Barbara W. Morris, M.A. & A.S.A.
President and Executive ,Director
Barbara graduated from Fairfield University with undergraduate and graduate degrees in Mathematics (B.S), School Psychology (M.A.) and Applied Psychology (M.A.). She became an Associate of the Society of Actuaries (A.S.A.) while working for a major insurance company in Connecticut.
Barbara has worked both in Pupil Services and as a classroom mathematics teacher with students ranging from junior high school through community college. She has been an adjunct professor in Mathematics at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, Massachusetts from 2002 to the present.
Barbara has served in various capacities in local community organizations for over 30 years including school PTOs, Town Women Clubs and church and civic organizations while raising her family. Presently, Barbara serves on the the Human Rights Committee for the Horace Mann Education Association, Worcester Division. With a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Northeastern University, Barbara serves on PACIO's Board as President and Executive Director of the organization
Mark Bashour, M.Ed
Treasurer and Clerk
Mark has been a professor of Government and History at Quinsigamond Community College since 1998. He has taught courses in State and Local Government as well as U.S. Government.
Mark has been involved in several non-profit groups, including the Goddard Memorial Association which brought forth the Robert Goddard Monument in Worcester, Massachusetts, and his local Town Historical Society (past president). Mark has also served on the Massachusetts Community College Council for the past ten years. He has chaired and co-chaired several committees, and was the vice-chair of the MCCC negotiating committee from 2012 to 2014. The MCCC is the teachers union for Massachusetts State Community Colleges.
Richard Ricardi
Rick has worked in eastern, central, and western Massachusetts for 54 years, in education, the arts, civic engagement, and other realms. Rick has over 30 years experience in higher education and nonprofit fundraising, and community and church involvement. Rick is a Westborough resident with a family of 6, including Bamboozle.
Tracie D. Downey, MSW; BS Education
Tracie earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from Boston College and her undergrad degree in Education from the University of Vermont. She has been a clinical social worker in a family counseling center as well as a teacher. She has many years experience teaching and counseling children and youth with special needs. Tracie has also been active in her church with teaching, leading music as well as mission trips. Tracie is the mother of two teens and two dogs.
Eileen Hart
Eileen earned a B.A. Degree in Political Science from Fairfield University, and worked in High Education at Westchester Community College, New York, for over 30 years as an Administrator in Academic Affairs. Over the years, Eileen held jobs with increasing duties including representing the President and Vice President at meetings with governmental agencies – local, state, and federal. In addition her office interacted with local profit and non-profit groups requesting either meeting/class space at the college or joint offerings with the College. This includes programs of an educational and civic nature.
Board Member Emeritus
William McCarthy, PhD
Currently, Dr. McCarthy is a criminal justice professor, teaching at a few area colleges in Central Massachusetts. He has been involved in numerous activities which include the Boy Scouts of America and youth baseball and softball leagues.
Bill is deeply rooted in Massachusetts and politics where he has been an activist and a leader. As a State Committee Member in Worcester, and as a past County Club President, Bill has worked as a grassroots organizer, coordinator and campaign manager on a number of elections for candidates and for ballot questions. Bill has experience assisting people who have run for office, ranging from school committee and selectman races to city council campaigns, state level representative races and federal offices (representative, senator and president).
President and Executive ,Director
Barbara graduated from Fairfield University with undergraduate and graduate degrees in Mathematics (B.S), School Psychology (M.A.) and Applied Psychology (M.A.). She became an Associate of the Society of Actuaries (A.S.A.) while working for a major insurance company in Connecticut.
Barbara has worked both in Pupil Services and as a classroom mathematics teacher with students ranging from junior high school through community college. She has been an adjunct professor in Mathematics at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, Massachusetts from 2002 to the present.
Barbara has served in various capacities in local community organizations for over 30 years including school PTOs, Town Women Clubs and church and civic organizations while raising her family. Presently, Barbara serves on the the Human Rights Committee for the Horace Mann Education Association, Worcester Division. With a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Northeastern University, Barbara serves on PACIO's Board as President and Executive Director of the organization
Mark Bashour, M.Ed
Treasurer and Clerk
Mark has been a professor of Government and History at Quinsigamond Community College since 1998. He has taught courses in State and Local Government as well as U.S. Government.
Mark has been involved in several non-profit groups, including the Goddard Memorial Association which brought forth the Robert Goddard Monument in Worcester, Massachusetts, and his local Town Historical Society (past president). Mark has also served on the Massachusetts Community College Council for the past ten years. He has chaired and co-chaired several committees, and was the vice-chair of the MCCC negotiating committee from 2012 to 2014. The MCCC is the teachers union for Massachusetts State Community Colleges.
Richard Ricardi
Rick has worked in eastern, central, and western Massachusetts for 54 years, in education, the arts, civic engagement, and other realms. Rick has over 30 years experience in higher education and nonprofit fundraising, and community and church involvement. Rick is a Westborough resident with a family of 6, including Bamboozle.
Tracie D. Downey, MSW; BS Education
Tracie earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from Boston College and her undergrad degree in Education from the University of Vermont. She has been a clinical social worker in a family counseling center as well as a teacher. She has many years experience teaching and counseling children and youth with special needs. Tracie has also been active in her church with teaching, leading music as well as mission trips. Tracie is the mother of two teens and two dogs.
Eileen Hart
Eileen earned a B.A. Degree in Political Science from Fairfield University, and worked in High Education at Westchester Community College, New York, for over 30 years as an Administrator in Academic Affairs. Over the years, Eileen held jobs with increasing duties including representing the President and Vice President at meetings with governmental agencies – local, state, and federal. In addition her office interacted with local profit and non-profit groups requesting either meeting/class space at the college or joint offerings with the College. This includes programs of an educational and civic nature.
Board Member Emeritus
William McCarthy, PhD
Currently, Dr. McCarthy is a criminal justice professor, teaching at a few area colleges in Central Massachusetts. He has been involved in numerous activities which include the Boy Scouts of America and youth baseball and softball leagues.
Bill is deeply rooted in Massachusetts and politics where he has been an activist and a leader. As a State Committee Member in Worcester, and as a past County Club President, Bill has worked as a grassroots organizer, coordinator and campaign manager on a number of elections for candidates and for ballot questions. Bill has experience assisting people who have run for office, ranging from school committee and selectman races to city council campaigns, state level representative races and federal offices (representative, senator and president).