Elizabeth Protzman, President 

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

Shauntaye Williams-Monroe, Communications Council Director

Shauntaye Williams-Monroe is from Norwalk, CT and has been a resident of New Haven since 2002. In her current role as Associate Director of Alumni Communications at the University of New Haven, Shauntaye supports all internal and external communications and organizes in person and virtual events for University Alumni.

In her previous role at Tow Youth Justice Institute/University of New Haven, she was responsible for raising public awareness of TYJI’s programs and projects and organizing annual events, as well as maintaining all internal and external communications for the organization.

Shauntaye is the Owner and Head Coach for a local volunteer lead, non-profit Track & field organization called New Haven Age Group Track Club, which she truly enjoys.

Ms. Williams-Monroe earned her Masters of Arts Degree in Communication with a Concentration in New Media Marketing from Southern New Hampshire University. Ms. Williams-Monroe is a member of the Communications Network, Social Media Association, Black Marketers Association, and the American Marketing Association.

When not working on new projects & planning events, Shauntaye enjoys spending time with her husband and four daughters.

You can connect with Shauntaye  here: communications@jlgnh.org

Yasmin Blackburn, Finance Council Director

Yasmin Blackburn hails from Brooklyn, NY.   She has lived in Connecticut for almost 20 years.  As the Director of HR and a Senior Associate at Kidambi & Associates, P.C. in Trumbull, Connecticut, Yasmin specializes in bringing multinational and executive managers, engineers, doctors, and professional athletes and coaches to the United States on a temporary and permanent basis. 

Yasmin currently serves as the Chair for the American Immigration Lawyer's Association, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and as a Corporator for The Milford Bank. She is a mom, a life-long Girl Scout, and a fierce advocate for the people she serves both on the job and in the community. Since 2010, Yasmin has run a multi-level Girl Scout troop in Bridgeport, CT and she has served as a Gold Award mentor since 2013. In 2016, Yasmin was nominated to serve on the Board Development Committee for Girl Scouts of Connecticut and in 2023 joined the Board of Directors as a Member at Large. Yasmin is an active and proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Links, Inc. 

She earned her J.D. at Temple University Beasley School of Law and also holds Bachelor’s and Master's  degrees from Iowa State University.

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

Ebony McClease, Community Council Director

Ebony McClease (she/her) is an Intersectional Educator & Grass Roots Human Rights Activist born & raised in New Haven, Connecticut.  She currently serves as a Special Education Teacher at Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven. Ebony has always served her community in various capacities. She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated. She also is a member of Amnesty International USA where she serves as the Legislative Coordinator for Connecticut overseeing their human rights portfolio for CT at the state, local and national level. She also serves on the Legislative Coordinator Steering Committee.  

With education being an important aspect of her life, Ebony is a graduate of Canisius College with a triple major in Political Science, Criminal Justice and Psychology. She also holds a MA in Women Studies, a MS in Political Science and a Sixth Year Degree in Education. 

When not working Ebony enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

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

Hallie Reiger, Membership Council Director

You can contact Hallie here at: membership@jlgnh.org

Amy Nelson, Assistant Finance Council Director

Amy Nelson is the former Communications Council Director for the Junior League of Greater New Haven and current Assistant Finance Council Director. 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: assistfinance@jlgnh.org

Damaris Clark-Spear, Nominating and Placement Committee Chair 

Damaris Clark-Spear is the Nominating and Placement Committee Chair for the Junior League of Greater New Haven's 2024-25 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: nominating@jlgnh.org