FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - International Institute

670Clinton,AveBridgeport,CT06605
http://www.iiconn.org
FORIMMEDIATERELEASE
ContactInformation: MarieDallas
Tel.(203)336‐0141/Fax.(203)339‐4400
mdallas@iiconn.org
Claudia Connor Named President and CEO of the
International Institute of Connecticut
APassionateAdvocateforNewAmericans,IncludingImmigrantsandRefugees
Bridgeport,CT.March26,2015––TheInternationalInstituteofConnecticut(IICONN),thestate’s
leadinghumanserviceagencyforimmigrantsandrefugees,announcedtodaythatClaudia
ConnorhasbeennameditsnewPresidentandCEO.
Ms.ConnorisanattorneywhocomestoIICONNwithovertwenty‐fiveyearsofexperiencein
legalrepresentation,humanrightsadvocacy,fundraising,policyanalysis,strategicleadershipand
managementinthenon‐profitsectorintheUnitedStates,AfricaandSoutheastAsia.
SheiscurrentlyDirectorofStrategicFoundationPartnershipsatSavetheChildreninFairfield,
CT,whereshedoesfundraisingfromprivatefoundationsandmanageshigh‐levelfoundation
relationships.BeforejoiningSavetheChildrenin2012,Ms.ConnorworkedattheInternational
RescueCommittee,withUNICEFinMyanmar,andheldavarietyofotherservicepositionsin
AfricaandSoutheastAsia.Duringthecourseofhercareershesupervisedrefugeeresettlement
programofficesintheU.S.,setthestrategicvisionforanewlyestablishednationalprogramunit
thatincludedimmigrationservices,developedandexecutedanimpactassessmentofhuman
traffickinginterventions,andhasshownsignificantfundraisingabilitywithprivatephilanthropic
foundations.Shestartedhercareerdoingcriminaldefensetrialworkandprisoners’rights
litigationwiththeLegalAidSocietyinNewYorkCity.
JaneNorgren,IICONNChairsaid:“ClaudiabringstoIICONNtheperfectmixofmanagementskills
andknowledgeofimmigrationandrefugeeissues.Shewillbeapassionateandtirelessadvocate
forourclientsandavisionaryleaderwhowillcontinuetobuildIICONNintothestate’sleading
organizationforimmigrantsandrefugees.ItisatestamenttoIICONN’ssuccessasaneffective
humanserviceagencythatwewereabletoattractaPresidentandCEOofClaudia’sstature.”
Ms.Connorsaid:“IamhonoredtohavebeenselectedforthisleadershippositionatIICONN.It
willbeaprivilegetoworkwiththeIICONNstaff,Board,clientsandpartnerstocontinueto
advancetheagency’smission.Thechallengesfacingrefugeesandimmigrantsareincreasingly
complex.IembracetheopportunitytohelpleadIICONNasitevolvesandadaptstothechanging
needsoftherefugeesandimmigrantsitservesinConnecticut.”
Ms.ConnorsucceedsCynthiaRussell,whohasbeenIICONN’sinterimExecutiveDirectorsincethe
deathoftheformerExecutiveDirectorlastfall.Ms.ConnorwillassumehernewroleatIICONN
onApril27.
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NewIICONNCEOpg2
AboutIICONN:
TheInternationalInstituteofConnecticut,foundedin1918,isastatewidenonprofithumanservice
agencythatassistsrefugeesandimmigrantsinConnecticutresolvelegal,economic,linguisticand
socialbarrierssothattheybecomeself‐sufficient,integratedandcontributingmembersofthe
community.TheInstituteachievesthismissionbyprovidingacompassionatearrayofhigh‐quality
legal,socialandeducationalprogrammingandbypromotingcrossculturalunderstandingand
decenttreatmentforall.Italsoprovidesspecializedservicestovictimsofseriouscrimessuchas
humantrafficking,torture,anddomesticviolence.Eachyear,theInstituteassistsover7000
individualsfromitsofficesinBridgeport,StamfordandHartford.
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