Staff Spotlight: Catie Purrazzella

This week, meet Catie Purrazzella, our amazing Deaf and Hard of Hearing Coordinator!   

Hi Catie!, how long have you been at BU? I’ve been here two years, now.

What do you feel is the best part of the job? I feel very inspired when Deaf and hard of hearing students come to BU surprised and thrilled to learn we are a very accessible university comparing to other educational institutions. I feel that BU is very committed when it comes to providing access.

What is your most embarrassing moment? In middle school, I was walking past my crush in the hallway not paying attention to where I was going and walked directly into a wall-mounted drinking fountain. My crush saw the whole thing and laughed.  

Do you have any hobbies or an unusual talent? I can blow bubbles out of my mouth. I used to do that a lot in high school when I was bored in class.

What advice do you have for new students? Go to class. Get involved on campus. It is much better to finish a semester ‘late’ than to have a nervous breakdown because of over-scheduling yourself. In the bigger picture, a few months or even a year does not make that much of a difference, unless you want to brag about how you finished school on time. Remember your roots, keep in contact with your family. No one in college knows what you were like in high school, this is the best time to try new things (safe and smart ones, of course) for yourself.

How did you get into this work? My passion for advocating and providing communication access for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals started when I worked as a case manager for the New Jersey State Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing eight years ago.

What is the best way to make friends at BU? What friends? I don’t have any. Just kidding! Get involved with student activities organizations. Why? Each student comes from different academic paths at BU and they can connect you with others!