“I am extremely passionate about alleviating poverty and improving opportunities for those who may encounter barriers upon entering higher education,” said Krista Zampacorta. The Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development will soon welcome Zampacorta as an Applied Community and Economic Development Fellow in political science.
Zampacorta majored in history at the University of Colorado. Among other service experiences, she completed two terms with AmeriCorps VISTA. In both cases, she felt personally connected to the organizations’ missions. With HistoriCorps, she worked with state and local governments in Colorado to research historical preservation as an economic development strategy. With Campus Compact, she developed a peer mentoring program for veterans and military students at Pikes Peak Community College. She had once been a student there herself as a military dependent.
The students she worked with there and her experiences with AmeriCorps inspired Zampacorta to pursue a graduate degree: “I was immediately drawn to the Stevenson Center because I am service-oriented and dynamic, and to say that I felt at home is an understatement. The opportunity to be in an interdisciplinary setting… [and] focus on community and economic development, as well as practical experience, really excites me.”
When her schedule allows, Zampacorta likes to play mandolin, ride her bike, play Camogie, read, learn languages, travel, and write.
Through its applied, interdisciplinary graduate programs, the Stevenson Center cultivates leaders in public service. The center welcomes those who have at least one year of full-time experience in community development or social services, whether through employment or programs like AmeriCorps and Peace Corps. The Stevenson Center also manages the Peace Corps Prep program for undergraduate students interested in Peace Corps service or careers in the public sector.
Shaylin Quaid is the Stevenson Center’s public relations intern.
