Kathryn (Katie) Paradise, who currently holds the position of Secretary of the Board of Directors for Carly’s Hope, is a dedicated attorney with a strong commitment to community engagement and public service. Her journey into community involvement began during high school and undergraduate studies when she became an avid volunteer with the Kiwanis organization. Motivated by her fascination with world cultures, Katie furthered her commitment to service by joining the United States Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa. Her experiences there ignited a passion for immigration and refugee resettlement, fostered during her volunteer work with Church World Service.

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Katie's academic achievements include earning her J.D., summa cum laude, from Widener University Commonwealth Law School, where she specialized in Administrative and Constitutional Law. During her time at Widener, she served as a Patrick J. Murphy Fellow at the Widener Law and Government Institute, contributing as a research assistant in the field of Administrative Law with a focus on immigration. Her research efforts have resulted in significant contributions to scholarly articles and briefs presented before the Third and Ninth Circuits.

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Following her legal studies, Katie gained valuable experience as a legal fellow for Innovation Law Lab, providing removal defense legal services through the Equity Corps of Oregon (ECO) program. She offered legal assessment and limited legal services in over 300 cases, highlighting the critical need for such assistance.

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Katie's legal career also includes serving as a judicial law clerk at the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, a role she returned to in 2023 to continue her impactful work.

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Before transitioning to law, Katie spent a decade in the marketing research and consumer insights industry. As a member of the executive leadership team for FieldGoals.US, a family business founded by her mother and CEO of Carly’s Hope, Lori Mader, Katie contributed to quantitative and qualitative project design, data collection, and reporting for various clients, including local and state governments, agencies, political organizations, and private industries.

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Katie graduated from Temple University in 2010 with a BBA in International Business and Legal Studies and a certificate in Spanish. She maintains professional working proficiency in Spanish and continues to enhance her language skills.

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In her free time, Katie enjoys biking along the Susquehanna River with her husband, Adam, and daughter, Frances. She finds joy in snuggling with her big-headed pit bull, Oscar, indulging in baking, and staying informed by listening to NPR.