Current VISTAS

Current AmeriCorps Members!

New Hampshire

Rhiana ``Rhi`` Suarez - NHTI

Rhi is the AmeriCorps VISTA at NHTI-- Concord's Community College. A Florida native, she was born and raised in the melting pot that is Miami, before moving up to Gainesville to attend the University of Florida. Rhi graduated from UF this past summer, with a degree in Psychology. Much of her coursework and collegiate experience focused on the spiritual and cultural aspects that influence people's psyches.

Rhi has a passion for working with others and helping them pinpoint their strengths. She believes diversity is inherent within everyone, in multiple forms. In her free time, she enjoys running, taking personality quizzes (and convincing others to take them, as well), doing yoga, hiking, traveling, learning about different cultures, and listening to travel-related podcasts.

Taylor Stolp - GEAR UP New Hampshire

Taylor is currently serving as the GEAR UP New Hampshire VISTA and is working to support seven school districts across the state of New Hampshire to increase college access for students. He is originally from Central New York and has recently graduated with a Bachelors in Political Science from Binghamton University. While attending university, Taylor became passionate about public affairs and higher education issues through his campus involvement, which is what prompted him to serve in AmeriCorps. Some of his personal hobbies include: writing short stories, cooking, hiking, and other outdoor activities.

Kimberly Cartier - Great Bay Community College

When she began her work as a VISTA in January of 2019, Kimberly was able to draw on her 15 years of experience in adult and postsecondary education/college transition to contribute to the development of methods to increase enrollment, persistence, and retention among low-income college students as a member of the team at the Center for Academic Planning and Support (CAPS) at Great Bay Community College (GBCC). Her contributions have led to more effective marketing of work-study positions to income-eligible students and increased training for college support staff in addressing the needs of students in poverty. Kimberly has also developed a listing of community resources for Great Bay’s website, helped to expand and strengthen collaboration between the college and community agencies to support low-income college students and launched Project GRAD (Goals, Results, Aspirations, and Distinction), an innovative peer mentor program that offers guidance and practical support as well as transfer and career planning to Pell-eligible students.

Kimberly supported Great Bay’s rapid transition to distance learning during the 2020 spring break by providing remote support to Project GRAD volunteers and participants while collaborating remotely with colleagues within the college and community. She also researched and widely disseminated information about COVID-related resources, remote services, and financial assistance that could benefit GBCC students. Her work with CAPS to adapt and strengthen supports for low-income students in an on-line setting will continue until campus-based programming resumes.

Grace Kneebone - White Mountain Regional High School

``My name is Grace Kneebone and I am from Harpswell, ME. I chose to spend my AmeriCorps VISTA service with White Mountains Regional High School in Whitefield, NH. As a VISTA member, I am responsible for expanding college access and success for low-income students in the fight against poverty.

I chose to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA member so that I could participate and benefit a community in the New England area. After graduating from Ithaca College in NY-with a huge amount of support from my parents and financial assistance from my collegiate institution- I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. Graduating into a pandemic makes joining the work force a lot more daunting. Then I found Americorps and I realized that I could give back to kids who do not have the same privilege's as I did. If I can help even one kid achieve their goals I will feel successful.``
Kimberly supported Great Bay’s rapid transition to distance learning during the 2020 spring break by providing remote support to Project GRAD volunteers and participants while collaborating remotely with colleagues within the college and community. She also researched and widely disseminated information about COVID-related resources, remote services, and financial assistance that could benefit GBCC students. Her work with CAPS to adapt and strengthen supports for low-income students in an on-line setting will continue until campus-based programming resumes.

Cleora Ohar - Nashua Community College

Cleora is currently serving at Nashua Community College as the AmeriCorps VISTA in both the Student Activities Office and the Department of Multicultural Engagement. She supports programs, projects, and other initiatives under both departments to help build capacity and sustainability (i.e. orientation, international café, etc.). For the 2018-2019 academic year, she completed her first term with AmeriCorps through the Goodwill Multilingual Leadership Corps Program. She worked closely with ELL students K-12 through the NH Department of Education in the Title III Office and the Migrant Education Program in supporting their language and academic needs. Cleora received her Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies and double minored in Spanish and Music from Salve Regina University. Her love of other cultures stems in part from her study abroad adventures in Seville, Spain (one semester through the “Spanish Studies Abroad” Program), and short term studies in England and Austria. She wants to continue to improve upon her Spanish skills so she can eventually work with a wider network of students in higher education. Cleora plans on pursuing a master’s degree in higher education (student affairs) in the near future.

