Welcome CARE’s New Director, Ayeisha C. Cole
We are delighted to welcome Ayeisha C. Cole as our new Director. Ayeisha brings a wealth of experience and a profound dedication to public health.
Alycia Santilli, our longstanding Director since 2016, will be taking on an expanded role as the Senior Director of Community Initiatives at the SCSU College of Health and Human Services. In this new capacity, Alycia will be partnering closely with Ayeisha, providing valuable guidance on CARE projects. This strategic shift will strengthen our commitment to community engagement and health initiatives.
Meet Ayeisha
Ayeisha C. Cole has worked in the Public Health sector for more than ten years. A native of Memphis, TN, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Public Health from Lemoyne-Owen College in 2013. She received her Master of Public Health and certificate in Health Care Management from Benedictine University in 2019. Ms. Cole served as the Program Director for Partnership to End AIDS Status, where she volunteered throughout college before being hired. She later transitioned to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as the Outreach Coordinator specializing in community outreach and research. Her journey led her to migrate to Connecticut as the Project Manager for Perception Programs at the University of Connecticut. Ms. Cole is passionate about serving underrepresented communities, creating innovative programs, and building relative structures to support health equity.
“Joining CARE at SCSU feels like I am returning to my home of community engagement. I am ecstatic to learn the culture of New Haven while strengthening existing initiatives and creating innovative strategies for healthy outcomes. Thank you for allowing me to join and serve the New Haven community.”
Alycia’s transition and Ayeisha’s arrival mark an exciting new chapter for CARE. Alycia shared her enthusiasm about this change, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome Ayeisha to CARE and to the New Haven community! While she is new to the area, Ayeisha's energy matches that of our community: vibrant and engaging! She brings the perfect blend of experience with several years of service in community engagement and research. Ayeisha has a demonstrated track record and strong commitment to community-driven strategies that impact health equity. CARE's future is bright in Ayeisha's hands."
We are confident that Ayeisha’s leadership and vision will help us continue to advance our mission and deepen our impact in the community.
Please join us in welcoming Ayeisha to the CARE team!
