The Center for Continuing Studies (CCS) is proud to welcome Dr. Peter Diplock as its new Interim Director. His academic and managerial background is well suited to lead CCS into the future as it looks to leverage the intellectual capital of the University of Connecticut through innovative programs in continuing and professional education.

Since coming to CCS in August 2005, Dr. Diplock has served in a variety of capacities. He has served as CCS Associate Director, and Director of the Center’s Bachelor of General Studies Program. Currently Director of the Master of Professional Studies (MPS) Program, and coordinator of the MPS field of study in Human Resource Management, he is also an MPS faculty member.   read more

UConn's Global Training and Development Institute, located within the Center for Continuing Studies (CCS), is expanding the University's global reach by providing social entrepreneurship training programs to dozens of individuals throughout Europe, Central America, and Africa. The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (DOS ECA) has awarded CCS over $1.25 million to develop and host three innovative educational and cultural exchange programs throughout 2011 and 2012.

Roy Pietro, Associate Director for CCS and Principal Investigator for all three grant programs, noted that "the grant funding also supports dozens of follow-up social change projects in local communities throughout the three continents, and allows for ongoing networking and collaboration between the foreign exchange program participants and their counterparts in the U.S. These educational and cultural exchange programs are designed to advance UConn’s ongoing commitment to global citizenship."

Both the Costa Rican and Turkey exchange programs have been designed as 2-way exchanges, allowing the U.S. participants to travel back to each country to establish new bi-lateral relationships, experience the local culture, and assist in the social change project implementation.

In Empowering Women through Social Entrepreneurship, DOS ECA awarded CCS a $450,000 grant to provide Fellowships to 20 young Costa Rican professionals working at government agencies, civil society organizations, women-owned businesses, healthcare agencies or educational institutions in that country. In addition, 20 Americans employed by the U.S. organizations hosting a 2-week internship for each Costa Rican Fellow, will be provided with Fellowships and participate in program activities held in both countries. UConn has partnered with the University of Peace (UPEACE), a UN affiliated university located in San Jose, Costa Rica, for this program. UPEACE will be responsible for coordinating all in-country activities, including participant selection and planning logistics for the Costa Rican-based exchange.

Four Encore!Hartford Fellows have accepted full-time positions with three Connecticut nonprofits: Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation; Our Piece of the Pie ®(OPP); and the YWCA Hartford Region. RozeLyn Beck joins the YWCA Hartford Region as Director of Development and Marketing; Barbara Light Casey joins Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation as Chief Marketing Officer; Alice Turner Thompson joins Our Piece of the Pie (OPP) as Director of Talent Development; and Steven Tabara joins Our Piece of the Pie as a Youth Development Specialist.

Encore!Hartford is a professional development program that assists unemployed corporate professionals to transition their skill-sets and experience into successful professional and managerial employment in Connecticut's nonprofit sector. The program features four core components: 44 hours of sector transition and skill-set education with seasoned nonprofit practitioners; discussions with nonprofit CEOs at each education site; job shadowing and networking development in the nonprofit sector; and a two-month, full-time, high-level Encore Fellowship at a Connecticut nonprofit.