Garrett Appoints Acting Director Of Personnel/Civil Service

HAMDEN, CT — Brigitte Cogswell has been appointed as Acting Personnel/Civil Service Director, Mayor Lauren Garrett announced Wednesday.

Cogswell holds an MBA degree from the University of New Haven and her undergraduate degree from Connecticut College in Human Relations and Child Development, according to a news release from the mayor’s office.

“Cogswell led her own Human Relations consulting firm, which successfully designed and delivered consulting and training programs to employers throughout New England, prior to taking on the role of Human Resources Officer in 2013,” officials wrote in the news release.

Cogswell was contracted as the Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Initiatives consultant for the Town of Hamden from 2005 to 2013 and has served as Human Resources Officer since then.

Cogswell is “widely considered an expert in workplace conflict resolutions and employee relations,” the news release states. She has served as a National Trainer for the Anti-Defamation League since 1996, and has facilitated training programs for numerous municipalities, universities and school systems throughout Connecticut on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

“She brings a tireless work ethic and decades of experience working with town leaders and employees across different departments and community agencies,” according to the news release. “She has a deep understanding of the roles Labor Relations and Human Resources play in ensuring our workplaces are safe, fair, and create equitable work opportunities. She also has a deep commitment to the civil service merit system of recruitment and promotion.

“Mayor Garrett says Cogswell has been critical in assisting her office in building a team, and she will play a pivotal role in updating our hiring practices to make sure we are getting the most qualified candidates available while ensuring our workforce reflects the diversity of our population.”