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Krista Saleet, director and team advisor
Phone: 315.228.6879
Email: ksaleet@mail.colgate.edu
Krista brings more than ten years of extensive experience in higher education including positions at Dartmouth College in the offices of Residential Life and Pre-Major Advising, University of Massachusetts in the First-Year Experience Program, Chatham College in Residence Life, and the University of Chicago in the Joint Center for Poverty Research and Grants and Contracts Administration. Krista is an active community member, having served in a variety of capacities in community-based organizations, e.g. board member for World Partners in Education, regular build volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, and shelter volunteer for Chicago Cares. Krista holds a Master of Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh and bachelor degrees in Urban Planning and Development and Environmental Design from Ball State University.
Advisee Teams: Fabindia, Hamilton Fire Department, SoMAC, Students for Students, New Initiatives
Rachel DiDomizio, associate director and team advisor
Phone: 315.228.6877
Email: rdidomizio@colgate.edu
Rachel came to the COVE in August 2008 from Buffalo, New York. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University at Buffalo, majoring in Psychology and Sociology with a minor in Spanish. As an undergraduate, Rachel studied abroad in Salamanca, Spain, volunteering at Campo Charro elementary school twice a week. She was also actively involved in the Buffalo community spending many Saturday mornings volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and Ten Thousand Villages as well as serving on the executive board at the Gloria J. Parks Community Center.
Rachel earned her Master of Science degree in Higher Education Student Affairs from Indiana University. As a graduate student she worked in the Office of Community Service at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) for two years. Throughout her assistantship she advised students in the Sam H. Jones Community Service Scholarship Program as well as aided in the coordination of campus wide service events. Rachel also participated in the “To Mexico with Love” study abroad program and worked in the Mary Cable Social Justice Center at IUPUI. In addition, she studied abroad in Nicoya, Costa Rica and continues to seek out opportunities to practice her Spanish.
At the COVE, Rachel supervises 4 part time advisors, 9 COVE interns, advises 7 of the community-based teams, oversees the alternative break program, and develops integrated partnerships between the COVE and other Colgate offices and programs. Rachel lives in Hamilton with her Husband, Joseph.
Advisee Teams: American Heart Association (AHA), Colgate Hunger Outreach Program (CHOP), Disaster Response Team (DiRT), Habitat for Humanity, Oxfam, Sidekicks, and Student Global Aids Campaign (SGAC)
Colleen Nassimos, administrative coordinator and team advisor
Phone: 315.228.6880
Email: cnassimos@colgate.edu
Colleen arrived at Colgate's Annual Fund office in 1992. Craving student interaction, she worked in several departments before settling in at the COVE in 2003. Providing logistical and administrative support to the COVE and its 30+ student-run community-based service teams is integral to Colleen’s position, as well as maintaining relationships with the local community agencies the teams work with. She assists in team event planning, and currently serves as team advisor to four COVE groups.
For her outstanding volunteer service, Colleen was recently given the Exceptional Community Volunteer Award for December 2008. Congratulations, Colleen!
Colleen is a lifelong resident of central New York and the Madison area. She is currently active in the Madison Optimist Club, Madison Boosters, and the Madison Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). She and her husband Jim reside in Madison with their two children.
Advisee Teams: Colgate Buddies, DoRAK, Project PEACE, Sister 2 Sister, The Network
Janine Oliver, team advisor
Phone: 315.228.6257
Email: jeoliver@colgate.edu
Janine discovered her passion for working with people when she first led backpacking, canoeing, and ropes course programming with underserved teens. After earning an AB in English from Princeton University, Janine taught adolescents with special needs, especially those with autism. She then earned an MA in counseling from the University of New Hampshire, serving as a school counselor and a youth and family therapist. She spent her summers with UNH Upward Bound, teaching first generation college-bound students study skills and helping them prepare to take the SAT.
Throughout her career, Janine has continued to work as a ropes course facilitator, where she has helped hundreds of groups improve their communication and effectiveness at moving towards their vision. Janine is perpetually optimistic and solution focused, and will remind you often that today is the “best day ever.”
When not at the COVE, she can be found advising students at Spear House or playing in the outdoors with her husband, Ben, and their dog, Ollie. Janine also enjoys cooking, singing, Wii boxing, and volunteering at animal shelters and at a local therapeutic equine program.
Advisee Teams: Colgate Hunger Outreach Program (CHOP), Habitat for Humanity, Let's Get Ready, Hamilton Outdoor Group, Green Gates, Green Earth Gang, Shapna, Clean Water Coalition
Rachel Amann-Burns, team advisor
E-Mail:ramman@mail.colgate.edu
Rachel is responsible for advising four of the COVE’s community-based teams. She also works part-time for Colgate’s Upstate Institute and is a Master’s student at Colgate.
Rachel grew up in Hamilton and graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Management in 1997. She has spent the last ten years doing a number of different internships, jobs and volunteer positions around the world, including two terms as an AmeriCorps VISTA member in Anchorage, Alaska.
Rachel lives in Poolville with her husband Jereme, daughter Opal and numerous pets.
Advisee Teams: Adopt a Grandparent, Hamilton Manor, Friends of Madison Lane, Liberty Kids, North Broad Tutoring, Students for FIVER, Waterville Elementary Tutors, Let's Get Ready
Courtney Savage, team advisor
Email: csavage@colgate.edu
Courtney Savage graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Commercial and Community Recreation Park Management. Following college, Courtney worked as a natural history kayaking guide/interpreter in Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska, and Everglades National Park, Florida. She also worked as a teacher for the Los Angeles County Outdoor Science School, a one-week residential program for 5th and 6th graders. This position allowed her to work with youth of all economic and ethnic backgrounds, teaching topics related to geology, conservation, ecosystems, and plant studies. Students at the school are not only exposed to nature and science; they were also physically challenged every day by hiking on trail. Courtney’s current positions at Colgate include, HHMI Project Coordinator; includes assisting with planning, implementation, and assessment of the Colgate Science and Sports Camp, High School Seminar Coordinator and COVE Team Advisor. Courtney is a Wilderness First Responder and has taught a women’s rock climbing class for Colgate.
Advisee Teams: Hamilton Center for the Arts, MadCrafts, Madison Central School Tutors, Ophelia's Girls, Stockbridge Tutors, Pet Pals
Valerie McGowan, team advisor
Phone: 315.228.6257
Email: vmcgowan@colgate.edu
Valerie obtained a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Public Policy from Hamilton College. She spent a considerable amount of her time in college studying the issues affecting America's educational system, and tutoring Utica high school students through an on-campus program. At the end of her four years at Hamilton, Valerie found herself unable to part with Central New York! Last year she served as the AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) in the COVE and Colgate's Upstate Institute. She is happy to remain in the COVE this year as a team coordinator for student groups working in Utica and throughout Madison County.
Advisee Teams: Friends and Mentors (FAM), Hamilton Central School Tutoring, Head Start, Refugee Tutors, Sidekicks