Anthony holds a bachelor’s degree in general psychology from Union Institute and University, and a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Massachusetts Global. Since 2013, Anthony has worked in the sectors of Human Services/Social Work, Substance Use Disorders, Mental Health, homelessness, restorative justice, and reentry as a group facilitator, peer mentor, educator, substance use counselor, advocate, and reentry coach. He currently works as Program Manager for Central City Recovery, a 60-bed residential treatment center that treats co-occurring substance use and mental disorders. From 2015 to 2019, he served as a youth mentor with Mule Creek State Prison’s Juvenile Diversion Program, and from 2018 to 2019 as Head Operating Facilitator for the New Options for Wellness program, a nonprofit dedicated to rehabilitation, recovery, and reentry. Since 2021, Anthony has held certifications with the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC); as a Department of Transportation (DOT) Substance Abuse Professional; and as a facilitator for the Youth Peer Mentorship Program (YPMP), where he facilitates the Mindfulness-Based Substance Abuse Treatment (MBSAT) Program. He is a certified Anger Management Specialist I (CAMS I) with the National Anger Management Association (NAMA). Anthony served as a contributing editor on the books, “Soft Skills Training: Workforce Fundamentals”, and “Juvenile Offenders: From Big Wheels to the Big House.” In 2018, Anthony collaborated with his classmates and Social Work/Human Services Professor to author the academic article, “Seen But Not Heard: Personal Narratives of Systemic Failure Within the School-to-Prison Pipeline.” He also works in his free time as a reentry coach, utilizing his lived experience and education to assist individuals reentering society who face similar challenges. Anthony’s lived experience includes a young life that led him to a lifestyle that resulted in a 34-year prison sentence. While serving 18 years of that sentence, Anthony found solace and self-efficacy through education and rehabilitative pursuits. These experiences greatly inform Anthony’s passion for education and helping others to achieve their educational goals.
