CSCU Names Regional Workforce Development and Fiscal Officers

The community college regional presidents of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system — Dr. Rob Steinmetz, Regional President, Capital-East; Dr. James Lombella, Regional President, North-West; and Dr. Thomas Coley, Regional President, Shoreline-West — announced the selection of three Chief Regional Workforce Development Officers and three Chief Regional Fiscal Officers with responsibility for their respective regions. 

The Chief Regional Workforce Development Officers, who start on July 6, will be responsible for the creation and administration of comprehensive workforce development strategies and initiatives that will serve the needs of students/job seeker and the region’s business community. The Chief Regional Fiscal Officers, who began their work in May, will be responsible for regional strategic budget planning and development, fiscal administration and reporting, accounting, and finance services. Both positions will work closely with the campuses in the regions to secure and maximize resources and build partnerships with state, regional and local entities. 

Capital-East Region

Diane Bordonaro and Jennifer Gray were chosen for the Capital-East Region, which includes Capital, Manchester, Middlesex, Three Rivers and Quinebaug Valley Community Colleges.

“I am excited that Diane and Jennifer will be joining the Capital-East region team, as their experiences are well suited to support our regional goals in workforce development and finance,” said President Steinmetz. “They will work on strategic initiatives to support our students by ensuring the stability and growth of our campuses.”

Diane Bordonaro will serve as Chief Regional Workforce Development Officer for the Capital-East Region. She has been director of Non-Credit Programs at Middlesex Community College (MxCC) since 2015, where she is responsible for developing a strategic vision and plan for MxCC’s Department of Workforce Development and Continuing Education. She joined MxCC in 2008 as an allied health coordinator and is a Certified Nurse Aide program instructor. At MxCC, she developed new curricula and programs to meet industry standards, assessed businesses and industries to develop programs to meet their needs, built strong community partnerships and administered the CT Pathways (SNAP Employment and Training) Program. Diane has collaborated with Eversource Energy to offer first Natural Gas Field Technician Certificate Program in Connecticut, with Pieper Olson Veterinary Hospital to create a Veterinary Assistant program, and with Middlesex Hospital to offer patient care and phlebotomy technician programs. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from the University of Connecticut, and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Hartford. 

Jennifer Gray will serve as Chief Regional Fiscal Officer for the Capital-East Region. She has been director of Finance and Administrative Services at Asnuntuck Community College since 2010, where she manages the college’s operating and capital budgets, all college accounting functions and builds annual operating and general fund budgets of approximately $22 million. She also balances spending plans, provides budget projections, budget reports, and variance analyses. Jennifer serves on the CSCU Financial Advisory Committee, Sabbatical and Professional Development Committee, Second Chance Pell Workgroup and Directors of Finance Council. She has more than 18 years of higher education experience in accounting and finance, and was previously a financial analyst and staff accountant at Western New England University in Springfield, Mass. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting; a Master of Business Administration; and a Master of Science in Accounting, all from Western Connecticut State University.

North-West Region

Eileen Peltier and Gennaro DeAngelis were chosen for the North-West Region. which includes Asnuntuck, Naugatuck Valley, Northwestern, and Tunxis Community Colleges.

“I am very excited to announce the appointments for both the Chief Regional Fiscal Officer and Chief Regional Workforce Officer,” said President Lombella. “Filling these positions will allow the North-West Region to identify efficiencies, maximize resources, and share best practices across its four colleges. It is in this spirit of collaboration that the region will strive to provide the most holistic and positive experience possible for our students.”

Eileen Peltier will serve as Chief Regional Workforce Development Officer for the North-West Region. She is currently dean of Workforce Development and Continuing Education at Asnuntuck (ACC), Northwestern Connecticut and Tunxis Community Colleges, where she is responsible for the overall direction and administration of the Continuing Education departments at the colleges. She co-founded the Women’s Leadership Institute and the “Launch Your Leadership Journey” program, and spearheaded ACC’s engagement in the Second Chance Pell experiment. Eileen recently won the American Council on Education Women's Network "Distinguished Woman in Higher Education Leadership Award" which honors a senior-level Connecticut woman in higher education who has distinguished herself by providing outstanding leadership to women at her institution, in her profession, and in society at-large. She holds an Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies from the Hartford College for Women, a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Smith College, and a master’s degree in liberal studies from Wesleyan University.

Gennaro DeAngelis will serve as Chief Regional Fiscal Officer for the North-West Region. He is currently interim dean of Administration and Strategic Enrollment Management, Division of Administrative and Enrollment Services, at Asnuntuck (ACC) and Tunxis (TCC) Community Colleges. In this position, he serves as chief financial officer for ACC and TCC and is responsible for managing a combined operating budget exceeding $58 million. He is responsible for strategic enrollment management for ACC and TCC, and supervises the offices of Admissions, Financial Aid, and Records, and oversees the Office of Institutional Research. Gennaro assisted in the development of a credit/non-credit programmatic design for the Advanced Manufacturing and Technology program, and in the implementation of a shared-service model at both ACC and TCC that streamlined administrative processes. He also serves as the chairperson of the system-wide CSCU Steering Committee on Shared Service Organizations for Finance and Administration. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Springfield College; and a Master of Education, Higher Education Administration, with a concentration in Educational Leadership, University of Maine.

Shoreline-West Region

Kristina Testa-Buzzee and Carrie McGee-Yurof were chosen for the Shoreline-West Region, which includes Gateway, Housatonic and Norwalk Community Colleges.

“I see these two positions as critical as we move forward in developing a regional structure that fits in with operating our campuses in the region and advancing the mission of the Connecticut State Community College System,” said President Coley. “More importantly, these positions will be key to developing a strategic vision going forward as we seek to leverage a regional approach that will better meet the demands for educational attainment and workforce training in our communities.”

Kristina Testa-Buzzee will serve as Chief Regional Workforce Development Officer for the Shoreline-West Region. She is currently interim dean of Workforce Development and Community Partnerships at Norwalk Community College (NCC) where she is responsible for the Continuing Education Division. At NCC, she has fostered high school, community and business and industry partnerships, managed dual-enrollment and early college programs including the PTECH program with IBM, and collaborated with community partners to develop an immigrant workforce education training program. She serves on the Community College Student Affairs and Academic Affairs Consolidation Committee and is a member of the 2Gen Advisory Board. Kristina has been with NCC since 2009, and has held the positions of associate dean of Continuing Education and Workforce Development, director of Adult Learning, and director of the Family Economic Security Program. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications/Human Relations, Western Connecticut State University; a Master of Arts in Student Personnel Administration, New York University; and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Johnson and Wales University.

Carrie McGee-Yurof will serve as Chief Regional Fiscal Officer for the Shoreline-West Region. She is currently director of Finance and Administration at Norwalk Community College (NCC), and is responsible for managing a $48 million operational budget, providing all financial analysis, and reporting for the college’s fiscal activity. Carrie manages NCC’s grant activities totaling $12 million in budget formulation, contracting, purchasing and reporting. She has also managed the college’s Health, Science, and Wellness capital project, and was a member of the 2019 campus master plan project team. Carrie has worked on cross functional student service initiatives such as first year student advising workshops, financial literacy programming, and payment plan options for credit, noncredit, and summer courses. She also serves as a college representative on the NCC Foundation committee for Health, Science and Wellness which sets priorities for endowed funds related to allied health programs. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Cum Laude, University of Massachusetts; and a Master of Science in Financial Management, Fairfield University.