Hillside has named Patricia Washington Regional Director of the Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection (HWSC) program in Utica. In this newly created role, Washington will oversee HWSC’s Utica team as they deliver a proven core model of services to participating students in Proctor High School, Donovan Middle School and John F. Kennedy Middle School.
Washington has extensive leadership experience in non-profit, education and higher-education settings. She joins Hillside following a role as Administrative Program Director at Catholic Family Charities of Onondaga County, and previously held roles at Mohawk Valley Community College, The House of the Good Shepherd, United Cerebral Palsy, and the Utica City School District. She is active on regional boards including the Police Community Athletic League and Bridging the Gathering of All Parties.
“Our expansion to Utica is off to a great start with the addition of Patricia Washington to the Hillside team,” said Roderick Green, HWSC Executive Director. “Patricia’s deep community experience and proven commitment to youth and families make her an ideal choice for this important leadership role.”
Founded in 1987, HWSC partners with participating districts to support students who are at heightened statistical risk of not graduating from high school. The program’s wraparound services help those students graduate on time and with work-readiness skills that position them for success in their adult lives.
HWSC’s partnership with the Utica City School District was announced in March 2023, with a goal of serving 350 students beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year. HWSC also operates in school districts in the Syracuse, Rochester and Binghamton metro areas of New York State and Prince George’s County, Maryland. Syracuse students from the Class of 2022 who remained in HWSC throughout all four years of high school graduated at a rate of 92 percent.
A Utica native and a graduate of Proctor High School, Washington earned an associate degree in applied science from Herkimer Community College; a Bachelor of Science degree from SUNY Institute of Technology; a Master of Science from Grand Canyon University; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology with an emphasis in cognition and instruction.
Hillside is actively hiring to fill the Utica HWSC team. Visit our Careers pages to review available positions and apply today.