Our Team

Dr. Pina Violano is an interdisciplinary scientist and a notable figure in the Connecticut community. Her scholarly work integrates nursing and public health to guide the Swords to Plowshares Northeast (S2PNE) program in its development, grants, and research. As Founder of Guns2Gardens CT, Dr. Violano spearheads statewide gun buyback and safe gun storage programs aimed at enhancing public safety for all residents. A passionate advocate for child protection and well-being, she served over 14 years as the Principal Investigator for the Injury Free Coalition for Kids of New Haven and is an active appointed member of Connecticut’s Child Fatality Review Panel. As a pioneer of Yale New Haven Hospital’s Injury & Violence Prevention Program, she continues to be sought out as a leader in violence prevention and in 2021 an appointed member of Connecticut’s Commission on Community Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention.  Her longstanding research focuses on reasons for owning a firearm, firearm storage practices, motivation to turn in a firearm, thus informing public health policy. Dr. Violano has presented evidence-based data to the Connecticut state legislature, testifying on behalf of all residents.

With over 40 years of experience as a Registered Nurse in critical care and emergency medicine, Dr. Violano employs her extensive expertise to educate the next generation of nurses. As an Associate Professor of Nursing at Quinnipiac University, she mentors hundreds of students annually and reaches thousands of Connecticut residents through outreach and prevention programs. In her role as Director of  “Quinnipiac School of Nursing Community Engagement Program,” she  provides experiential learning combining teaching, nursing practice, and hands-on community service. This program involves students in data collection at gun buyback and safe storage events, furthering their practical experience. Dr. Violano applies her PhD in Public Health to disseminate research nationally and has secured funding for special projects for  Guns2Gardens CT. She serves on various boards and, with numerous awards in nursing and public service, she generously nominates her students and colleagues for recognition. Her leadership drives change and her dedication to making our country safer is both inspirational and invaluable.

Bio coming soon...

Vin Coglianese is an Emergency Medical Technician holding his New Jersey, Connecticut, and National Registry licensure. He is a healthcare professional with a strong passion for emergency medicine, public health, and community outreach. Through his work in EMS and healthcare education, he has gained hands-on experience responding to medical emergencies, providing patient care, and supporting health initiatives both on campus and within the community. Vin is committed to serving others through compassionate care, leadership, and advocacy for accessible healthcare education and prevention programs.

In addition to his EMS experience, Vin has been actively involved with the nonprofit organization "In A Heartbeat" Foundation, where he has participated in youth cardiac screening events, CPR/AED education, and community health outreach initiatives. Over the past year and a half, he has helped screen more than 100 young individuals for potential cardiac conditions and contributed to expanding awareness surrounding sudden cardiac arrest prevention. His dedication to community health and preventative medicine led to his appointment to the organization’s Board of Directors, where he continues to support lifesaving initiatives and public health advocacy.

Beyond his clinical and nonprofit work, Vin has developed a strong interest in the intersection of emergency medicine, preventative healthcare, and community engagement. He is passionate about creating programs that improve public access to lifesaving education and empower individuals to take an active role in their health and safety. Whether working directly with patients, assisting at community events, or collaborating with healthcare professionals, Vin brings a service-oriented mindset and a commitment to making a meaningful impact in the communities he serves.

Kendell L. Coker is a clinical psychologist with a specialization in forensic psychology and an attorney. His primary research interests include the study of trauma, substance use, juvenile delinquency, and aggression/violence (e.g., community violence, interpersonal violence, group conflict). His research also explores racial and health-related disparities in the criminal justice system and the contributing impact of systemic bias/discrimination. These research areas tend to naturally intersect. It is not uncommon for trauma and substance use to co-occur among individuals and serve as risk factors for violence and criminal justice involvement. He emphasizes that we also cannot ignore the role of deeply rooted societal bias and discrimination as causal factors in multiple negative outcomes among minoritized populations.

He strongly believes in research-informed policy. He has experience working with researchers and policy makers to advocate for social justice initiatives. He served as a council member on the Juvenile Defense Resource Institute at Northwestern University School of Law, which was a project designed to strategize ways to reduce recidivism and improve legal representation of juveniles involved in the criminal justice system. He works with state officials, non-profit organizations, and local stakeholders to mitigate the harms of gun violence and fight for common sense gun legislation. He is currently the co-editor of the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry which is an American Psychological Association (APA) journal and the principal publication of the Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice.