Kynai Johnson

After graduating from Washington and Lee with a B.A. in Spanish and Communications, Kynai Johnson moved to Guadalajara, Mexico for an extended service project. Upon returning to the states, she worked as an interpreter for the Prince George's County Public School System, as well as a Bilingual Victim Advocate for the Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office. In addition to a clinical license, Ms. Johnson holds a Master of Social Work from Catholic University's National Catholic School of Social Service (NCSSS), where she is currently a PhD candidate. Her doctoral studies focus on the exploration of critical consciousness and positive identity formation within the social work profession. Grounded in anti-oppression paradigms, her research builds upon the concepts of feminist theory and critical race theory. Specifically, her research explores critical consciousness relatingto sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, race, and ethnicity. Additionally, Ms. Johnson is an adjunct professor at Catholic University, teaching in undergraduate and graduate social work programs. Currently, she also serves as the Director of Education and Workforce at the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC), a nonprofit in Washington, D.C. In this capacity, she is responsible for grant management, program and staff development, and agency trainings related to LGBTQ Allyship, Race Equity, and Positive Youth Development.