To reach our staff, call the main office number, (860) 233-3853 and the extension number below.
Carol “CJ” Hauss
Executive Director, Ext. 113
cj.hauss@lvgh.org
CJ is our fearless leader. You might find her in her office budgeting, in the computer lab mingling with tutors, or out in the community. She also serves on the leadership team of MoveUp!, a partnership of adult literacy and workforce development providers in the Greater Hartford region. With LVGH since 1998, CJ served first as Director of Development, and in 2005 was appointed Executive Director. She is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and holds an A.B. and M.A. in Psychology. Although she doesn’t look a day over 25, CJ has over twenty-five years experience in nonprofit development and management. Prior to LVGH, CJ was Director of Development for the Cobb School Montessori and Director of Family Support Services for United Cerebral Palsy. CJ has studied Portuguese, German, Latin, Greek and Hebrew and was raised in a bilingual home. If you want proof, just get CJ excited and some of that Italian is bound to come out!
Monica Ayala
ESOL Program Manager, Ext. 116
monica.ayala@lvgh.org
Monica is from Brazil and has been living in the USA since 2016. She first started with LVGH as a student, and then started to volunteer around the Literacy Center before or after class. She has a bachelor's degree in Tourism from Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais, Brazil. Monica used to work as a manager for a travel agency that focused on exchange programs and helping students achieve their dreams. She really enjoyed that experience and hopes she can do the same here. She has a passion for traveling and getting to know different cultures, places, and people, and all that she can learn through those experiences. Monica also enjoys soccer, music, food, and being with family and friends. The love of her life is Hugo, her baby, who Monica says is her inspiration and motivation for everything she does in life.
Katie Gainer
Social Media Coordinator, Ext. 114
kathlyn.gainer@lvgh.org
Katie manages all things communication here at LVGH, including our social media pages, our e-newsletter, and this very website. She is a lifelong resident of Litchfield County, Connecticut, with the exception of the years she spent at UMASS Amherst earning a dual bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Outside of work, Katie can be found out catching a concert as often as at home reading a good book. She is happy to chat about all things music, movies, books and more, but be warned- after enough conversation, she will probably try to guess your zodiac sign.
Rebecca Hawkins
Director of Programs, Ext. 125
rebecca.hawkins@lvgh.org
Rebecca is our Director of Programs. She oversees the Career Pathways Programming and ensures that students have the proper resources they need to succeed. She has a Bachelors in Political Science from UConn and a Masters from Teachers College at Columbia University. Rebecca has a passion for travel and education which is clear from the moment you meet her. She is fluent in Italian and even had the chance to live in Florence, Italy where she taught ESOL for five years! Previously, before moving back to CT, she worked as a High School Social Studies Teacher in NYC. You’ll usually find her cooking for friends or plotting her next bucket list adventure.
Rose Howard
Basic Literacy Program Manager, Ext. 115
rose.howard@lvgh.org
Rose is not as tall as she might look. That’s because you will never see her without her three-inch heels, making her stature a bit deceiving. Rose heads up our Basic Literacy program, coordinating and supporting Basic Literacy students and tutors in Hartford, and she does so with enthusiasm, warmth, and a good sense of humor. Rose also manages our Community Development Block Grant and oversees the work of our Basic Literacy Program Assistants. She’s been with LVGH for over fifteen years, and during that time she has touched the lives of countless students in Hartford, Bloomfield, and formerly at the Clark Family Resource Center.
Diane Klingman
Development Officer, Ext. 112
diane.klingman@lvgh.org
Diane is our Development Officer, managing all fundraising efforts to support LVGH’s mission and its programs. She first joined LVGH as a volunteer ESOL tutor in 2018. Like so many of our tutors, Diane believes she has gained much more in experience and inspiration from her hard-working students than she could ever provide during their weekly classes. Diane is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. When not at LVGH, you will find her reading, taking long walks or attempting to tame her backyard garden. She loves spending time with her family, traveling and cheering on the Hartford Yard Goats.
Marian Krivda
Child Care Coordinator
Marian is responsible for coordinating our child care program. She oversees all children and volunteers ensuring a safe and educational environment.
Stephen Morris
Assistant Director, Operations, Ext. 127
stephen.morris@lvgh.org
Steve is our Assistant Director of Operations. He assists in grant research, writing, and reporting, as well as supporting agency operations and strategic planning. Steve has seen all sides of LVGH prior to his current role, starting first as a computer lab volunteer, then as a Program Assistant for the Basic Literacy program. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business from UConn and a master’s degree in International Management from King’s College London. Outside of LVGH, you will find Steve planning his next travel adventure, reading about early American history, or plotting ways to get the Hartford Whalers to return to the capital city.
Program Assistants:
Margie Arroyo – ESOL
Nicole James – Basic Literacy
Cecilia LaBoy – Basic Literacy
