Joseph has been the Chief Development Officer for the Diocese of Bridgeport since 2020. Joseph manages the Development Office and is responsible for all revenue generation, including major gifts, capital campaigns, planned giving and annual campaign giving.
In addition, Joseph is currently the Interim Executive Director for Foundations In Education, a non-profit initiative created to assist the Diocese of Bridgeport’s ongoing mission to support Catholic education in Fairfield County. In 2025, Foundations In Education awarded almost $3.0 million in tuition assistance to over 1,100 students.
Previously, Joseph was a Major Gifts Officer for Manhattan College. Joseph was responsible for Manhattan’s $165 million capital campaign, with a specific focus on collaborating with Manhattan’s renowned Schools of Engineering and Science.
Joseph is the current Chairperson for the Young Catholic Professionals chapter in Fairfield County; was actively involved in the fundraising for the $2.5 million Parish Center at St. Patrick’s Parish in Armonk, NY; and served as a volunteer consultant for Archbishop Stepinac High School’s 75th anniversary capital campaign.
Joseph’s corporate experience consisted of multiple-senior level sales and marketing positions in the media industry. Joseph worked at industry leaders NBC and Disney, as well as independent, entrepreneurial organizations, Raycom Sports and ReelzChannel. Joseph has expertise in sports and entertainment programming, managing both sales and strategy teams.
Joseph received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School of Communications and a Masters of Science degree from Manhattan College in Organizational Leadership.
Joseph has been married to his wife Julie for 39 years, is blessed with four children and four grandchildren and resides in Armonk, NY.
Diane joined Foundations in Education as Assistant to the Executive Director, tasked with the administrative support of Holly Doherty-Lemoine as well as other initiatives that advance the organization’s mission of strengthening and transforming Catholic education. Previously, Diane worked as Development Associate at New Beginnings Family Academy in Bridgeport where she spent five years researching and writing grants and planning fundraising activities and events. Before becoming Development Associate, she spent six years as Executive Assistant to both the Development Director and the Executive Director of New Beginnings Family Academy. Diane holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in English with a Minor in Business from Sacred Heart University. She resides in Stratford with her family and is a member of St. James Parish where she volunteers with their women’s and music ministries.
Email: Diane.Canevari@diobpt.org
Emily Carriero-Burger was appointed Assistant Director of Development in August 2022.
Emily is passionate about working to educate youth in their faith journey. Emily has worked at nonprofit organizations for more than seven years, where she organized events, created content, and managed multiple social media platforms, one with over 1 million followers. She is eager to bring her knowledge and skillset to Foundations In Education, Inc. to broaden our friend and donor base, oversee annual fundraising initiatives, manage fundraising events so as to contribute to help educate youth and empower them in their faith journey. Emily is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Manhattanville College. In her spare time, Emily serves as an elder at Rye Presbyterian Church, a role she has held for six years. She enjoys dance and continues in this hobby as her schedule permits.
Foundations in Education is pleased to introduce Hannah Gibson as our new Assistant Director for Scholarships and Grants. In this role, Hannah will lead our scholarship and grants programs, bringing a wealth of experience and a strong personal connection to Catholic education.
Hannah grew up in North Carolina, where she attended K-8 Catholic schools, and she has carried forward a lifelong passion for education and values-driven work. She brings over eight years of experience designing and managing mission-focused programs across the nonprofit and international development and humanitarian aid sectors, with expertise in scholarship and grant oversight, financial stewardship, and program impact measurement.
She has managed multi-million-dollar grant portfolios and built systems that strengthen accountability and outcomes, while also securing new funding to advance programs in education, youth empowerment, health, and humanitarian response. At the heart of her career is a commitment to expanding opportunities for young people and ensuring organizations can deliver on their missions with both clarity and integrity.
Hannah lives with her husband in Southbury, CT and is a member of Sacred Heart Church. In her free time, she loves reading, baking, and any sort of physical activity that gets her outside.
Hannah is excited to partner with all of you in advancing Foundations in Education’s mission through scholarships and innovation grants that support students, educators, and Catholic schools.
