Karen Lynn DeMeola was the first person of color to serve as president of the Connecticut Bar Association (2017-2018 bar year), and a longstanding champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Connecticut legal community. She is the assistant dean for finance, administration, and enrollment for the UConn School of Law and has presented on numerous panels, symposia, and conferences on diversifying law school populations, implicit bias, intersectionality, inclusive leadership, and diversity and inclusion. Prior to her role as assistant dean for enrollment and students, she was a civil rights litigator in her solo practice.
While serving as a CBA officer, she created numerous diversity and pipeline projects, including the CBA Pathways to Legal Careers Pipeline Program, which provides high school students with insight about the legal profession in hopes of encouraging talented and diverse students to consider a legal career.