President

Yara Zoccarato is the Student Support Liaison for the Pre-Collegiate & Access Programs at Western Connecticut State University. With a Masters in School Counseling, and as a TRIO alumna herself, Yara understands the benefits of TRIO services and support that help first-generation college students achieve their college and career endeavors.

Yara was NEOA ‘s CT State Liaison for 2021-2023. Yara also currently serves as NEOA’s President-Elect and will continue to represent CT at the regional level!

Co- Treasurer

Jessica Coronel is the Assistant Director of the Pre-Collegiate and Access Programs at Western Connecticut State University since 2015. Previously, she has worked as a Spanish Teacher at Westside Middle School Academy in Danbury. She received her Master’s in Counseling in Higher Education from Central Connecticut State University in 2018. Additionally, she received her Bachelor’s in Secondary Education Spanish in 2014 from Western Connecticut State University where is currently an EdD. candidate for the Education Instructional Leadership program.

Working as an educator and in the pre-collegiate program, she has experience addressing contemporary educational issues outside the classroom during meetings with school and university officials. Her primary focus includes working with students from first-generation and low-income backgrounds. In 2012, she joined the Latino Scholarship Fund Inc. to help increase financial access for Latino students. In 2018, she was awarded a leadership award by the American Dream Foundation for her outstanding work with the immigrant community in Danbury, CT.

Co- Treasurer

Jordan serves as the Upward Bound Math-Science (UBMS) Coordinator at Wesleyan University, dedicated to empowering students from Middletown and Meriden. His journey began in the heart of Hartford, where he dedicated over 5 years to classroom education before embarking on his role with UBMS.

As a proud TRIO Alumnus, Jordan intimately understands the transformative impact that TRIO Services can have on our talented and driven students. His passion lies in ensuring that this dynamic support is accessible to all first-generation and low-income students, enabling them to achieve their individual goals and reach for success.

Originally from Alabama, Jordan has embraced Hartford as his home for over five years. In addition to his work with TRIO, he serves as the Mathematics Lead at a local non-profit organization. In this role, he coordinates free tutoring services and creates meaningful experiential opportunities for students in the community. Jordan remains committed to fostering individual success and expanding educational horizons for all students.

Secretary

Fiorela Hidalgo is currently working for the Center for Access and Postsecondary Success (CAPS) at the University of Connecticut as a counselor. She has been working in Higher Education since 2010 at Quinnebaug Valley Community College. Before joining CAPS, I worked as a Health Science Academic Advisor at Goodwin University. Fiorela is passionate about her work at UCONN and the opportunities that CAPS provides to students. She loves empowering students to achieve their dreams and goals. She is super excited and happy to serve as the new CAEOP Secretary for 2023-2024.

Vice President

Gideon has been part of the Center for Access & Postsecondary Success (CAPS) since 2020. Prior to joining UConn College Access Programs, he worked with Student Support Services (SSS) Program at Storrs and now is the Upward Bound/ConnCAP Director at UConn Avery Point Campus running the program at Norwich Free Academy. Gideon has over 16 years of experience working with low-income and first-generation students. He received his undergraduate degree at UConn and a Master of Art from Wesleyan University. He enjoys playing music with his band Zikina and has a passion to help students grow academically, personally, and realize their potential.

State Liaison

Born and raised in Meriden, CT, Julio is a product of Wesleyan University Upward Bound and Central Connecticut State University's Sociology Program. Also, a proud son of Puerto Rican Parents, Maria and Julio, who he credits for all of his "success" . Growing up, education was a priority in the household. The expectation was to be a strong student, critical thinker, and a leader in the community. Julio’s experiences with Upward Bound and Sociology made him value being a First-Generation College Student and allowed him to find his passion within the world of Education. Being taught to take advantage of as many opportunities that come his way, Julio has been able to work at several universities in Connecticut and Southern California. He loves to travel, hike, write poetry, and try new foods (follow his food adventures on IG @joolzeatz).

Julio’s adventures have led him from Connecticut to San Diego, and back! Currently, he is celebrating his 4 year anniversary as an Assistant Director with TRIO Programs! Julio works very closely with Student Support Services: Teacher Prep, helping future educators with coursework, cultural competencies, and navigating their journey as a teacher. He have been blessed to work with hundreds of students, most from New Britain, CT, and provide them with exposure to conferences, student success, summer bridge programs, and life changing experiences. Julio credits the students for teaching him much more than he could ever teach them, but mostly that persistence and resilience are skills needed at any age and for any profession. Julio believes that he has the coolest job in the world and feels blessed to cultivate relationships with wonderful students and staff on that campus that taught him how to be a man. To Julio, education is not only a tool to obtain better jobs and higher earnings, but also a way to fuel the mind and to help solve social problems. "What we do in life, echoes in eternity." Julio hopes to work hard enough for his name to continue echoing in the name of Education. “Accept where you are, accept what you have, accept who you are ~ do what you can with all of that and let it be enough.”

Public Relations Coordinator

Description goKaterina Valentin is a proud alum of CCSU and serves as the Assistant Director of TRiO Student Support Services (SSS). She received her Bachelor's of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Community Engagement from CCSU. In furthering her higher education, she has earned her Master's of Education in Student Personnel Administration with a concentration in psychology/counseling. She is currently pursuing the Advanced Official Certificate Program in route of becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with a focus in Mental Health. es here