Meet the Team

Derisa Collymore

Director of Intercultural Life and First Generation Experience

Derisa Collymore (she/her) is the Director of the Anderson Freeman Resource Center. She provides strategic vision, supports campus equity and inclusion initiatives, serves as an advocate for underrepresented students, and organizes opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to form a community over shared identities. Derisa is a first-generation Caribbean American from New York City whose experiences in that diverse space first started her dedication to creating inclusive communities. Promoting community spirit, personal connections, mentorship, mutual learning, and collective support are at the core of her leadership style.

Derisa is also a first-generation student who earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature from Brenau University, a Master of Science in Administrative Leadership for Higher Education from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, and is currently working on a Doctor of Philosophy in Education with an emphasis on institutional effectiveness from North Dakota State University. Her work and research centers on enhancing higher education environments to foster a better sense of belonging for individuals from historically marginalized groups, and transforming practical approaches to BIPOC student support. Derisa’s other professional interests include bridging the K-12 to college gap for first-generation and low-income students, first-generation parent education and support, curriculum-based intercultural learning models, and immersive programming experiences. 

Outside of work, Derisa enjoys cooking and creating new recipes, creative writing, biking around her neighborhood, and finding new simple trails to walk and be outdoors. 

Email:

dcollymore@middlebury.edu

Office:

102 Carr Hall

Steve Zatarain

Assistant Director of Intercultural Life & First-Generation Experience

Steve Zatarain ’15 (he/him) is the Assistant Director of Intercultural Life & First Gen Experience at the Anderson Freeman Resource Center. 

Born and raised in Inglewood, California, Steve is a proud first-generation Mexican American who was the first in his family to attend college. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Middlebury, while dabbling in Education and Film & Media Studies. As a student, Steve co-founded MiddCAM (Middlebury College Access Mentors), worked at the IT Help Desk, and served on Res-Life.

After graduating, much to his own surprise– and yes, despite the winters–  he didn’t want to leave. Steve went on to become a Commons Residential Advisor and interim Residential Director, focusing on supporting students in their transition to college. Steve has also worked for the Posse Foundation in Los Angeles, the Middlebury Admissions Office, and the University of Vermont’s College of Education and Social Services, where he is currently finishing his M.Ed in Higher Education Administration. Steve is passionate about creating inclusive post-secondary opportunities for all students and helping them successfully connect the dots between their interests and the resources on campus that will allow them to thrive.

In his free time, Steve enjoys printmaking, listening to podcasts while walking in the woods, and taking in the Burlington music scene. He also serves as a Board Member for the Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation.

Email:

szatarain@middlebury.edu

Tel:

(802) 443-3243

Office:

104 Carr Hall

Elaine Orozco Hammond

She/Her

Director of Equity Initiatives

Elaine Orozco Hammond (she/her) is Middlebury’s inaugural Director of Equity Initiatives. She is responsible for the design and management of infrastructure and initiatives to support various groups of historically marginalized students on campus. This includes programming, budget administration, collaboration with campus departments and national organizations, as well as the oversight of Middlebury student cohorts like Posse, BOLD, Wily, QuestBridge, and undocumented/DACA students. Elaine also administers the Student Access and Support (SAS) grants program, which reduces financial barriers to full student participation in the Middlebury experience. 

The proud daughter of immigrants from the Philippines, Elaine grew up in the Washington DC area, earning a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and a law degree from the University of Baltimore. Before transitioning to higher education, Elaine served for a decade as the Executive Director of the Abramson Scholarship Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on college access by supporting low-income and high-achieving DC public school students through college. She is passionate about social justice, especially access and equity for all. Elaine currently serves on the board of The Atria Collective, a local organization that focuses on advocacy, education and social change to end gender-based violence. Elaine enjoys walking and running on Middlebury’s trails and back roads, making and eating all kinds of soup, and traveling with her family. If you have any questions about the Student Access and Support grants or just want to say hi, please come by 103 Carr Hall!

Email:

ehammond@middlebury.edu

Tel:

(802) 443-3491

Office:

Carr 103

Jenn Hayden

Coordinator of Equity Initiatives

Jenn Hayden (she/her) is Middlebury’s Coordinator of Equity Initiatives. She is responsible for supporting the office of Equity Initiatives as it works to identify and aide various groups of historically marginalized students on campus. This includes facilitating workshops and events, overseeing resources like the Winter Clothing Closet, collaboration with campus departments and affiliated partner programs, as well as the support of Middlebury student cohorts like Posse, BOLD, Wily, QuestBridge, and undocumented/DACA students. Jenn also approves Student Access and Support (SAS) grants and offers students guidance through their grant request process.

Jenn grew up in the mountains of Colorado, the daughter of a biology teacher and an English teacher. She has always had a strong drive to support groups that have been historically marginalized, even when she was a gangly 17 year old in high school working with the local PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) chapter to be their keynote speaker at the PFLAG western regional conference in 2001. She has spent time living and doing volunteer work in several countries outside of the United States including Germany, Japan, England, and Nepal. While working at Pueblo Community College, an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution), Jenn was a founding staff member of the schoolwide DEIA committee (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility). Currently, Jenn loves managing the Winter Clothing Closet, a free cold weather clothing resource for financial aid students, located on the Middlebury campus.

In her free time Jenn loves reading (everything from Tolkien to cozy mysteries to manga), baking breads and sweets, enjoying  Eurovision each May, and watching her new baby, Juniper, grow each week.

Email:

hayden@middlebury.edu

Tel:

(802) 443-2185

Office:

Service Building