Religious Community Services Announces New Leadership, Reaffirming Commitment to Community Care

Religious Community Services (RCS) is pleased to announce its new leadership team, with Jessica Kozma Proctor serving as Board Chair and Ann Marie Devanney named Executive Director, marking a continued season of stability, service, and deep commitment to the community. 

For more than four decades, Religious Community Services has walked alongside individuals, families, and veterans across Eastern North Carolina, offering help, hope, and dignity during some of life’s most vulnerable moments. This leadership announcement reflects the organization’s strong foundation and its ongoing dedication to mission-driven, people-centered care. 

Jessica Kozma Proctor joined the Board of Religious Community Services in 2024 and most recently served as Vice Chair. Her professional background includes a career in government affairs, where she worked on issues impacting Eastern North Carolina, including public sector retirement and benefits, tax relief, broadband access, and school choice. A longtime member of the Junior League of Raleigh, Proctor has also served on the North Carolina Council for Women and successfully led a $600,000 annual campaign for The Salvation Army of Wake County, among other leadership roles. She is a graduate and fellow of the North Carolina Institute of Political Leadership and the Rural Economic Development Institute, a member of Broad Street Christian Church, and a proud Barton College Bulldog. 

“When you hear the giggles of the children we shelter, see the smiles among women and men who have just finished a warm, nutritious meal, or witness the joyful dedication of our volunteers, serving here becomes a call that can’t be denied,” said Proctor. “RCS is the heart of our community, linking all of us together. It is both humbling and an honor to serve as Board Chair, and we are planning for great things in the months ahead.” 

Ann Marie Devanney has served with Religious Community Services since 2021, most recently as Chief Communications Officer. Prior to joining RCS, she spent years in full-time ministry and nonprofit leadership with The Salvation Army in New York, followed by a brief stint with Curtis Media, where she gained valuable corporate skills that strengthened her work within the nonprofit sector. She holds a master’s degree in pastoral counseling and brings a leadership style rooted in continuity, stability, and care for people. 

“Religious Community Services has the humble privilege of coming alongside individuals, families, and veterans during moments when support matters most,” said Devanney. “My faith teaches me that caring for our neighbors is sacred work. This ministry is about presence, dignity, and love in action, and I am grateful to serve this community alongside such a devoted staff, board, volunteers, and partners.” 

Devanney notes that since arriving in New Bern, she has been warmly welcomed and deeply connected to the people and partnerships that make the mission of RCS possible. Her leadership will continue to prioritize strong relationships, faithful stewardship, and responsiveness to community needs. 

Religious Community Services remains committed to serving with compassion, integrity, and gratitude. The organization extends its sincere thanks to the donors, volunteers, churches, and community partners whose generosity and trust sustain this work and looks forward to continuing this shared mission together. 

For more information about Religious Community Services and its programs, visit rcsnewbern.com.