Arria Hauldin - NH COVID Recovery

Arria Hauldin (she/her/hers), a South Florida native, is a recent graduate from Florida State University. She has a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology and is the current COVID-19 Recovery VISTA for Campus Compact New Hampshire. During her service year, she hopes to learn more about the effects of COVID-19 in the New England area and apply these teachings to local schools and institutions. After her time in Americorps, she hopes to join the US Peace Corps and serve where she is needed most. She is an aspiring educator who hopes to earn graduate degrees in Public Health, Human Rights/Multiculturalism, and Anthropology. She dreams of traveling, studying, and researching in different corners of the world.

Emily Provencher - Saint Anselm College

My name is Emily and I am one of the VISTAs at the Meelia Center at Saint Anselm College. I graduated from St. A's in May, and the time I spent at the Meelia Center defined my college experience. Over my four years as a student, I discovered how much I love working with the Manchester community and supporting our student staff. One of my favorite experiences as a student was empowering youth in the community to create positive change through a program called Public Achievement. As a VISTA I get to begin a new journey supporting our online tutoring program in the Manchester School District, and supporting some of our other volunteer opportunities including an American Government class for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Working in community engagement during a pandemic is certainly challenging but it is really exciting to come up with creative ways to engage remotely!

Sam Hauser - White Mountains Community College

My name is Sam, and I am currently serving as the AmeriCorps VISTA for White Mountains Community College. My role at WMCC is to support student engagement, access, and workforce development initiatives. This past May, I received my Masters degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Slippery Rock University and am incredibly passionate about community engagement and student development. One of my favorite things about serving in the VISTA role is the connections I am making within my new community. A few fun facts about me: I enjoy cosplaying and attending conventions, I am the proud mother of a shelter pup, and this is my first time living in the New England area!

Meaghan Wilson - Saint Anselm College

My name is Meaghan Wilson and I am one of the VISTAs at Saint Anselm College's Meelia Center for Community Engagement. I recently graduated from Saint A's with a degree in Spanish and Sociology and am so grateful to continue my time on the hilltop. Here, I have had the opportunity to help develop an online tutoring program that supports the Manchester School District students through the challenges of remote learning. I also support our online after school program called Access Academy which offers courses like Youth Activism and College and Career Explorations. These online opportunities have been a great way to continue to engage with the Manchester community in these times. I am so glad I have been able to have these experiences as a VISTA and am excited to see all of the great things we do throughout the rest of the year!

Clarissa ``Niki`` Navarro - GEAR UP Manchester

Hello! My name is Niki and I am a VISTA member serving at GEAR UP Manchester. I'm am born and raised in NH and it has been a tremendous experience serving the Manchester, NH community. This is my third AmeriCorps year and I could not have asked for more opportunities to explore my passions and develop further both personally and professionally. Working with and for students is certainly where my passion lies and learning more about the education system. In my free time I enjoy exploring NH, reading non-fiction, and free writing/painting.

Nicole Nover - GEAR UP Manchester

Hi, my name is Nicole and I'm serving with GEAR UP Manchester at Parkside Middle School . I am from Bedford, NH and am currently living in Manchester. I recently just served two years with City Year in Manchester and am very happy to be returning to the same school I previously served at. I'm looking forward to supporting students in a new way and continue my professional growth in the nonprofit sector. Outside of work, my interests include reading, writing and traveling.

Geraint Hughes - GEAR UP Manchester

Hello! My name is Geraint (pronounced Jer-rant, a Welsh name meaning ``old man``), and I am the AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer with GEAR UP Manchester, working at McLaughlin Middle School. A California native, I studied History and Classics at UC Berkeley, before making the long trek across the US eastwards to New Hampshire. This is my first position after graduating from university, and I am tremendously excited to serve the Manchester community. I most look forward to experiencing the seasons, particularly fall and winter, that I have never lived through before, and helping McLaughlin prepare their students for high school and college after they graduate. In my free time, I am trying to hike all over New England--if you know of any good trails, be sure to recommend them to me!

