Karen J. Mathis (born November 7, 1950)
is an American lawyer, former President of the
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association (ABA) is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. Founded in 1878, the ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of aca ...
, and former CEO and President of
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to "create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth". Adult volunteers are matched with children from ag ...
.
Early life
Mathis was born November 7, 1950 in Providence, Rhode Island.
Education
Mathis earned her B.A from the
University of Denver
The University of Denver (DU) is a private research university in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1864, it is the oldest independent private university in the Rocky Mountain Region of the United States. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Univ ...
in 1972. Mathis was a member of
Phi Beta Kappa
The Phi Beta Kappa Society () is the oldest academic honor society in the United States, and the most prestigious, due in part to its long history and academic selectivity. Phi Beta Kappa aims to promote and advocate excellence in the liberal ...
. Mathis earned a J.D from the
University of Colorado School of Law
The University of Colorado Law School is one of the professional graduate schools within the University of Colorado System. It is a public law school, with more than 500 students attending and working toward a Juris Doctor or Master of Studies in ...
in 1975.
Mathis is also the recipient of five honorary degrees.
Career
Mathis was a former partner with the law firm McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLC, where she practiced complex business and commercial law. Following an active career as a member of the
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association (ABA) is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. Founded in 1878, the ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of aca ...
– where she chaired its 30,000-member General Practice Solo & Small Firm Section, its Commission on Women in the Profession, and its House of Delegates – Mathis served as President of the ABA from 2005–2006. She was the third female president of the ABA. As president, she helped to create the Youth at Risk program; the Commission on Second Season of Service; the DirectWomen program; and convened the Rule of Law Symposia.
From 2009–2012, she served as CEO and President of
Big Brother Big Sisters of America. In 2007, she was named as one of the "50 Most Influential Women Lawyers in America" by the ''
National Law Journal''.
Mathis is currently the Associate Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer at the
University of Denver's Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System.
See also
*
List of presidents of the American Bar Association This list of the presidents of the American Bar Association includes all presidents of the association, which was formed in 1878 to represent the interests of lawyers, and create and maintain a code of ethics. Since 1923, the ABA has accredited la ...
References
1950 births
Living people
University of Denver alumni
University of Colorado Law School alumni
American women lawyers
American nonprofit chief executives
American women chief executives
Lawyers from Providence, Rhode Island
Presidents of the American Bar Association
21st-century American women
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