Andrea Ruggirello

Andrea has more than a decade of experience in education, non-profits and writing. (Writing professionally, that is. Her early work can be found in storage in her parents’ basement.)

Seeking meaningful work after college, Andrea joined AmeriCorps, which set ablaze her passion for education. She spent two years as an AmeriCorps member with City Year, working with underserved youth in Boston Public Schools. Afterward, she joined City Year’s Program Design team, working on afterschool programming, family engagement, and school events. There, she created research-based guidebooks and training materials for field staff, oversaw the implementation of signature afterschool programming in 26 sites across the country, and supported events of up to 800 participants.

Andrea went on to earn her MFA in creative writing at West Virginia University where she taught composition and fiction courses and published her work in literary magazines and other publications. She also worked as the creative writing program assistant, overseeing the department blog, supporting outreach efforts, and launching and maintaining the department Instagram. She volunteered with various groups organizing student and external readings, collaborating with local high school teachers to integrate poetry in their English curriculum, sending books to Appalachian prisons, and teaching adult ESL classes.

Just prior to joining The Hatcher Group, Andrea worked at LIFT, an anti-poverty nonprofit, as a grant writer. Originally from Staten Island, she currently lives in D.C. and enjoys travel, trying new fitness classes, and browsing small bookstores.

PASSIONS THAT BENEFIT MY CLIENTS