Who We Are
Staff
Nicole M. Perone
National Coordinator
Nicole joined ESTEEM in 2020. As the National Coordinator, she is responsible for leading the strategic planning and vision of the ESTEEM program, along with serving as liaison for each of the site leaders, maintaining and updating the site materials, and planning and executing the annual Capstone Conference.
Nicole holds a Master of Divinity from Yale University, where she participated in the ESTEEM program. Her Bachelor of Arts in Theology with double minors in Italian and Catholic Studies was bestowed by Loyola University Maryland, where she graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa.
Nicole is also an adjunct professor of Catholic Studies at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. She has served on a number of boards and advisory bodies, and currently sits on the Executive Board of the Catholic Campus Ministry Association. In 2018, Nicole was a delegate to the Pre-Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment, and served on the writing committee for the final document. Her work has been published by America Media, Catholic News Service, The Jesuit Post, National Catholic Reporter, and US Catholic.
Nicole lives in Milford, Connecticut with her husband, John Grosso (communications consultant and digital editor for National Catholic Reporter); their daughter, Rosie; and their Golden Retriever, Ellie
Mary Pickens Corsones
Project Coordinator
Mary joined ESTEEM in 2018. As the Project Coordinator, she is the operational point of contact for site leaders and collaborates with the National Coordinator to manage the implementation of ESTEEM.
Mary also is the Director of Leadership Programming and Family Relations at The JWAS Foundation. In this role, Mary plans, facilitates, and evaluates all leadership programming activities for the Foundation. Additionally, Mary supports each Jaxson Scholar and their family throughout their educational journey.
Mary earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Michigan State University where she participated in the ESTEEM program. She earned her M.Ed. from the University of Notre Dame as an ACE Teaching Fellow in Richmond, Virginia.
Mary lives in South Bend, Indiana with her husband, Brendan, and their son, Theodore.