Our Staff
Executive Director
Alice Pritchard, Ph.D.
apritchard@cwealf.org
Alice Pritchard is the Executive Director of the Connecticut Women's Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF). CWEALF is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women, girls and their families to achieve equal opportunities in their personal and professional lives. Dr. Pritchard first joined the agency in 1991 and has served as CWEALF's Executive Director since 2001. Dr. Pritchard is nationally recognized for her expertise in women's issues.
Dr. Pritchard has spent almost two decades conducting research, advocacy, training and technical assistance on issues related to education and workforce development. She oversees CWEALF's research on the status of girls in education and provides presentations to a variety of audiences on education and training issues. She has conducted evaluations of a variety of education and training programs including the Jobs First Employment Services System which provides employment and training services to individuals transitioning from welfare to work. In 2000, Dr. Pritchard began working with the Governor's Office for Workforce Competitiveness to support model programs and strategies for increasing the skills and career opportunities for low-wage and unemployed workers in Connecticut. In 2004, she was chosen to assist in the facilitation of the CT Career Ladder Initiative to create and promote model programs for career advancement in technology, health care and early child care and education fields. In addition, Dr. Pritchard coordinates the Allied Health Workforce Policy Board, which was legislatively created in 2005 to document workforce shortages in nursing and allied health professions and to make recommendations to promote recruitment and retention of these workers.
In an effort to raise awareness about the importance of workforce development, Dr. Pritchard created the Campaign for a Working Connecticut to mobilize a diverse coalition of education and training providers, advocates, employers, and labor unions to improve the state's workforce competitiveness. The Campaign's legislative agenda calls for significant investments of state resources in a number of education and training strategies for entry level workers to promote skill acquisition and career advancement.
Dr. Pritchard has authored and co-authored many academic publications and research reports and has served as a resource for both regional and national press. Dr. Pritchard received her Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut in 1996. Her doctoral dissertation documented the factors affecting the provision of job training services to low-income individuals in Hartford, Connecticut through the federal Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA).
Staff
Lucy Brakoniecki, Research & Evaluation Director
lbrakoniecki@cwealf.org
Lucy Brakoniecki serves as CWEALF's Research & Policy Director. She came to CWEALF in 2003 after completing her M.S.W. at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work. Ms. Brakoniecki conducts research on issues ranging from education to workforce development. She also serves at the lead researcher for the Vocational Equity, Research, Training and Evaluation Center (VERTEC). Ms. Brakoniecki is also responsible for planning and implementing CWEALF's G2O STEM Expos.
Blythe Chaffee, Administrative Assistant
bchaffee@cwealf.org
Blythe Chaffee has been the Administrative Assistant at CWEALF since 2002. Ms. Chaffee is responsible for program support, event planning, development, new staff orientation, and general office maintenance.
Kelly Fitzgerald, Program Assistant
Kelly Fitzgerald joined CWEALF's staff in January 2011. Ms. Fitzgerald previously interned at CWEALF as an undergraduate from Eastern Connecticut State University where she received her BA in Publich Policy and Government in 2007. She then attended Southern Connecticut State University where she received her MS in Public Policy in May 2010. Ms. Fitzgerald provides program support on workforce development issues and on the gender equity issues such as planning and executing STEM Expos.
Krystal Frazao, Development Coordinator
Krystal Frazao joined CWEALF's staff in November of 2010. She assists the Executive Director with developing and implementing the agency's annual fundraising plan. This includes planning and coordinating events, representing then agency to potential new markets and donors and researching and writing grant proposals. Ms. Frazao has her BFA in Dance Performance from the University of Arts and is currently completing a MPA with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from Walden University.
Ellen Grusse, Financial & Administrative Director
egrusse@cwealf.org
Ellen Grusse has been with CWEALF for over 30 years, originally as a Comprehensive Employment and Training Act employee, then as Financial Director. Currently Ms. Grusse is responsible for financial management and bookkeeping functions as well as overseeing daily management and operations of the CWEALF office.
Lisa Herrera, Project Coordinator
Lisa Herrera joined CWEALF in March 2011 to coordinate services to better provide for individuals who are representing themselves (pro se) in court. Ms Herrera has her undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Asian Studies. While at UW she was instrumental in developing and implementing new projects at El Centro Latino, a club that provided information and resources targeted to Latino students. At CWEALF she is responsible for the recruitment and training of volunteers and interns as well as ensuring successful implementation of the Pro Se Project. Ms. Herrera is fluent in English and Spanish.
Amy Miller, Associate Director
amiller@cwealf.org
Amy Miller has been with CWEALF since 1999 and has served as the Program and Public Policy Director since 2001. Ms. Miller manages CWEALF's Legal Education Program and implements CWEALF's public policy activities. Ms. Miller is responsible for leading several coalitions, writing public testimony for issues being considered by the state legislature, and conducting research and evaluation on workforce development and education programs for low-skilled workers. Ms. Miller has her M.S.W. from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work.
Nilda Rivera, Community Advocate
nrivera@cwealf.org
Nilda Rivera joined the CWEALF staff in 2004 as a Bilingual Community Advocate. Ms. Rivera conducts extensive outreach to community organizations in the Greater Hartford area to provide individuals with legal information and referrals on family, employment discrimination, civil rights, and education equity, and helps clients navigate legal and social service systems. Ms. Rivera sits on the board of Aspira of Connecticut and the City of Hartford Grandparents Committee. Ms. Rivera is bilingual in English and Spanish.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Adrienne Parkmond, President
The Workplace, Inc.
Howard Rifkin, Treasurer
Partnership for Strong Community
Jennifer Devine, Secretary
Department of Labor
Kevin Barry
Quinnipiac School of Law
Jacqueline Cantoni
United Healthcare
Cheryl Curtis
University of Hartford
Anne Dranginis
Rome McGuigan, P.C.
Michelle Duprey
City of New Haven
Grace Figueredo
The Hartford
Cynthia Hobbs
AT&T
Susan Kelleher
American Income Life
Fran Martin
Corporation for Supportive Housing
Bettye Jo Pakulis
Office of the CT Lieutenant Governor
Madeline Perez
Saint Joseph College
Calvin Price
Liberty Bank
Calvin Price
Liberty Bank
Marcus Rivera
Connecticut State Department of Education
Pierrette Comulada Silverman
Planned Parenthood of Connecticut
Kristiana Sullivan
CT Economic Resource Center, Inc.
Jan Van Tassel
Connecticut Legal Rights Project
