Karyn R. McConnell, J.D., serves as the Interim Executive Director of the Frederick Douglass Project for Justice, where she provides strategic leadership across daily operations, program management, fundraising, and organizational growth.

Karyn began her career working with justice-involved individuals as a Triage Specialist at the Reentry Coalition of Northwest Ohio, where her leadership and commitment to second chances led to her current role as Board President. Her passion for reentry support continued at the RIDGE Project, where she managed prison programming and curriculum delivery throughout Northwest Ohio. She later served as Director of Workforce Development at Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio, designing and implementing programs that provided training, financial assistance, housing support, life skills, and job placement for individuals returning from incarceration.

Karyn also contributes her expertise to the Lucas County Workforce Development Board, offering critical insight on reentry and workforce inclusion. She served for years on the Board of the YWCA of Northwest Ohio before stepping into the role of Vice President and COO, overseeing all programming to ensure alignment with the organization's mission to empower women and eliminate racism. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Miami University and earned her Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.