Meet Our Staff

Carmine Perrotti (he/him)

Director

cperrotti@providence.edu

Dr. Carmine Perrotti is Assistant Professor of Public and Community Service Studies, Director of the Feinstein Institute for Public Service, and Founder and Director of the Neighborly Engagement Research Lab (NERLab) at Providence College, his undergraduate alma mater. His teaching and research focus on the philosophy, pedagogy, and practice of service learning and community engagement in U.S. higher education. Committed to collaborative scholarship, Carmine partners with students and community members to explore how colleges and universities can cultivate more equitable community-campus relationships.​

Before joining the Providence College faculty, Carmine was Assistant Director of Community-Engaged Scholarship at the Swearer Center for Public Service and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Education at Brown University. He earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and a Master of Public Policy from American University. Earlier in his career, he held political appointments in the Obama-Biden Administration, primarily in the Office of the Under Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education.

Carmine lives in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Providence, RI, with his partner, Molly, and their dog, Bear.

Krissy Werner (she/her)

Associate Director

kwerner@providence.edu

Krissy collaborates with students, staff, and faculty to strengthen and expand PC’s community engagement. With 15 years of experience as an educator and nonprofit professional, she focuses on building sustainable community partnerships for social impact. Her teaching emphasized experiential and project-based learning, while her nonprofit work in Central America and sub-Saharan Africa centered on community-driven development and locally led solutions.

With a B.A. in Social and Cultural Analysis from New York University, a Master’s in Global Human Development from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, and a Secondary Teaching Certification from Providence College, Krissy is passionate about promoting responsible local and global citizenship.

In her free time, she enjoys exploring Rhode Island, hanging with her bouncy toddler, and attempting to learn new languages.

Maddie Harris (she/they)

Program Coordinator

mharri21@providence.edu

In Maddie’s role as Program Coordinator, she overlooks the Community Work Study program and acts as a liaison between the community partner and the student worker. She also supports the Feinstein Institute’s student workers, co-organizes programs with Global Service Learning, and aids the longevity, sustainability, and relationship of FIPS in the community.

As an AmeriCorps alumnx, both as a direct service associate with United Way King County and as an Afterschool Corps VISTA through North Carolina Campus Compact, she has a longstanding resume of serving communities. She received her Master’s of Education in Student Development Administration from Seattle University, where she completed various internships and assistantships in athletics, pre-college programming, student conduct, mental health advocacy, and residential life.

When not working or serving the community, Maddie enjoys reading, crafting, playing soccer and flag football, and hanging out with her chosen family.