eily received her bachelor’s degree in Urban and Community Studies from the University of Connecticut. While she attended UConn, Eily enjoyed being a Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor and playing club ice hockey. In her free time, Eily enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing hockey, going for walks, watching British crime dramas, and going to the beach in the summer. She is very excited to be a part of the Career Life & Design team at Trinity and is looking forward to helping students adjust and experience all that Trinity has to offer.

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!