Christy Gallese, Director of Expanded Learning Opportunities
cgallese@bsdvt.org (802) 540-0285 ext. 71200
Where did you grow up? Pennsylvania and New York
Where you’ll find me: Central Office and in and out of all the schools
Favorite part of afterschool or working with children/youth: Afterschool provides endless possibilities for children and youth to engage with each other in a meaningful way, to take a deeper dive into academic areas they are interested in through an experiential lens and to experience their community in a manner that promotes a sense of place, leadership and connections.
Hobbies/what do you like to do outside of work: Spend time with my family, spend as much time outdoors as possible, volunteer and root for the Red Sox and Patriots!
Professional experience and education: Upon graduating from the University of Rhode Island, I served as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Denver, CO, implementing environmental service learning and social justice programs in the Denver Public Schools. Following my term, I went on to direct youth and adult education and programs for the Mi Casa Resource Center. Moving forward, I worked as the Senior Conservation Program Manager at Mile High Youth Corps for eight years, managing land, energy and water conservation programs.
Currently, in addition to my role with BSD, I serve as the Chairperson for SerVermont, on the Governor’s Commission on Community Service, volunteer with the Charlotte Parks and Wildlife Committee and the Burlington Students’ Foundation. I am a Leadership Champlain Board Member and Class of 2018 graduate, a member of the VT Afterschool Network Advisory Council, a Commissioner for the Town of Charlotte Recreation Commission, serve on the America’s State Service Commissions Leadership Council and am a States for Services Official. I was recently selected as one of 15 leaders across the country to serve as an Afterschool Ambassador in 2018-2019 for the Afterschool Alliance.
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Hemant Ghising, Administrative Assistant, Grants and Afterschool
hghising@bsdvt.org (802) 865-5332 ext. 71501
Where did you grow up? Bhutan amd Refugee Camp in Nepal
Where you’ll find me: Central Office
Favorite part of afterschool or working with children/youth: Interaction of children from different backgrounds.
Hobbies/what do you like to do outside of work: Running, learning karate skills and soccer refereeing.
Professional experience and education: Long-time educator and assistant principal in Nepal, Masters in Public Administration and Sociology, pursuing doctoral study on educational leadership at UVM.
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Ali Dieng, Burlington Kids Outreach Coordinator/Parent University Manager
adieng@bsdvt.org (802) 316-0731
Ali Dieng is a passionate and dedicated community leader. Ali is a motivational speaker, cultural competency trainer community and involved with family engagement in education across the District and at national conferences and summits.
As Parent University Founder and Manager, Ali coordinates with a multitude of community partners to create engaging classes and workshops for parents and families of children in the District that encourage parents to engage in the school and community and provide them with concrete knowledge and skills to improve their quality of life and ultimately their children’s success. Ali has worked for the District in various roles for the past 10 years since moving to Burlington in 2008, including CEDO AmeriCorps Member at J.J. Flynn Elementary and as the Afterschool Site Director and French teacher.
Ali is a 2016 graduate of the Snelling Center for Government Early Childhood Leadership Institute. Ali loves being involved in the community in various capacities: as a member of Rights & Democracy, as a board member at the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, as a board member at Vermont Council on Worlds Affairs, as a representative on the Head Start Policy Council, and as a co-founder and manager of Africa Jamono, a West African drumming and dance association.
Ali attended the University of Mauritania in Africa, where he studied international law. He was recently elected to Burlington, Vermont’s City Council, being the only person of color on the Council.
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Nina Mazuzan, Lead Site Director, Burlington Kids Afterschool
nmazuzan@bsdvt.org (802) 489-6358
Where did you grow up? Eastern Pennsylvania, in Bucks County near historic Washington’s Crossing.
Where you’ll find me: Burlington Kids Afterschool programs, with an office at EES
Favorite part of afterschool or working with children/youth: I love experiencing the energy and excitement that kids bring every day, and especially enjoy meeting new students who join the program every fall.
Hobbies/what do you like to do outside of work: I have a passion for cooking, gardening and quilting; and love time with my family.
Professional experience and education: I graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Psychology degree and have worked both in college student affairs and elementary-age programming most of my career. I have also worked in Marketing & Development for both non-profits and a for-profit design firm.
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Eli Phillips, Program Quality Coordinator
ephillip@bsdvt.org (802) 318-8319
Where did you grow up? Milton, VT
Where you’ll find me: Central Office
Favorite part of afterschool or working with children/youth: Playing sports and being active with them – showing them that grownups like to have fun, too!
Hobbies/what do you like to do outside of work: Hike, read, watch movies, try to keep up with my young daughter.
Professional experience and education: BS in biology from UVM, then a post-bacc certificate in elementary education; nine years as a classroom teacher (kindergarten and 5th grade); since then working for BSD as Assistant Site Director and Site Director at C.P. Smith and now Program Quality Coordinator.
