A former assistant director of the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling has been named its executive director. 

Tamara Petro, currently executive director of the North Haven-based Multicultural Leadership Institute, will transition into her new job over the next several weeks, according to Willie Coleman, president of the CCPG board, who announced Petro’s appointment in a letter dated Wednesday. 

Both the CCPG, whose offices are in Clinton, and the Multicultural Leadership Institute are private non­profits. 

Coleman also announced that Cheryl Chandler, the CCPG’s interim executive director, has been named assistant director. Chandler has served as interim director since last July, soon after the board fired the previous executive director, Mary Drexler. 

“The board feels that having both Petro and Chandler as part of our team puts us in the strongest position moving forward,” Coleman wrote. “Their energy and complementary skills can really help the agency move where we would like it to go in the coming years. In this effort, the council remains committed to reducing the prevalence and impact of problem and pathological gambling in individuals, families, and society by providing information, education, prevention, and advocacy.” 

Petro, 43, has more than 20 years of experience as an administrator, health educator and advocate, according to a biography provided by the council. She has worked in such areas of health education as family planning, teen pregnancy, prenatal care for immigrant women, HIV/AIDS prevention, health care for the homeless, juvenile justice and underage drinking and drug use. 

A certified health coach and recovery coach, she has conducted hundreds of community-based training sessions and has spoken at more than a dozen local, national and international conferences. 

Petro has a bachelor’s degree from Southern Connecticut State University and a master’s degree in public health from Loma Linda University in California. She was assistant director of the CCPG from 2003 to 2006. 

Two of seven CCPG board members have left the board since Drexler was dismissed. One resigned, while the other, Gerald Katz, was voted off the board by the remaining members.

b.hallenbeck@theday.com 

Twitter: @bjhallenbeck