New Haven-based Connecticut Voices for Children, a statewide think tank, on Monday named a former city and state education official as its new executive director.
The nonprofit, which focuses its research on advocacy on the well-being of children and their families, said Emily Byrne began leading the organization this week in place of Ellen Shemitz, who resigned in January after nearly six years in the role.
Connecticut Voices said Byrne has extensive experience in developing education, housing and economic development policies and programs.
Her professional career started in 2006 as a policy analyst for the city of New Haven, where officials said she played a key role in developing the country’s first municipal identification card for residents, regardless of their immigration status.
Since then, Byrne has held several governmental leadership roles, including director of strategic initiatives at the state Department of Education in 2011 and then director of strategy and innovation at the New Haven Housing Authority in 2014.
Byrne also founded the New Haven Promise college-scholarship program in 2010, which she stepped down from a year later to join the state education department.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Providence College and a master’s in public administration from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.
