THE CONNECTICUT CATHOLIC CONFERENCE is the public policy and advocacy office of the Catholic Bishops in Connecticut. The Board of Directors of the Conference includes the bishops of the four dioceses of Connecticut (Archdiocese of Hartford, Dioceses of Bridgeport and Norwich, and the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Stamford). Archbishop Henry J. Mansell, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford, chairs the Connecticut Catholic Conference.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR is Dr. Marie T. Hilliard. She is a nurse ethicist and has extensive professional experience in both the public and private sectors. She had been involved in health care regulation at both the state and national level for almost twelve years, as the executive officer of the Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Also, she has been involved in social and public policy advocacy at the local and international level (Northern Ireland), for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Presbyterian Church, USA. For her work, Dr. Hilliard has been a guest at the White House.

Dr. Hilliard is a registered nurse, who has been recognized by the Connecticut League for Nursing for her Outstanding Contributions to Nursing in Connecticut, as well as by the Connecticut Nurses' Association for Outstanding Contribution to Nursing through Political Action. She is an affiliate member of National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses, Inc. She serves as board member or corporator for a number of health care oriented boards/agencies/coalitions. She is President of the Connecticut League for Nursing.

Dr. Hilliard is a Roman Catholic and holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from University of Connecticut, a licentiate in Canon Law from Catholic University of America, a Master of Arts in religious studies from Hartford Seminary, a Master of Science in maternal-child health nursing from Boston University, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Catholic University of America. Her doctoral dissertation was in medical ethics. Dr. Hilliard is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve and holds the Meritorious Service Medal. She was program developer of Region A (northeastern United States) LPN program out of Devens, Massachusetts, which is approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.