Elizabeth Protzman, President - Elect

Elizabeth Protzman is from Connecticut, born in Hartford. She currently serves as the Director of Communications for the statewide non profit organization Winning Ways, a community mental health based education program for people overcoming reentry, in recovery, and from underserved communities. Their organization has been featured twice on WFSB's Great Day at 9a program!

Elizabeth has had a long career in human services and non profit.. She has worked with target populations including Veterans, people with disabilities, HIV+, women escaping domestic violence, criminal justice system involved persons, and teenaged girls in foster care. Her work has been published in two non fiction journals regarding homelessness prevention, and she has collaborated with Yale School of Medicine’s Infectious Diseases studies on comorbidities studies.

In 2009, Elizabeth survived a fatal boating accident that took the life of a very close friend. Since then she became a volunteer for Mother’s Against Drunk Driving, including fundraising for the Walk Like MADD Branford and Hartford 5k. Her advocacy and testimony helped alter drinking and boating laws to make Connecticut waters safer.

Elizabeth also has been a very vocal advocate for trauma survivors in Connecticut. She currently volunteers for the local anti trafficking organization Love146 to help prevent other girls from the same fate, as she is a survivor of childhood sexual assault.  She has supported the Hartford team, and founded and co-chairs the Love146 Greater New Haven Volunteer Team. She has served on the board of directors for the women’s organizations the Junior League of Greater New Haven (where she will be serving as President for the 2024-2025 term) and the Junior League of Hartford. She is a survivor of domestic violence and recounted her story as a part of the viral Women Empowering Women Events “Women Talk” Virtual Conference 2021, which was viewed by over 750 people. She has worked with several domestic violence organizations in Connecticut, and raised money for Interval House in Hartford. She was featured in two major exhibits highlighting women, including the Women Who Inspire Us 2021 at the Shops at Evergreen Walk and People: The Heart of Connecticut at the Noah Webster Museum in 2020.

She is an award winning actress and artist, having been named to the All Connecticut Cast by the Connecticut Drama Association and exhibiting in the Citywide Open Studios in New Haven. She is currently writing a true crime novel about a series of real events, tragedies, and murders in her hometown. She is a loving mother to two young sons, coaches Little League T Ball for the RHAM Youth Baseball League, serves as Den Leader for her son's Cub Scouts Pack 39, is a Buffalo chicken and craft beer super fan, and enjoys space opera or gangster movies. 

You can connect with Elizabeth at: presidentelect@jlgnh.org

Katherine Devine, Community Council Director

Katherine is the Community Council Director for the Junior League of Greater New Haven's 2023-2024 league year. She joined the Junior League in 2022 and has been an active member since. After moving back to her home state of Connecticut from New York City, she joined the league to connect with and learn more about her new home in New Haven, meet women actively looking to make a difference, and expand her in-person network while working remotely. As Community Director, Katherine is responsible for community partnerships, league volunteer opportunities, and the High School Volunteerism award.

Katherine is originally from West Hartford, Connecticut. She earned her Bachelors of Arts in Environmental Studies at the University of Vermont, and upon graduation returned home to work in nature based early education programs before heading off for an adventurous year in Northern Thailand, developing an educational non-profit. She then returned to Hartford, where she worked in the CT state legislature, ran a political campaign, and reconnected with her friends and family before beginning her graduate degree studies in Non-Profit Management at the New School in New York City. In New York, she also began interning at the UN Global Compact, learning about corporate sustainability and worked her way to Senior Manager for International Events. The events of 2020 brought her back to Connecticut, where she took on a new role in social services, working for the CT Office of Early Childhood, serving children and families across the state. 

Katherine currently lives in East Rock in New Haven and loves yoga, hiking, days at the beach, live music, coffee shops, trying new restaurants, quality time with her friends and family, and connecting with new people. 

You can connect with Katherine here: community@jlgnh.org

Membership Council Director

You can contact here at: membership@jlgnh.org

Amy Nelson, Communications Council Director

Amy Nelson is the current Communications Council Director for the Junior League of Greater New Haven. She has been a member of the League since 2022. As a new mom Amy joined the Junior League to better connect with the local community and meet like-minded women. In her role as Communications Council Director, she is responsible for all internal and external communications for JLGNH. 

Amy is from Waterbury, CT originally. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences from Springfield College and a Masters Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Capella University. Amy works for a non-profit organization here in Connecticut as a Behavior Specialist where she works with Adults of all ability levels in Day and Residential settings. She moved to Wallingford in June 2020, where she lives with her husband, her daughter, 3 dogs, 1 cat and 10 chickens.  

Amy's previous volunteer experience includes building homes in New Orleans with Alternative Spring Break, participating in local food drives, and volunteer opportunities within her church community. In her spare time she can be found enjoying time with her family, tending to her garden, reading or needlepointing. 

You can connect with Amy at: communications@jlgnh.org

Damaris Clark-Spear, Finance Council Director 

Damaris Clark-Spear is the Finance Council Director for the Junior League of Greater New Haven's 2022-23 League year. She has always had a passion for volunteering and is very excited to see what the JLGNH can accomplish in her fourth year with the organization. She is very proud of the Junior League and its wonderful initiatives to enrich and empower our community. 

Damaris works in PR and marketing. She is a proud advocate for women’s rights, a fierce advocate of LGBTQIA+ rights, Civil rights, and a lifelong ally of animals and the environment. Damaris loves skiing, hiking, tennis and taking her dog to the beach. 

You can connect with Damaris at: finance@jlgnh.org