Erica E. Phillips, who joined The Connecticut Mirror in August 2021 as an economic development reporter, is beginning a new role as state policy editor. As an editor, Phillips will oversee CT Mirror’s education, justice, environment and health reporting and will work with other editors to align coverage across beats. “Erica has become an integral part of the CT Mirror since joining the staff in August of 2021, taking on leadership roles in a variety of capacities since she was hired,” CT Mirror Executive Editor Elizabeth Hamilton said. “While readers will no doubt miss her thoughtful, smart reporting on economic development issues, I am confident she will bring the same deliberate thoughtfulness and intelligence to working with reporters and helping to shape their stories.” As economic development reporter, Phillips won awards from the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists and the New England Newspaper and Press Association for her reporting on workplace inclusion for people with disabilities, a Catholic health system’s acquisition of Day Kimball hospital and Greenwich’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2022, she was named to a national higher education media fellowship, through which she reported a three-part series titled “The Next Stage” about the successes and shortcomings in Connecticut’s career and technical education system in preparing students for careers in the state’s advanced manufacturing sector. Phillips joined the editing team on Monday. CT Mirror will hire a new economic development reporter in early 2025.