President/CEO of New Pathways for Youth
Dr. Karen D. Johnson is a seasoned nonprofit executive and leader with a career focused on advancing youth and education-focused organizations. She served for 27 years as Vice President of University Relations at Midwestern University, overseeing admissions, marketing, development, and alumni relations across two campuses. In 2021, she became President & CEO of New Pathways for Youth in Phoenix, which supports over 600 teens through 1:1 mentoring and personal development programming. Under her leadership, the organization rebranded as “Level Up,” launched the Level Up Academy, implemented an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion policy, and raised over $3 million annually to expand services. Karen also mentors a youth in the program. She has served as Board President for two Phoenix nonprofits and chaired several major fundraising events and campaigns. She holds degrees from the College of Wooster, Northwestern University, and Loyola University Chicago. A resident of Arizona since 2000, she lives in Glendale with her two dogs and two cats.
