Karol Mason facts for kids

Karol Virginia Mason is an important leader who has worked as a lawyer, in the government, and now as a college president. Since August 2017, she has been the fifth president of John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Before that, she worked for the government in the Obama Administration, helping to lead programs about justice.

Karol Mason's Early Life and Education

Karol Mason was born in Amityville, New York, on August 20, 1957. She loved learning and went to college. In 1979, she earned a degree in mathematics from the University of North Carolina.

Studying Law

After her first degree, Karol Mason went to University of Michigan Law School. She earned a law degree there. While studying law, she helped edit the University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform. After law school, she worked for a year as a law clerk for Judge John F. Grady.

Karol Mason's Career

Karol Mason worked as a lawyer for almost 30 years. She was part of a big international law firm called Alston & Bird in Atlanta. She led the team that worked on public finance, which involves money for government projects.

A Pioneer in Law

In 1990, Karol Mason made history at her law firm. She became the first Black woman partner there. This was a big step forward for her and for others.

Working with the Obama Administration

Karol Mason helped with the 2008 election campaign for Barack Obama. She worked on the finance committee, helping to raise money in Georgia. After the election, she joined the government.

Justice Department Role

From April 2009 to February 2012, she worked in the United States Department of Justice. She was a deputy associate attorney general. After a short time back at her law firm, she returned to the Justice Department. From 2013 to 2017, she led the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). This office helps improve the justice system.

Changing How We Talk About People

In 2016, Karol Mason helped make an important change. As part of a program called National Reentry Week, she started a new policy at OJP. They decided to stop using words like 'felon' or 'convict' for people who had left prison. This was to help people get a fresh start.

Supporting Young People and Justice

Karol Mason also worked on projects to help young people in the justice system. She wrote about how important it is for young people to have legal help. She also joined with others to support programs that make communities safer.

Leading John Jay College

In August 2017, Karol Mason became the president of John Jay College of Criminal Justice. This was another historic moment for her. She is the first woman and the first African-American person to lead the college. She took over from Jeremy Travis, who had been president since 2004.