Charter Oak State College is proud to announce that the 2013 recipient of the College's annual honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, will be Kimberly L. Beauregard. Beauregard, a LCSW, is President and CEO of InterCommunity, Inc. in East Hartford, a community behavioral health organization. This accomplished Charter Oak alum will be awarded the degree at the College's commencement ceremony on June 2 in Welte Auditorium at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, CT.
Each year, this honorary degree is awarded by the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education and Charter Oak State College to an individual or individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the College and to local, national and/or international communities and who have influenced advances within their own professional fields.
"Ms. Beauregard represents the qualities of community service, personal commitment to education, and collaboration that Charter Oak seeks to promulgate," said Charter Oak State College President Ed Klonoski. "Her long service to those living with mental health challenges has made her a leading figure in this important arena. She is an alumna of whom we are exceptionally proud."
Beauregard, who lives in Meriden, CT, has served as President and CEO of InterCommunity since 2003, following an 18-year career in social services at Rushford Center/MidState Behavioral Health System. She works collaboratively with the Board of Directors, executive leadership team, and area providers to ensure the highest quality of service is provided to clients of InterCommunity.
After receiving her bachelor's degree from Charter Oak in 1993, she went on to earn a Master of Social Work and Master of Urban Studies from Southern Connecticut State University, and a Master of Psychology from California Coast University. Prior to attending Charter Oak, she earned her Associate of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Mattatuck Community College and a paralegal certificate from the National Institute of Paralegal Studies.
InterCommunity is a non-profit community agency providing mental health and addiction services to individuals, families, and communities within the state of Connecticut for over 35 years. While at InterCommunity, Beauregard oversaw a radical change in how the organization worked with clients, shifting from a maternalistic approach to a more client-directed approach. As a result, the clients were leading their own recovery - which drastically increased success rates.
Under her leadership, InterCommunity has become very innovative and flexible, always trying out new ideas and new programs. "We're not risk adverse. We will always try something new and see if it works." And well worth the effort, she said. "It's about hope. I'm privileged to work there and see the work people do every day."
InterCommunity was named a Top Workplace by the Hartford Courant in 2011 and 2012. Beauregard received the Dorland Health Care Award - Top Behavioral Health Care Professional in 2010, and the Hartford Business Journal Health Care Heroes Award - Advancements in Health Care Innovation in 2010.
Beauregard is proud to receive Charter Oak's honorary doctorate this year, as receiving a doctorate has been one of her life goals. "It shows that just because things don't happen in your planned timeframe, it doesn't mean it isn't going to happen," she said, and added that her time as a Charter Oak student was integral to the successful career she has today. "If you can be creative and flexible and have someone there - like Charter Oak was for me - you have hope. Charter Oak gave me hope."