Meet Our Educators
The Women’s Center’s community educators are certified domestic violence and sexual assault counselors in accordance with CGS 52-146k. This gives our programs the added benefits, when necessary, of responding immediately to individual participants who are victims and facilitating a smooth transition for continuing services at our agency.
Melanie Danyliw, Director of Training, Program Development & Volunteer Services
Kelly Mullins, Program Manager of Education & Outreach, Director of Act Out
Melanie Romano, Women’s Center Prevention Educator
James Ascone, Women’s Center Prevention Educator
Melanie Danyliw
Director of Training
Program Development & Volunteer Services
Melanie has been at the Women’s Center for 19 years. Melanie conducts certification training for all staff and volunteers and sensitivity training for community professionals. POST certified, Melanie provides regional police recertification training; she is also part of the CT AIDS Education & Training Center at Yale School of Nursing’s statewide CME training team.
Melanie has represented the Women’s Center at CONNSACS’ College Consortium. Currently she is part of the core WCSU/Women’s Center team responsible for the revision and development of the Campus Alliance for Response to and Intervention in Domestic/Dating Violence and Sexual Assault (CARP) procedures. Melanie has also presented at state, regional and national conferences and serves as our legislative liaison to CCADV and CONNSACS.
Melanie’s advanced trainings include: Northwestern University’s MVP (Mentors in Violence Prevention) program, CDC / CALCASA conferences on primary prevention strategies, CT State’s Attorney conference on combating sex trafficking, National Social Norms Resource Center science-based prevention training, National Conference on Animal Cruelty and Interpersonal Violence, RICADV’s Safe and Strategic Use of Technology, UCONN’s Julian Ford’s TARGET trauma program (through CCADV), and the Salons Against Domestic Violence Cut It Out program.
Contact Information: 203.731.5200 x 224 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Kelly Mullins
Program Manager of Education & Community Outreach
Kelly became our Youth Prevention Educator in 2008. She was previously a residential counselor at the Elizabeth House domestic violence shelter. She is a certified Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault counselor/advocate and she holds certificates in Conflict Management and Mediation from Western Connecticut State University as well as certificates in Group facilitation.
She has extensive training in Promoting Pro-Social Behavior in Childhood and Innovative Ways to Reach & Engage Youth in Awareness, Prevention Education and Girl’s Circle group facilitation. In addition, she has completed advanced training in utilizing social media to reach the community, coercive control, engaging youth in awareness efforts, the LGBTQI spectrum, social networking, internet tools and strategies, internet safety and sexting.
She holds a degree in Communication and Theatre Arts and is the creator and Director of Act Out – an interactive, educational theatre troupe that travels to area schools to raise awareness and prevent violence. Kelly is a committee member of Operation Jungle Red (OJR), and numerous parent university programs.
Contact Information: 203.731.5200 x 233 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Melanie Romano
Women’s Center Prevention Educator
Melanie is a graduate of Providence College, where she was a student in the Liberal Arts Honors Program and graduated with a degree in Women’s Studies and Black Studies. She is certified as a Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Counselor and has been trained in Prevention Education and Social Networking to Engage Youth.
Contact Information: 203.731.5200 x 226/ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
James Ascone
Women's Center Prevention Educator
James Ascone holds certification in both Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Counseling and a degree in General Studies from Naugatuck Valley Community College. He is currently working toward a degree in Health Education at WCSU. James has been a youth coach since 2004 and has worked as a Para-Educator in the Danbury Public School System. He has extensive training in Special Education and is a mentor to students with special needs.
Contact Information: 203.731.5200 x 249/ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it