TEAM BIOS

Cynthia Newby, college textbook author for McGraw-Hill, is the president of Medical Insurance Text, LLC, a textbook development company. Cynthia is a graduate and trustee emerita of Hood College, Frederick, Maryland. Locally she has served as treasurer and chairwoman of the Roxbury CT Public Library board and as a trustee of Hollister House Garden.

As a Master Gardener (CT), Cynthia’s goal at her home in Western Connecticut is to maintain biodiversity as well as beauty in the garden. Her mixture of trees, shrubs, and plants supports all animals (that includes insects!) while providing a territory that also belongs to the resident hounds for exploration and their own animal pursuits.

Cynthia is a Director of the nonkill animal rescue and adoption shelter Animal Welfare Society (New Milford CT). She is a long-time supporter of Connecticut Votes for Animals and, most recently, of Fast Friends, a sight-hound rescue organization located in West Swanzey, New Hampshire.

Animal welfare has always been very important to me. During my 35 year career in Commercial Banking I volunteered for New England English Springer Spaniel Rescue doing adoption, fostering, evaluations and transports. I am still a member of the organization which is run out of Massachusetts. I continue to help out in CT and western MA when needed. I also held Board positions with The Shelter for Women and served for over 20 years on the Board of Klingberg Family Centers including a term as Board Chairperson.

Once retired, I was invited to join the Board of Our Companions Animal Rescue and served as a member of the Finance Committee. Once my consecutive terms expired and I was required to rotate off the Board I became a member of the Advisory Board, a position that I still hold.

I joined the Board of CT Votes for Animals in 2010 and am currently an Advisory Board Member.

Although I am at our dog Timber’s beckon call 24/7, I do manage to get in quite a bit of cycling in the nicer weather. I am looking forward to being involved with the new and exciting C-3. It is wonderful to have witnessed how much progress for animals the organization has made over the years. The future is brighter than ever. Thank you for including me on the Board as we move ahead.

A lifelong animal lover, Virginia brings 28 years of forensic science experience to combatting the maltreatment of animals. Formerly a forensic scientist at the State of Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, she is now a Professor in the Forensic Science Department at the University of New Haven. Her research focus involves different ways of using Forensic Science in animal cruelty investigation with current projects including environmental degradation of physical evidence, analyzing crime data to predict animal fighting locations, dog fighting, and cruelty in animal “sports”. In conjunction with Attorney Jessica Rubin, she has established a formal collaboration between the University of Connecticut School of Law and the University of New Haven for the investigation of animal cruelty. This collaboration is to provide support to animal control officers, first responders and attorneys, and others involved in investigations, as well as humane education and additional research initiatives. Having grown up around farms in the United Kingdom, she is interested in the lives of farmed animals. With the cooperation of a local dairy farm, she has been able to help three cows retire to sanctuaries: Pippi and the Princess to Farm Sanctuary, and Allie to JP Farm Animal Sanctuary. The photo shows Princess as her yellow ear tags were removed shortly before leaving for Farm Sanctuary. She lives in Hebron with her family, a rescue dog, and two cats.

Ilene always knew that when life allowed, she would channel her energies to pursuits that improve the lives of animals; she just didn’t know it would be as a member of the CVA Board and now the CFA Board! Starting out as a volunteer in 2019, Ilene jumped right in, becoming actively involved in the organization and then joining the board.

With a unique blend of strategic communications experience and political savvy, Ilene brings a distinctive perspective to the CFA Board. In addition to serving as press secretary for political campaigns and the CT General Assembly, she developed public education and awareness campaigns across multiple industries during her tenure as a marketing communications agency executive. She was also instrumental in advocacy efforts leading to passage of CT’s law – the first in the nation – protecting women’s reproductive rights. Early in her career, Ilene covered the State Capitol as a journalist. She is still a news junkie at heart and enjoys a good public policy debate.

A life-long animal lover, Ilene lives in North Haven with her husband and two cats.

Growing up on a small family dairy farm in western MA, Jim’s love for animals was instilled early in life and his compassion for creatures large and small endures. Through high school he was a dog groomer and later opened a pet supply store and dog grooming facility, partnering with local shelters and rescue organizations for adoption days and providing education on animal nutrition, grooming, and training. After a 14-year career as president of multiple CT State Colleges, public service and giving back to the community has become part of who Jim is. As the president of CFA and volunteer for CVA, he is able to continue giving back by working to improve the lives of animals through legislation, advocacy, and community education. Jim’s family reflects his long-time work with rescues; it includes three rescue cats and a rescue puppy, Khali, who stole his heart as a foster and found her forever home. Jim is also a proud first generation, Community College graduate who also holds an AS in Business Administration from Holyoke Community College, Holyoke, MA, a Master of Management degree from Cambridge College, Cambridge, MA, and a Doctor of Education from the Abraham S. Fischler School of Education at Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Linda Pleva, who is also vice president of Desmond’s Army, is CVA & CFA's community education and communications coordinator, helping to expand their base with programs including educational webinars and workshops throughout the state. She also works with the Communications Team developing messaging on our digital platforms.

Colette Griffin of Newtown serves as the Board Chair of Connecticut for Animals Education Fund (CFAEF) and formerly held the same role at Connecticut Votes for Animals (CVA). Recently nominated and confirmed as an Administrative Law Judge, she now serves in Waterbury, CT.

Animal welfare and advocacy have always been at the core of Colette’s life and career. While attending law school, she founded New Leash on Life, an organization dedicated to the welfare and advocacy of companion animals. This group collaborated with the City of Bridgeport to implement improvements to the municipal shelter, fostered and placed countless dogs and cats, and managed a large-scale hoarding case involving more than 200 animals. For these efforts, Colette received a Connecticut Department of Agriculture award.

Colette is a founding member and past chair of the Animal Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association. Before her judicial appointment, she also served as a Courtroom Animal Advocate under Desmond’s Law (PA 16-30), representing animals in cruelty cases involving neglect and abuse. She frequently conducted seminars on animal cruelty and the critical link between animal abuse and human violence.

Outside the courtroom, Colette is the proud guardian of her six beloved dogs, affectionately known as “the pack.” Two of them joined her family after her mother’s passing, offering a meaningful way to honor her mother’s memory while continuing the loving care of her cherished companions.