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Longtime NELCWIT staff member named new Director of Domestic and Sexual Violence Projects

Zoraida Agudelo named to replace Mary Kociela, who retired
Posted on: November 5, 2021 - 3:48pm
Greenfield resident Zoraida Agudelo named to replace Mary Kociela, who retired

GREENFIELD – The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office has named Maria (Zoraida) Agudelo of Greenfield Director of Domestic and Sexual Violence Projects for the office, replacing Mary Kociela, who retired Thursday after 25 years with the office.

Zoraida Agudelo has been engaged in domestic violence prevention and advocacy on behalf of survivors of intimate partner abuse and since 1997. For 20 years, she worked at the New England Learning Center for Women in Transition (NELCWIT) where she served as shelter director, bi-Lingual domestic and sexual violence counselor and most recently, program manager.

She joins a staff of seven people in the DV unit, working out of the District Attorney’s Greenfield Office at  56 Bank Row, where she supervises three people.

Kociela retired on Thursday, Nov. 4, 25 years to the day since she started at the DA’s office, launching and heading up initiatives such as the Domestic Violence Intervention Project, leading the DA’s Task Force on Domestic and Sexual Violence, the Domestic Violence High Risk Team and other prevention work.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to work in this position to work with all our community partners,” Kociela said. “This work has meant so much to me.”

In retirement, she intends to continue working as a community member in the field of domestic violence prevetion. She also plans to spend a great deal of time wither her 3-month-old grandbaby, and pursue her interests of gardening, quilting and cooking.