Gerald D'Arcy - GEAR UP Manchester

Sometimes the desire for a career change comes to you gradually. Other times it hits you like a ton of bricks. For me, it was the latter.

After working in the corporate sector, I suddenly decided I wanted to transition into philanthropic work, and I applied to be a VISTA with GEAR UP Manchester. Since starting here, my major responsibilities have involved enhancing college access and preparedness for local students. In the process, I’ve learned about community engagement, education, and the needs of my new hometown.

In addition to my usual responsibilities, one of my favorite parts about being a VISTA with GEAR UP is getting to meet and work with a variety of people, whether they be people on my team or people in the community. It's safe to say my time as a VISTA has been a great foray into community work.

Of course, VISTA has some perks outside of work, too. Namely, I get to live somewhere new. When I’m not on the clock, I like taking advantage of what New Hampshire has to offer by visiting interesting places. Outside of exploring, I enjoy old music, poorly-timed dad jokes, and vintage things in general. But most importantly, I’m loving my time as a VISTA, and I can’t wait to see what else this year has in store!

Maine

Christopher Castaneda - Bates College

Christopher Castañeda serves as the AmeriCorps Vista Community Engagement Fellow for the Harward Center at Bates College, and works in tandem with the Office of Residence Life and Health Education to provide accessible community engagement opportunities for students based on community needs. Primarily geared to work with clubs and sport teams, he has been developing a virtual tutoring/enrichment program for local K-8 students to maintain access to resources schools cannot offer at the moment. He is also working with the Office of Intercultural Education (OIE) to resctucture their LGBTQ+ programming and support system. Christopher also serves as a live-in staff member, supporting a team of Residence Life students. He graduated from Bates College, Class of 2020, with a degree in environmental studies and has since taken this post-baccalaureate position at his alma mater.

Abagail Bohlen - Maine Campus Compact (STEM)

Abby is currently serving at the Maine Campus Compact office in Lewiston, Maine as the STEM Coordinator VISTA. She began her service remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to work remotely on STEM programs and initiatives in K-20 schools and libraries in the state of Maine. Abby has already worked on and implemented the REV Up the Fun initiative, which served children at food distribution sites all over the state. She is currently enrolled in the Health Equity Graduate program at Saint Michael's College in Vermont and hopes that her education helps her to better serve Maine and all of New England. After finishing this program and her service with Campus Compact, Abby hopes to complete her Master’s in Public Health. Some activities she enjoys are kayaking, hiking, reading, and camping.

Hannah Rose - University of Maine Orono

Hannah is the Youth Outreach Coordinator for the Black Bear Mentor and Tutor programs at the University of Maine in Orono. She graduated from UMaine with a degree in Social Work, this is her first service year. She hopes to continue her working in youth development in the future by founding a non-profit addressing anxiety during childhood and adolescence. Her passions include playing with her kitten Elmo, knitting, and redesigning her Animal Crossing house.

Molly Cassidy - University of Maine Augusta

Molly is an AmeriCorps VISTA member, serving New Ventures Maine and University of Maine Augusta's Bangor Campus. She will be coordinating financial education opportunities for current and prospective students of UMA Bangor, as well as providing financial resources to students and community members. She will be working with the faculty/staff of UMA Bangor, along with the staff at New Ventures Maine, to promote student success and retention. Molly is excited to join New Ventures Maine because of their passion for serving their community.

Molly earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Plymouth State University in Plymouth, NH. As an undergraduate student, Molly worked at PSU’s Office of Community Impact and was very involved in student organizations, including the feminist club she established at the university. Molly is extremely passionate about community engagement and addressing systems of inequality. She also enjoys skiing, camping, making art, and petting dogs!

