Biography

Charleen Hutson, J.D., MSW is a Pontiac, Michigan native and proud Howard University alumna whose career spans law, social work, education, and advocacy. Armed with a Juris Doctor and Master of Social Work from The Catholic University of America, a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Culture from Howard University, and a Certified Nonprofit Professional credential, she has built a career defined by a single purpose: dismantling systemic barriers and expanding opportunity for underrepresented communities.

Over the course of her career, Hutson has designed the District of Columbia's first legal/library partnership delivering free civil legal services to over 130 low-income residents, contributed to a cumulative reduction of over 50 years in felony sentencing as a Mitigation Specialist, and led national engagement strategies across more than 150 law school partnerships. She currently serves as Lecturer and Operations Manager at Howard University, where she teaches courses in persuasive communication, entrepreneurship, and professional development.

Beyond her professional roles, Hutson is an entrepreneur whose ventures span real estate, nonprofit consulting, event management, and publishing. She also provides mitigation consulting services to criminal defense attorneys, drawing on her background as a former Mitigation Specialist to advocate for clients at sentencing. She serves on an Eastern Region Committee and in her local chapter for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, on the Board of Directors for the Black Alumni Network at The Catholic University of America, and on the Board of Directors for Move In Day Mafia, an organization dedicated to supporting youth who have aged out of foster care or experienced homelessness as they transition to HBCUs.