Preeti Menon

Meet Preeti Menon, a visionary leader who has dedicated her career to fostering cultural understanding and advancing justice reform. As the Co-founder, Co-President, and Executive Director of the Children's Institute of Cultural Appreciation and Understanding (CICAU), she brings a unique blend of passion and expertise to her mission of nurturing cultural awareness in young minds.

Recently elected as Board Secretary in January 2023, Preeti's leadership philosophy centers on the power of collaboration and effective communication. Her extensive background in curriculum development, policy formation, and program management is guided by a steadfast commitment to equity and inclusion. Drawing from both her professional expertise and personal experiences as a school volunteer, she has cultivated a deep-seated dedication to enriching children's cultural education, helping shape them into globally-minded adults who embrace diversity.

In her role as Practitioner-in-Residence at American University's School of Public Affairs (SPA), Preeti continues to make significant strides in justice reform. With over two decades of experience in treatment courts, she pioneered the development of the first Racial and Ethnic Disparities (RED) Program Assessment Tool. Her leadership extends to serving as Principal Investigator for several prestigious initiatives, including the DOJ's Color in the Court: RED Initiative, and similar programs with the Supreme Court of Ohio and NY State Unified Court System.

Her expertise has been showcased at numerous high-profile venues, from the National Association of Drug Court Professionals' Annual Conferences to the National Sheriff's Association. A notable collaboration with JustLeadership demonstrates her commitment to empowering formerly incarcerated leaders in advocacy and community organizing.

Before her current roles, Preeti's eight-year tenure at the Department of Justice, spanning both the Bureau of Justice Assistance and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, further solidified her expertise in justice reform. Her scholarly contributions include co-authoring research papers on treatment courts and criminal justice management, as well as providing valuable research support for the Surgeon General's reports on Mental Health: Culture, Race, and Ethnicity, and Youth Violence.

Through her multifaceted work, Preeti Menon continues to bridge the gaps between cultural understanding, justice reform, and youth education, creating lasting positive change in communities across the nation.