As anyone who has worked with the Max A. Shacknai Center for Outreach, Volunteerism and Education (COVE) can attest, Assistant Director of the COVE Libby Boissy helps lead the ship with dedication, resourcefulness, kindness, strength and grace. Her role is all-encompassing, balancing everything from student group management to community outreach and partnerships.
“There is always a lot happening at the COVE! I have the privilege of serving as the assistant director, supporting both student programming and local community organizations,” Boissy explained. “This may include advising student-led volunteer teams, organizing departmental partnerships for on-campus community building, developing alternative break experiences or strategizing around new off-campus community connections.”
Boissy hails from southeastern Massachusetts but grew up spending a lot of time in the southern Adirondack region. She studied economic development at St. Lawrence University as an undergraduate and attended Northeastern University for her master’s degree, and she currently lives in Utica with her two black cats, Loki and Freya. Boissy came to Colgate University with a long background in nonprofit and volunteer work, after completing a year of AmeriCorps service with a small nonprofit in western Massachusetts that she ended up staying with for six years. She explained how her passion for nonprofit work started during her college years.
“At a student involvement fair, I joined the Habitat for Humanity club and began participating in weekend building projects for affordable housing,” Boissy said. “I ended up participating in and leading alternative break trips each spring to different Habitat affiliates, lived in the volunteer-themed housing on campus and focused my degree on community-based economic development. During my summers, I worked for one of the wildlife sanctuaries for the Massachusetts Audubon Society as well as Boston Habitat for Humanity.”
After college, Boissy joined the AmeriCorps through a Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Pittsfield, Mass., and took on additional roles in local coalition work with the Boston Federal Reserve. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic, Boissy decided to seek out a more traditional job.
“I enjoyed working in the field of affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization and community activism, but after the pandemic I was ready for the structure and support of a larger organization,” Boissy said. “I was lucky to hear about the opportunity at the COVE and Colgate and even more excited to come on board.”
Boissy speaks highly of the interdisciplinary nature of the job, especially the ways in which she is able to remain directly involved with service work while also helping run the COVE and its programs, including the COVE’s salvage program, where items leftover after students move out are repurposed and donated.
“Almost all of my favorite memories in the COVE involve getting out from behind my desk and getting back to my volunteer roots with hands-on service,” Boissy said.
She emphasized that community service work is deeply worthwhile, especially when people take the time to find organizations and missions that they can connect with.
“[Always] be willing to change your mind and explore your passion,” Boissy said. “It’s worth taking your time to gain experience in an area that genuinely piques your interest, especially to find work that brings you joy and purpose every day. There are so many pathways to engage and learn from your greater community and direct service through a nonprofit organization is just one way to build that connection. Opportunities such as AmeriCorps, City Year and other training programs that place you with strong, local nonprofits are fantastic on ramps to meaningful work and teach you skills that can be applied long after your term of service has finished.”
