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EACE 2026 Board of Directors Elections

Director, Membership Recruitment & Retention

barbara zerillo headshotBarbara Zerillo, EdD
Senior Director, Career Development
Post University

1. Describe your interest in serving on the EACE Board in this capacity.

I am interested in serving as Director of Membership Recruitment & Retention because EACE has played an important role in my professional development, and I am eager to contribute at a deeper leadership level. Earlier in my career, I had the opportunity to serve as a committee chair within EACE. That experience allowed me to engage closely with colleagues across the region, support programming for our members, and gain a strong appreciation for the collaborative culture that defines this organization. Since that time, I have continued to take on leadership roles within my institution and within the broader career services field. These experiences have strengthened my ability to build partnerships, manage initiatives, and think strategically about how professional communities grow and evolve. At this stage in my career, I am seeking the next step in my service to EACE and see the Director of Membership role as a meaningful way to contribute. EACE provides an important professional home for many career services professionals across the Eastern region, and I believe thoughtful attention to membership growth and engagement is critical to sustaining that community. I would welcome the opportunity to support the board’s work in ensuring that current members continue to find value in the organization while also helping expand awareness of EACE to colleagues who may not yet be involved. Serving in this role would allow me to give back to an organization that has supported my own development while helping strengthen the network for the next generation of career services professionals.

 

2. What skills and experiences do you possess that have prepared you to be successful in this role?

My skills and experiences center on building strong professional communities and helping people feel welcomed and connected. From a strengths perspective, my CliftonStrengths results include Communication and Woo, and on the Predictive Index I am a Persuader. These strengths align closely with the work of membership development. Communication helps me clearly articulate the value of professional communities and create connections between people. Woo and a Persuader profile both reflect a natural ability to build relationships, reach out to new audiences, and help individuals feel comfortable engaging in a new network. In a membership role, these strengths support outreach, relationship building, and helping new members feel that they belong in the organization. I also believe these skills can help broaden participation by intentionally welcoming professionals who may not yet feel connected to EACE. My professional experiences have consistently focused on building communities. Earlier in my career, I founded and led the Worcester Young Professional Women’s group for LGBTQIA+ individuals. The group grew to more than 200 members across New England and hosted multiple events each month, ranging from social gatherings such as book clubs to professional programming like financial workshops and participation in the Worcester Pride Parade. My role focused heavily on growing membership, organizing events, and fostering a supportive network. In addition, I have served as a Director of a college career center for more than ten years. During the pandemic, I helped launch the online version of the New England Chief Career Services Officers group, which continues to meet bi-weekly today. These experiences building and sustaining professional communities would support my success in this role.

 

3. What ideas and/or goals do you have for this position?

If selected for this role, my first priority would be to conduct a clear assessment of the current state of EACE membership. This would include reviewing membership trends, identifying which institutions are consistently engaged, and determining where there may be gaps in participation across the New England region. Understanding this landscape would help guide a more strategic approach to membership growth and retention. One potential opportunity is increased outreach to institutions in New England that are not currently active EACE members. Many colleges and universities in the region have career services teams that could benefit from the professional development, networking, and collaboration that EACE provides. I would be interested in identifying those institutions and exploring ways to introduce them to the organization. This might include direct outreach, invitations to attend the annual conference, or opportunities to participate in specific programs or committees. In addition to expanding membership, I would also want to ensure that current members continue to feel connected and supported by the organization. Maintaining strong engagement among existing members is just as important as attracting new ones. Overall, my goal would be to support sustainable membership growth while strengthening the sense of community that makes EACE such a valuable professional network for career services professionals across the region.

 

4. EACE History/Additional Experience

Years of Membership: 12 years

EACE Service History: 

  • 2025-Present Co-Lead, Chief Career Services Officers Affinity Group
  • 2015-2017 Diversity & Inclusion co-chair;
  • 2015-2017 Nominating committee member;
  • 2013-2017 D&I Committee member;
  • EACE Conference presenter 2013, 2017, 2025;
  • EACE Webinar Panelist 2018

Awards & Presidential Citations:

  • Presidential Citation 2017

Additional Experience (outside of EACE):

I was on the board of directors for the NELGBTQ Conference in 2017

I also served as on an Advisory Board for the No Evil Project: https://www.noevilproject.org/

I was the founder and ran the board for the Worcester Young Professional Women's Group in Worcester, MA for several years.