Commissioners
Antonia “Toni” Moran, Chair
Appointed by House Majority Leader Denise Merrill in 2010, Commissioner Moran is a retired CCSU political science professor, having taught courses in government, law and women’s studies, as well as directing the University’s government internship program and serving as pre-law advisor. She founded and directed CCSU’s Center for Social Research, served on multiple campus committees, and received the University’s Distinguished Service Award in 1998. Her prior government service includes membership on the State Employees Retirement Commission and the State Board of Labor Relations. Currently she is a member of the Mansfield Town Council.
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Melanie O’Brien, Vice-Chair
Commissioner O’Brien was appointed in 2008 by Gov. M. Jodi Rell. Ms. O’Brien is an attorney in private practice in Bethel, Connecticut.
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Denise Rodosevich, Treasurer
Commissioner Rodosevich was appointed in 2008 by Gov. M. Jodi Rell, and is the Director of Legal, Legislative and Communications Services at the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Throughout her career in State service, she has provided legal counsel at the Connecticut Department of Public Works, the Connecticut State Ethics Commission and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. Until recently, Denise has been adjunct professor at the University of Connecticut School of Law. Ms. Rodosevich received her B.A. from the University of Colorado and her M.S. from the University of Montana; she received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law, from which she graduated with honors, was a member of the Law Review and received the Gerald F. Stevens 1991 Award for Excellence in Environmental Law. She has also served as Governance Board member for the Project Breakthrough Magnet School and coached the Hartford High School mock trial team.
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Mary Lee Kiernan, Secretary
Commissioner Kiernan was appointed jointly by Speaker of the House Christopher Donovan and President of the Senate Donald Williams in 2010. She currently serves as PCSW secretary. She is a retired corporate lawyer; and, in 2012, will begin serving on the Greenwich municipal Board of Estimate and Taxation. She is a former board chairman of Greenwich United Way and former co-chair of the Fund for Women and Girls (FWG) at the Fairfield County Community Foundation (FCCF). She is co-author of the influential study Holding Up Half the Sky: A Report on the Status of Women and Girls in Fairfield County (2007) and serves on the FWG Advisory Board and Executive Committee, under whose aegis she participated in a team presentation to Tina Tchen, Director of White House Council on Women and Girls.
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Lucia Aschettino
Commissioner Aschettino was appointed to the PCSW in 2010 by House Republican Leader Lawrence Cafero. Lucia, who holds an MBA from the University of New Haven, as well as certificates from the Wharton School and Harvard Business School, has considerable expertise in using technology and e-business methods to improve strategic planning, customer service, delivery systems and communications. She has served in management positions for such corporations as Pitney Bowes and New Alliance Bank. Lucia has been a Public Industry Arbitrator (FINRA) since 1997 and served on the board of the State of Connecticut Professional Teachers Continuing Standards. From 1994 to 1997, she was a volunteer business consultant with Junior Achievement teaching young people how business works.
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JoAnn Calnen
Commissioner Calnen of Enfield was appointed to the PCSW by Christopher Donovan, Speaker of the House, and Donald Williams, Senate President Pro Tempore, in 2011. She is president of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs of Connecticut (GFWC), an organization which has received international recognition for its work developing leadership among women, especially in the areas of health, finance and safety. She has particular expertise in expanding opportunities for leadership for women, domestic violence awareness and education in the communities, a signature project of GFWC.
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April Capone
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Yvonne Davis
Commissioner Davis was appointed to the Commission in 2007 by Gov. M. Jodi Rell. She owns and operates DAVISCommunications in Connecticut. She is also a freelance writer, expert lecturer, and political analyst. She has been recognized throughout her career for her efforts in civil rights and television production. Ms. Davis is on the board of directors for the J.C. and Frankie Watts Foundation. She served as a Presidential Appointee by George W. Bush to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 2001-2005, as an Ambassador of the Arts.
She has an M.S. in Leadership and Business Ethics (Summa Cum Laude) and an M.A. in Political Science. She has a B.A. in Mass Communications and Political Science (Magna Cum Laude). She is expected to complete her doctorate in Leadership and Mastery of Change in 2009 from the Thierry Graduate School of Leadership in Brussels, Belgium.
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Barbara DeBaptiste
Commissioner DeBaptiste was first appointed in 1995 by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate M. Adela Eads and reappointed in July 2000 by Speaker of the House Moira R. Lyons. She is Chair of the Public Information /Talent Bank Committee and serves as Chair of the Advisory Council in the 5th Congressional District for the PCSW. Ms. DeBaptiste is an at-large board member of the National Association of Commissions for Women (NACW) and the CT Federation of Business and Professional Women. She serves on many boards such as the Women’s Campaign School and is a past National President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.
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Adrienne Farrar Houël
Commissioner Farrar Houël, was appointed in 2003 by Speaker of the House Moira Lyons. Farrar Houël is a Partner in the Sable Group Inc., a Connecticut-based consulting firm, heading the Public Service/Not-for-Profit Sector practice. In addition, she is Director of Research and Development for Action for Bridgeport Community Development, Inc. Ms. Farrar Houël formed the Fairfield County Housing Partnership, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation that builds affordable housing in partnership with social service agencies. She is Executive Director of this corporation. Farrar Houël serves as Acting-Chair of the Board of Managers of Grow Bridgeport Fund, and serves on many Boards of Directors in Fairfield County. Ms. Farrar Houël is a graduate of Harvard Business School.
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Kristin LaFleur
Commissioner LaFleur of Westport was appointed to the Commission in 2010 by Senate Minority Leader John McKinney. Her previous experience includes eight years in the financial services sector with an emphasis on financial management and budgeting and audit and compliance. Kristin has served as a member of the Westport Board of Education and was a 2009 candidate for Second Selectman in Westport. She is vice president of the Westport Young Woman’s League.
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Jean L. Rexford
Commissioner Rexford was appointed in 2002 by Pro Tempore Majority Leader Kevin Sullivan and serves on the PCSW Legislative Committee. Currently, Jean is the Executive Director of Connecticut Patients’ Rights and works for other not for profits as a consultant. She is also Program Chair of the CT Health Foundation and a member of the Democracy Works board as well as the Planned Parenthood Public Policy Fund and Treasurer of Impact.
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Helene Shay
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Patricia E. M. Whitcombe, M.D.
Commissioner Whitcombe was appointed by Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin Sullivan in 2001. Dr. Whitcombe is a practicing obstetrician/gynecologist at Women’s Health Associates, P.C and a founder of the Connecticut Childbirth and Women’s Center. She received her M.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and earned her Bachelor of Sciences at Yale College. Dr. Whitcombe was born in Habana, Cuba and grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She has been involved with many community and professional organizations. Dr. Whitcombe has been named several times to the “Best Doctors of America, Northeast Region.”
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Cecilia J. Woods
Commissioner Woods, was appointed in 2007 by President Pro Tempore Donald Williams. She was most recently Deputy Chief of Staff and Research Director for the Senate Democrats, a position she held for 23 years. She previously served as Chief of Staff for Congressman Adam Benjamin of Gary, Indiana and was a Carter White House Aide in the late 1970s. Ms. Woods, a graduate of Drew University, holds a Master’s Degree in Urban Studies from Occidental College and was a National Urban Fellow at Yale University. In addition to the PCSW she is currently devoting her time to the Parents’ Association at The Independent Day School, and the Greater Hartford Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
