The Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA program is supported by a team of dedicated staff and VISTA Leaders. They support AmeriCorps grantees with their VISTA projects, while also supporting AmeriCorps members through training, community, and support. Meet our VISTA Team!
Originally from, Miami, Florida. Dr. Tasia Cerezo attended Spelman College where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After college, she joined the Campus Compact network through the Massachusetts Campus Compact (MACC) AmeriCorps VISTA Program where she served at Pine Manor College in 2008-2009. At Pine Manor, Tasia developed and implemented a service-learning course that incorporated hands-on experience in New Orleans for students in support of the rebuilding of the city and the surrounding communities after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Tasia served as co-VISTA Leader for two years before transitioning to work in the non-profit sector and higher education sectors where she supported low to moderate income teens and families in roles such as Volunteer Coordinator, Teen Center Director and Educational Advisor. Her work within higher education and her passion for community work encouraged her to pursue her Master’s degree in Education with a concentration of Community Engagement at Merrimack College. As an academic advisor and transfer counselor, Tasia recognized the challenges marginalized students often faced along their journey to degree completion which embolden her to pursue and attain her doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at Regis College. Tasia is devoted to institution – community relationships which can provide a holistic approach to the support of students from all backgrounds while promoting institutional access to all communities.
Tasia can be reached at: tcerezo@compact.org
Stephanie is originally from Omaha, Nebraska. She attended Creighton University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. After college, Stephanie worked as a bilingual family liaison for an after-school program until she returned to school to pursue her masters. Stephanie attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) for a Masters in Social Work and a Masters in Public Administration. Stephanie worked at the Service Learning Academy as a graduate assistant until the end of her masters programs. She returned to the Service Learning Academy as a Campus Compact VISTA (2019-2020), creating content on the intersection of education, poverty and service learning. Stephanie created multiple opportunities for K-12 teachers, UNO professors and community partners to come together and discuss how to create intentional service learning projects. She has also supported service learning partners by compiling resources and research to guide exceptional service learning opportunities. In her role as a VISTA leader she works with data and evaluation and supporting her Midwest VISTAs.
Stephanie can be reached at: sdiaz@compact.org
Matt is honored to serve as the Director of AmeriCorps Programs for Campus Compact. In this capacity, Matt provides direct oversight and management of Campus Compact’s multiple AmeriCorps programs in order to ensure high levels of engagement from and impact on higher education member campuses and community partners, provide meaningful public service leadership experiences for AmeriCorps members, and deepen Campus Compact’s partnership with AmeriCorps. Prior to working with Campus Compact, Matt served in multiple roles in higher education with academic affairs, student affairs, and campus ministry focused on civic learning and community engagement. He has served as the Director of the Office of Community Outreach at the University of Connecticut, Associate Director for GEAR-UP at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, and Assistant Director of the Center for Social Concern at Stonehill College. Matt has a BS in Business Administration (Finance) from Stonehill College and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Connecticut. Matt currently serves as a Commissioner of the Connecticut Commission on Community Service and a member of the Connecticut Civic Health Advisory Committee organized by the Office of the Secretary of the State of Connecticut and Everyday Democracy.
Matt can be reached at: mfarley@compact.org
As a Michigan native, Chelsey is a graduate from Michigan State University where she studied Social Work and Spanish. After graduation, Chelsey served as a Team Leader and Unit Development Assistant for AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) in the Southwest Region where she completed service projects that spanned from flood recovery to tax preparation. From there, Chelsey joined the Peace Corps as a Community Economic Development volunteer in Paraguay. Through community asset mapping, she partnered with the local municipality, school district, and youth groups to complete town beautification projects and develop courses in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership. By the end of her service, Chelsey decided to return to school to broaden her understanding of sustainable development and NGO management. She graduated from DePaul University in June 2020 with a Master’s in Public Administration and International Public Management. During the completion of her degree, Chelsey worked as a Marketing Coordinator with a legal association. She is excited to be back with the AmeriCorps community and offers a diverse background in program management and development. Outside of work, Chelsey prefers to spend time outdoors with her dog, reading a good book under a blanket with her cat, and crocheting while taking in a new film.
Chelsey can be reached at: chudson@compact.org
Megan grew up in Vietnam, where she attended the United Nations International School of Hanoi. She then went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from The University of South Alabama from 2014 to 2017. Following her undergraduate degree, she worked in Human Resources for a short period before starting her Peace Corps service as an English Education Volunteer in Nepal. In Nepal, she learned about the importance of community and collaboration and worked on English teacher capacity building through co-planning, co-teaching, and organizing teacher communities of practice where positive reinforcement practices for classroom management were discussed. During her Peace Corps service, she trained 18 teachers in first aid, founded and facilitated two English clubs and an art club focused on communicative language functions, critical thinking, building student confidence and creating a safe space for expression. She also promoted literacy through reading by collaborating with Darien Book Aid to obtain English books for her school’s library. Though she was evacuated from her post in March of 2020, she hopes to continue her career in public service as a Campus Compact VISTA leader, assisting VISTA members with their projects in any way that she can. In Megan’s free time, she enjoys being outside, traveling, and watching movies.
Megan can be reached at: mnewell@compact.org
Gwen grew up in Windsor, Connecticut and graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2017 with a degree in economics. Through her coursework, Gwen became interested in international development which led her to join the Peace Corps shortly after graduating. Gwen served in the Dominican Republic from 2018 to 2020 as a community economic development volunteer in a rural community in the northwest province of Dajabón. As a Peace Corps volunteer, Gwen led a number of economic empowerment and community development projects. Her favorite was her Somos Mujeres course, which taught financial literacy and basic entrepreneurship skills to local women. The women who graduated from the course formed a club to produce household products such as liquid soap which were not previously available within the community, and which they could sell as an income generating activity. Gwen worked closely with the individual club members to train them in bookkeeping, promotion, inventory management and other administrative skills. Gwen’s Peace Corps experience sparked her passion for service and community development, which led her to Campus Compact as an AmeriCorps Vista leader! Gwen is excited to apply her project management and leadership skills in a new context and continue to grow as a non-profit professional. Gwen enjoys exploring new places, learning about cultures and languages, and dancing bachata (she is usually only slightly off-beat)!
Gwen can be reached at: gpeyton@compact.org
A native of Illinois, Nathan grew up in Peoria. He completed his B.A. Cum Laude with Honors at Bradley University, double majoring in Organizational Communication and French, with a minor in Spanish. While at university, Nathan studied abroad twice, in Costa Rica and France. As an undergraduate, Nathan worked with the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council, where he supported the Greater Peoria Pathways initiative, which sought to expose students to post-secondary options beyond the traditional baccalaureate model. Seeking new adventures, Nathan moved to Chicago after completing his degree, where he served with a VISTA project at Loyola University Chicago, working to bridge the resource gap between the university and nearby neighborhood public schools. Nathan is thrilled to be serving as a VISTA Leader and is excited to help others realize the tremendous benefits of the Campus Compact VISTA program. In his free time, Nathan can often be found contra dancing, running, biking, cooking, baking, or spending time outdoors.
Nathan can be reached at: nwiesehan@compact.org
