Biography

Carlos has extensive knowledge and experience in the helping professions. For over 23 years, Carlos worked in health and human services which encompassed working in the fields of public education, juvenile justice, public and community health, mental health promotion and prevention, and addiction prevention and recovery. His experience entailed several years of direct service, supervision and later in management and directorship roles in the areas of prevention, treatment, recovery, advocacy, and community and civic engagement. 

Carlos has trained and educated thousands of community health and human service providers, addiction and mental health providers, public school faculty, gaming industry officials, law enforcement officers, government officials, legislators, and lay audiences over the past two decade both statewide in Connecticut and nationally on the topics of prevention, advocacy, cultural competency, and community engagement. 

Carlos now serves as a faculty member with the Connecticut State College and University system where he shares his passion and experiences through teaching for the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department at CT State Housatonic. He has been a consultant, facilitator, and trainer with the Courage to Speak Foundation for over 12 years and a facilitator with the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) since 2000. In addition, Carlos has over 20 years of experience coaching and mentoring youth through sports. 

Carlos holds a Master of Science in Management and Organizational Leadership, a Bachelor of Science in a dual major of Psychology and Human Services, a Behavioral Healthcare Certificate, with additional certifications and training in Substance Use Disorder, Mental Health, Problem Gambling, Addiction, Recovery Coaching, Gerontology, Mental Health First Aid and Narcan. Carlos is also fluent in both Spanish and Portuguese. 

Carlos is married to his wonderful wife of 25 years, and they are the parents of 4 beautiful children and an adopted dog who was rescued during the midst of the pandemic in late 2020. 

“I am profoundly grateful to be back home in Bridgeport where I was born and raised and at Housatonic where I was a student in the Human Services and Behavioral Health Care Certificate Program. I have worked in the health and human services, addiction, and mental health field for the past 23 years and I owe it to Housatonic for giving me the foundation and knowledge early on. I have always had a passion and love for helping and serving others and Housatonic helped guide me to the work I have had the pleasure of doing all these years. I have serviced youth, families and adults of all ages and later had the opportunity to manage programs and services throughout our state. So, Housatonic has always had a special place in my heart, and I always knew that I would come back to serve the students, our future! In 2019, under the leadership of Dr. Edward Keane, I was offered the opportunity to teach as an adjunct professor with the Behavioral and Social Sciences Department and loved everything about it. I loved teaching and meeting some wonderful students. In 2022, my dream came true! I was offered the opportunity to join the department as a full-time faculty member. I am beyond thrilled to be at HCC and have joined a wonderful team! God is great! 

Thank you to the Human Resource Personnel, the panel of interviewers, Claudine Coba-Loh, Coordinator of the Human Services Program, Tonya Rondinone, Chair of the Behavioral and Social Sciences Department, and our President, Dr. Dwayne Smith for this amazing opportunity and making this Bridgeport native and former student believe that he can one day be in front of the classroom teaching and leading our future!” With gratitude, -Carlos Reinoso Jr.