Carolyn Brady - ME COVID Recovery

Carolyn Brady is a graduate of Bowdoin College, majoring in Government and Legal Studies with a minor in Mandarin Chinese. She currently serves as Maine’s COVID-19 Recovery AmeriCorps VISTA, where she will spend her year of service compiling and disseminating pertinent information to recovery efforts of K-12 and higher education institutions due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Carolyn has always been passionate about service, as this is her second year of service with AmeriCorps. She spent last year as a State and National member with the LearningWorks Aim High Program in Portland, Maine, where she supported students’ academic, social, and emotional growth by providing tutoring, mentoring, and extended learning opportunities inside and outside of the classroom.
In addition to serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA, Carolyn can be found helping the Mt.Arahat Middle School Track Team as an Assistant Coach, working in the fitting rooms at Nordstrom Rack, or volunteering with the Girl Scouts of Maine. She is very excited to serve in her capacity as a VISTA and work to support the needs of low-income students across northern New England.

UMPI AmeriCorps VISTA

The Americorp VISTA at University of Maine Presque Isle is working tirelessly to support efforts to expand college access and success for low-income students through an active participation in TRIO programs (Upward Bound, Student Support Services, Educational Talent Search), developing and sustaining solid partnerships with the campus and local communities, intensively collaborating with campus and local communities, supporting and being an active member of the Inclusion and Diversity Counsel, supporting and being an active member of the Student Success and Completion Steering Completion Steering committee, facilitating training and workshops, coordinating and management of on-campus projects that support low-income students like food pantry and professional closet, coordinating training of student employees to promote mentor program goals and outcomes, recruiting students for programs, initiatives, and volunteer projects; promoting volunteerism among the students, and supporting the development of leadership, critical thinking, and social skills among low-income students.

Kristina Catomeris - STEM Partnerships

Kristina Catomeris serves as the AmeriCorps VISTA STEM Partnerships Coordinator. Her primary role is to oversee two volunteer driven STEM education programs, to create and maintain relationships with community partners, and to support service-learning courses. Throughout the past year, Kristina has organized episodic STEM events like the STEM Expo and Day of Code, and has guest taught at Lincoln Middle School, the Boys and Girls Club, and online with 4-H.

Kristina loves to bike, paint, read, craft, and take photographs! She is interested in pursuing a path in sustainability education, and hopes to move to the South-West at the end of her VISTA term.

Kate Ruehle - New Ventures Maine

New Ventures Maine is excited to welcome the newest member of the team, our College Access and Success Coordinator, Kate Ruehle. Kate is serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA member based on the Augusta campus. Kate is a recent graduate of Bard College, where she majored in Sociology with a concentration in Gender and Sexuality Studies. Kate will be working with UMA staff to promote MoneyWise financial literacy activities. She is looking forward to sharing insights on financial literacy and career success with students and community members and exploring how she can best support New Ventures Maine programs.

Vermont

Callan McNamara - Champlain College

Callan McNamara (she/her/hers) is the 2020-2021 AmeriCorps VISTA at Champlain College's Women and Gender Center. Callan is originally from Wisconsin where she studied Psychology and South Asian Studies at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. She is excited to experience the beautiful fall in Vermont after Living in Chicago for two years. Callan will be supporting the WGC in a number of ways, including developing programming focused on consent and body positivity. With a passion for creating community among college students, Callan is looking forward to making ways for students to connect even in these socially distant times.

Elizabeth Friesen - Middlebury College

I am serving at Middlebury College's Anderson Freeman Center for students historically underrepresented in higher education. I primarily support first-generation student programming. I spent my first month of service helping to run First@Midd, Middlebury's orientation program for incoming first-generation students. As a first-generation graduate of Middlebury College and previous participant in First@Midd, this work is deeply personal to me. I hope to continue to build strong connections with students and co-workers throughout the remainder of my service!

Marguerite Leek - Champlain College

Marguerite Leek grew up in Western North Carolina and has recently moved up North to be the AmeriCorps VISTA in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May 2020, where she studied Communications and Global Studies, and minored in Women and Gender Studies. She is passionate about a multitude of social issues, including education access, and is pleased she is able to work with First-Generation college students as a VISTA. In her free time she enjoys the outdoors, rollerskating, crafts, baking, and reality television.