Craftsbury Sculling welcomes Ciara O'Sullivan and Alex Defuso

Please help us to warmly welcome Ciara O’Sullivan and Alex Defuso to the Craftsbury rowing full-time staff. Ciara and Alex join us from their most recent roles at Boston University and MIT. Ciara steps into COC sculling as the fleet manager and as a GRP assistant coach while Alex assumes the assistant sculling camp director role. 

Ciara O’Sullivan - Fleet Manager and GRP Assistant Coach

Ciara began rowing on the Schuylkill river in high school, leading them to 4 years of rowing at Temple University while using the summers to train in smaller boats. After graduating, Ciara trained and raced with the Vesper High Performance Group in Philadelphia before following their passion for coaching to Smith College where they also earned a masters degree in exercise and sport science. Most recently, Ciara’s three years of coaching with the Boston University’s Openweight Women’s Team has been highlighted by multiple conference championships and NCAA appearances. 

Ciara has been involved in coaching COC sculling camps since 2022 and is excited to join the community on a more full-time basis. 

“There are very few jobs that offer an opportunity to center the joy of sport, something Craftsbury does phenomenally well. It's what drew me to coach there in the first place, back in 2022. To have a role that provides me the chance to continuously elevate the magic of the sculling camps and push my capacity as a coach with the GRP is a dream. I'm honored to be trusted with the continued legacy of sculling at the Center.” - Ciara

Alex DeFuso - Assistant Sculling Program Coordinator

Alex, originally from Orlando, Florida, began rowing in middle school after attending a week-long learn-to-row camp with a friend. This led to rowing in high school and then Temple University where she met her now-wife (and Craftsbury coworker) Ciara. Alex holds degrees in psychology and sport management. She has spent most of her career on the administrative side of sport at Harvard and MIT, along with stints with the PennAC Jr. Gold Program, Sparks Rowing Camps, coaching with Smith College, Northfield Mount Hermon, and the Gentle Giant Rowing Club.

“It's a special opportunity to find somewhere that matches both your professional aspirations and your personal values/beliefs around what sport can and should be. Craftsbury is truly a one of one place and it's an honor to steward the programs!” - Alex