PUBLIC & SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP MAIN OFFICE
Logan, UT – Utah State University
The PSP office provides support and training to PSP VISTA members and Site Supervisors. The main office is in charge of all hiring and budgeting, and it also coordinates national days of service events.
The PSP office provides support and training to PSP VISTA members and Site Supervisors. The main office is in charge of all hiring and budgeting, and it also coordinates national days of service events.
Director
Mark Larese-CasanovaResponsibilities: As the PSP Project Director, Mark oversees grant writing and budgeting, reporting, placements and partnerships, university and federal processes, employee training and supervision, and other responsibilities relate to effectively managing a nonprofit organization.
Bio: Mark is originally from Connecticut and received Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Wildlife Conservation and Management from the University of Connecticut. He began his career as a seasonal intern for the U.S. Forest Service where he learned the value of service to communities and agencies. Since 2003, Mark has devoted his career at Utah State University to developing partnerships with non-profit organizations and state and federal agencies to build educational capacity. He developed, taught, and directed several education programs from multidisciplinary K-12 field trip programs to statewide training program for adults. Through these programs, Mark has trained tens of thousands of youth and thousands of adults. Utah Master Naturalist, Mark's flagship program, trained over a hundred volunteer naturalists, Americorps members, K-12 teachers, and agency professionals every year. To further build educational capacity in his field, Mark has shared his experience directing and evaluating programs through professional presentations, fact sheets, and peer-reviewed publications. |
Program Coordinator
Aubrey CallResponsibilities: Aubrey coordinates many of the functions that help PSP run as a VISTA project, including: supporting sites and VISTAs, onboarding VISTA members, exiting VISTA members, navigating university and federal processes and systems, VAD development, VISTA recognition, reporting and time card intake and tracking, and conducting site visits. Aubrey is also a Site Supervisor for one of PSP's VISTA Leaders.
Bio: Aubrey served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member with PSP from at Cache High School and she is excited to be a part of this program again. She loves being a part of something where she knows she is making a difference. With AmeriCorps VISTA, she is able to leave work knowing she is helping in some way. Aubrey enjoys spending time with her friends and family and playing the guitar when she has some free time. She truly believes, “Life is better when you’re laughing.” 
VISTA Leader
Lindsey Burbank-PeteResponsibilities: The VISTA Leader contributes to the work of PSP office team by serving as a liaison between the VISTA Members and the PSP administrative team. The VISTA Leaders serve as advocates for VISTA members, supports them in their service endeavors, guide them through various systems, and engage in other tasks to ensure VISTA members have a successful and satisfying service term.
Bio: Lynn is originally from the Navajo Nation, specifically from Many Farms, Arizona. She was born and raised on the Navajo Reservation all her life, so her Dine' (Navajo) roots and cultural background has shaped her to be the person she is today. She is the eldest child of four, the first grandchild to earn a college degree and comes from a family of ranch hands. She attended Dine' College for quite a while, then transitioned to USU- Blanding where she graduated in 2019. Just recently, she completed her VISTA term in February 2023 and is now back as one of your VISTA Leaders. For fun, she likes to try new foods and cook for friends and family by introducing new recipes or sharing some of her native foods. At times, she and her husband enjoy traveling, visiting new places, and capturing photos of nature or wildlife. There's so much more about her, but she'd love to become coworkers & friends by getting some SWIG, Pollo Azteca, or maybe letting her show you how to make fry bread. |
Event Coordinator
Tina PeralezResponsibilities: The Event Coordinator supports the PSP office and VISTA members by coordinating service projects, quarterly conferences, recognition ceremonies, and other events. The Event Coordinator also assists with community and social media outreach.
Bio: Tina was born and raised in south Texas and received her degree in Psychology from Utah State University with an emphasis in Sociology. With a strong passion for education, she worked as an AmeriCorps member serving lower social-economic status schools during her time at USU. After graduation, she wanted to continue to serve her community and became an AmeriCorps VISTA. During her free time, she loves to express her creativity through playing guitar, baking and painting. Tina's life passion is to spread Mental Health Advocacy and Awareness. 
VISTA Leader
Carole JusticeResponsibilities: The VISTA Leader contributes to the work of PSP office team by serving as a liaison between the VISTA Members and the PSP administrative team. The VISTA Leaders serve as advocates for VISTA members, supports them in their service endeavors, guide them through various systems, and engage in other tasks to ensure VISTA members have a successful and satisfying service term.
Bio: Carole is one of PSP’s VISTA Leaders. Carole first served as a VISTA as part of a University Year for Action program while earning her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. Later, she received a Bachelor’s degree in Education, a Master’s degree in Educational Administration, and a Juris Doctor degree-Law. Carole utilized the skills and training she received during her first VISTA year throughout her career that spanned the fields of education, health care, justice systems, and nonprofit management. Aware of the benefits of national service, Carole created a number of AmeriCorps and VISTA programs for schools, community nonprofits and tribal governments in Washington State, in Wyoming and for the Wind River Indian Reservation where she performed work for twenty-seven years. Carole’s son is a USU Aggie (Class of 2019). His studies there brought her to the beautiful Cache Valley where she enjoys the mountains, music, flowers, trees, and Tai Chi at the Cache Valley Senior Center. |
