Karen Johns is the Executive Director of the Diversity Pipeline Alliance SM based in Mclean , Virginia . The Diversity Pipeline Alliance SM a national network of leading organizations who share a mission of preparing people of color for leadership and management in the 21 st century workforce. Founding members of the Alliance include LEAD, Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO), National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA), National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA), INROADS, PhD Project and the Graduate Management Admission Council®. The mission of the organization is to help under-represented minority

students achieve success at every stage of their education, and to prepare them for successful careers in business and management. A graduate of Tufts University , Ms. Johns has an extensive background in several areas of the non-profit arena including undergraduate admissions and fundraising.

Ms Johns worked for several years at her alma mater in both the Admissions Office and Development Office. From 1998-2002, Ms. Johns worked at Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) a New York City based non-profit organization. During her tenure, she created the SIRV initiative an acronym for Saving, Investing and Returning Value to Communities of Color. This national program, funded by the Kellogg foundation and the Lilly Endowment, teaches financial literacy, wealth creation and philanthropy to professionals of color.

Ms. Johns is Chair of the Board of the Volunteer Consulting Group and a board member of Capital Partners for Education... She serves on several advisory boards including Bennett College , Morgan State University and the Tufts University Alumni Council. She is a frequent speaker on the topic of philanthropy in communities of color including workshops at the NY Federal Reserve Bank, National Black Philanthropy conference and the Council on Foundation conference.