The Trinity Club of Hartford (TCOH) is a volunteer organization of dedicated alumni, parents, and friends of Trinity College living in the Hartford area. We provide financial support for the TCOH annual scholarship awards, and the Book Awards for local high school students. In addition, we honor a Person of the Year. The TCOH works with the Office of Alumni Relations and other departments in the College administration to plan events and keep alumni connected to the College, the City of Hartford, and each other. We hope you will consider becoming a dues-paying member of the TCOH. You will receive the following benefits:
Trinity Club of Hartford Executive Committee Leadership
Susan Church Zibell ’97 President
Susan currently serves as president and is the creative force behind our new communications initiatives. She previously served as vice president and secretary. While at Trinity, Susan participated in softball, soccer, and diving, and served as captain of the softball team her junior and senior years, earning the Richard Ellis Award for her leadership and commitment to her team. Susan fondly recalls her studies within the comparative religions department and her experiences while studying abroad in Vienna, Austria. Following graduation, she earned a Master of Science in Education and began teaching in the Connecticut public schools. She later returned to advanced graduate studies, earning a Sixth Year degree and her 092 certification in Educational Leadership and Administration from Quinnipiac University with distinction. Susan serves as a class agent and is active with the Women’s Leadership Council. She and her husband, Joe, currently reside in Kensington, Connecticut, with their two children, John and Katie.
Matt Smith ’82, P’19
Vice President
Matt Smith is a member of the Class of 1982 and the vice president of the Trinity Club of Hartford. He previously served as Chair of the Speaker Series. Matt majored in history, earned varsity letters in lacrosse and cross country, and served as co-captain of the cross-country team during his senior year. Matt received the Gold Award for three varsity letters in a single sport, and was also a member of St. Anthony Hall. During his time as an undergraduate, he spent a summer at the Trinity College Rome Campus. Following graduation, Matt embarked on a sales and marketing career, and earned his MBA from Northwestern University. Early in his career, he held leadership positions with Hero Beech-Nut Corporation, Nestle Nutrition, Integrated Brands, and Unilever Ice Cream North America. Matt is currently the chief marketing officer and general manager of Panacea Scientific, a health and wellness company. He received the Alumni Medal for Excellence at the 2022 Reunion. While at Trinity, Matt met his wife of 40 years, Ellin Carpenter Smith ’82, P’19, and they are the parents of Diana Rose Smith ’19. Matt and Ellin reside in Windsor, CT.
Amanda Curtiss ’15 Secretary
Amanda serves as the secretary of the Trinity Club of Hartford. Amanda has been a member of the executive committee since 2021. While at Trinity, she earned a degree in International Studies with a minor in Hispanic Studies. She was also the secretary and public relations representative for the Trinity College Black Women’s Organization (TCBWO). Amanda is a second generation Trinity alumna. After graduation, she worked at Goodwin College as a guest service representative. Shortly after, she was hired at Hartford HealthCare as a human resources assistant. She has been working at Hartford HealthCare for seven years now and currently works as an eLearning specialist. Amanda resides in West Hartford with her husband, James Curtiss.
Scott Lewis ’76, P’12 Treasurer
Scott has been an active member of The Trinity Club of Hartford since 2008. He is our current treasurer and formerly was the longest serving President of the Club having served in that position for 7 years. He graduated from Trinity in 1976 with a degree in psychology. After he graduated from law school, he moved back to Connecticut from Boston concentrating his practice in the areas of real estate, probate and litigation. He finds that he uses his degree in psychology daily in the practice of law. When people are in conflict, the ability to understand their personal and legal needs, as well as understanding his adversaries, is essential in achieving the desired results for his clients. Recently, Scott and his golden retriever, Watson, became a nationally credentialed Pet Therapy Team. They volunteer at Hartford Hospital every Saturday, making rounds to brighten the day of patients, medical staff and visitors. On Sundays he can be found with his mountain biking buddies riding the trails in the woods of Connecticut or Vermont. Scott is married to his wife, Heidi, who is also an attorney. They have two children, Jennifer ’12 and Emily, and are proud grandparents.
Pearl Rourke ’21
Women’s Leadership Council Ambassador
Pearl began serving as a member of the TCOH Executive Committee after graduating in 2021. She is the Ambassador for the TCOH and the Women’s Leadership Council (WLC). Additionally, Pearl is a member of the WLC program committee, and a class agent. While at Trinity, she was a member of Venture, and served as a mentor. Pearl was vice president of Ignite and the Newman Club, a member of the Pre-Law Society, and a teaching assistant. Pearl graduated from Trinity College with honors, Summa Cum Laude, and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Currently a third-year student at the University of Connecticut School of Law, she will receive a J.D. in May 2024. In addition, she will receive the Insurance Law and Regulation Certificate. At UConn Law, Pearl is the vice president of the Negotiation and Dispute Resolution Society, and a member of the Women Law Students’ Association. She received the Terry J. Tondro Award for excellence in the study and practical work for affordable housing. Pearl is also a member of the Oliver Ellsworth Inn of Court as well as the Young Lawyer Divisions for the Connecticut and American Bar Associations.
Carmen Leslie-Rourke ’82, P’21 Immediate Past President
Carmen is the immediate past president of the Trinity Club of Hartford. Previously, she has been a member of the Executive Committee since 2015. In addition, she is active in the Women’s Leadership Council. While at Trinity College, she earned a degree in Economics. Carmen enjoyed learning from the outstanding faculty at the College. She cherishes the friends she made at Trinity and still remains in contact with them. After graduation, she worked in New York City at an investment firm for a number of years, where she interacted with analysts on Wall Street. Carmen also attended Columbia Business School. She recently retired as the deputy registrar of voters for the town of Avon, Connecticut after serving for over ten years. Carmen resides in Avon with her husband Mark Sr., Class of 1983, and their children, Mark Jr., and Pearl, Class of 2021.
Executive Committee Members
Susan Church Zibell ’97, President
Matt Smith ’82, P’19, Vice President
Amanda Curtiss ’15, Secretary
Scott Lewis ’76, P’12, Treasurer
Pearl Rourke ’21 WLC Ambassador
Carmen Leslie-Rourke ’82, P’21, Immediate Past President
Claudia Baio ’86
Austin Berescik-Johns ’07
Francesca Borges Gordon ’82
Jeff Devereux ’12
Kathryn Maye Maggio ’78
Ernest Mattei ’70, P’03
Leslie-Rourke never turns down new opportunities to help the College. “I love Trinity,” she says. “Anything that is for Trinity, I will always say yes.”
Volunteer Spotlight: Carmen Leslie-Rourke ’82, P’19, Trinity College Reporter, Spring 2024
