Schools
CT State Colleges & Universities Foundation Recruits New Board Members
The CSCU Foundation has recruited and redesigned its Board of Directors "to be more diverse and without borders."
Press release from The Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) Foundation, Inc.:
April 27, 2022
The Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) Foundation has recruited and redesigned its Board of Directors to be more diverse and without borders. A new Executive Board has been named and includes two returning Board members.
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The newly designed Board will help further the foundation’s work in providing financial support for students transferring, attending, and graduating from the 17 campuses of the Connecticut State Community College & Universities system, including Charter Oak State College’s virtual platform.
“We are pleased to announce our newly elected Board of Directors and appreciate the individuality and talents of our new fiduciaries,” said CSCU Foundation returning President, Helen G. Sneed. “I am grateful for their willingness to embark upon a new and adventurous journey together, and collectively, they will steer the foundation towards a sustainable future by adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies, as well as ensuring the foundation has valuable resources to advance its new mission. Together they will combine their time, talents, and treasures to change lives, grow careers, and inspire others!”
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The Directors began their staggered terms on the Board earlier this (calendar) year. Recruitment began using the LinkedIn platform last October, with the final Director elected on March 9, 2022. Potential directors were interviewed, and final candidates were selected to shape the vision and future of the CSCU Foundation, which provides financial support for students with an opportunity for enhanced access to quality education, training, and the experience needed to excel as leaders in education and employment.
The CSCU Foundation Executive Board is led by President Helen G. Sneed, Principal Partner, Drive The Goal; Vice President Tom W. Watson, Founder, and CEO, The Thomas Watson Group; Secretary Forest Robertson, WCSU Associate Professor and Barnard Scholar; Assistant Secretary Krystin McCauley, Education Industry Executive, Microsoft; and Treasurer Nick Ciantra, Managing Partner, Talisman Consulting.
Members of the 2022 CSCU Foundation Board are: Brittany Baisch, Regulatory Toxicology Lead and Barnard Scholar, Enko; Todd Cooper, Management Program Analyst, U.S. Office of Personnel Management; Carey Cseszko, Controller, Post University; Mark Hanna, Risk Management Associate Attorney, Robert M. Currey & Associates; Alex Jacobs-Hajian, Senior Advisory Manager of Technology, Media, and Telecom Deals Strategy, PwC; Whitney Libby, Human Resources Director, HNTB; Sean McCaffery, Research Analyst - Global Public Markets, Fiducient Advisors; Robert Milnes II, Senior Director, Pharmacy Practice, Express Scripts; Michael Rarick, CEO & Director of Sales, Mediaberry; and David Wan, retired Chief Executive Officer of Harvard Business Publishing.
CSCU Foundation Board of Directors
Helen G. Sneed, President, is the Principal Partner of Drive The Goal, a boutique human resources firm offering career coaching, career readiness and HR consulting for small businesses. She holds an associate degree from Tunxis Community College ’89, a bachelor’s degree from Central Connecticut State University ’96, and an EMBA from University of New Haven ’01 and is a member of GOSHRM.
“My professional success began at Tunxis Community College,” said Sneed. “I quickly learned that education would fuel my self-sufficiency. It’s from that lens I can clearly see how networking, scholarships, partnerships, and digital literacy will help drive our students’ futures forward.”
LinkedIn.Helen.G.Sneed.DriveTheGoal
Thomas W. Watson, Vice President, is the founder and CEO of the Thomas Watson Group (TWG), an executive search, executive coaching, and consulting firm. He holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business ’86 and
an MBA from the University of Baltimore Merrick College of Business, MBA ’95.
“I’ve been very fortunate and had a Big Brother and mentor who guided me early in life,” said Watson. “I am now able through my executive coaching and recruiting business to help students in numerous ways, ranging from college to career advice. My personal mission is to improve the career success and lives of everyone that crosses my path.”
LinkedIn.Tom.Watson
Forest Robertson Ph.D., Secretary, has been a professor at Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) since 2014. He teaches a range of students who are interested in professional fields that include biology, chemistry, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, and various others. He leads a vibrant research group that investigates the development of new synthetic methods that describe the efficient access to privileged, sulfur-containing heterocycles that possess potential antiviral, anti-cancer, and antibacterial properties. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Connecticut State University ’07 and a Ph.D. from Dartmouth College ’12.
“As an associate professor at WCSU and Barnard Award recipient, I’m committed to the new vision of the Board,” said Robertson. “I understand the students that we serve in our communities and the challenges they face in the 21st century.”
Krystin McCauley Watkins, Assistant Secretary, is an Education Industry Executive at Microsoft. Her experience includes design, research, curriculum and content development, project and program management, virtual learning environments, blended learning, UX, and mobile learning. She holds a bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University ’11, an M.Ed. from Arizona State University ’15, and an Ed.D. from the University of South Carolina ’21.
“I’m passionate about inclusion, technology integration, STEM, and digital literacy,” said McCauley Watkins. “Our student population will be better equipped to do more, achieve more, and give differently to the next generation”
LinkedIn.Krystin.Mccauley.Watkins
Nick Ciantra, Treasurer, is a Managing Partner for the independent brand, communications, and creative consulting firm, Talisman Consulting. He is an expert in developing creative brand strategies and executing internal and external communications campaigns, with extensive international experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst ’85 and an MBA from Western New England University ’91.
“A product of community college and a public university, I value the opportunities that can be realized with a quality, affordable education, and I want to support and expand the reach of it,” said Ciantra.
Brittany Baisch is the Regulatory Toxicology Lead at Enko Chem in Mystic, Conn., a crop health company that designs safe and sustainable solutions to farmers’ biggest crop threats from pest resistance to new diseases. She is also an adjunct professor at Western Connecticut State University in the Chemistry Department. She holds three bachelor's degrees from Western Connecticut State University ’08, an MS degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry ’11, a PhD. from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry ’13 and is a Diplomat of the American Board of Toxicology (DABT) ’17.
“As a Connecticut State University alumna and Barnard awardee, I would like to give back to students and provide more opportunities for them to build successful careers,” said Baisch.
LinkedIn.Brittany.Baisch
Todd Cooper is a Management Program Analyst with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management working in several broad categories to recruit, retain, and honor a world-class workforce for the American people. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut ’82 and an MBA from the University of Connecticut ’14.
“It is my mission to ensure students receive an equitable stake in education and the workplace,” said Cooper. “The work we do inspires me to do more.”
Carey Csezko is the Controller at Post University in Waterbury where she has been recognized for her presentation of financial information to cross-departmental teams, accountability, transparency, coaching and leadership of teams. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Penn State University ’98 and an MBA from Georgia State University ’09.
“I believe in doing something that has a positive influence on students’ lives,” said Csezko. “I love students, education and believe in providing an educational atmosphere that benefits everyone.”
This press release was produced by The Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) Foundation, Inc. The views expressed here are the author's own.
