Karen Boykin-Towns is a distinguished strategist, accomplished executive, and committed advocate for equity and social justice. With over two decades of leadership across the corporate, nonprofit, and public sectors, she brings to her work a breadth of expertise in public affairs, policy, communications, and organizational transformation.

Ms. Boykin-Towns retired from Pfizer Inc. in 2019 after a 22-year tenure with the Fortune 50 global biopharmaceutical company, where she held senior leadership roles in government relations, policy, and human resources. In her final position as Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Pfizer's $34 billion Innovative Medicines business, she supported then-Global President Albert Bourla — now Chairman and CEO — in advancing the company's mission to deliver breakthrough therapies to patients worldwide.

She currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Encore Strategies LLC, a strategic public affairs consulting firm advising corporations, nonprofit organizations, and individual leaders. In addition, she is a Senior Advisor at FGS Global, a preeminent global communications and public affairs consultancy.

Ms. Boykin-Towns is an Independent Director on the board of iFIT Health & Fitness Inc., a global leader in connected fitness, where she has played a pivotal role in guiding the company through executive transitions, corporate restructuring, and strategic realignment. She has also served on the American Airlines Community Council, advising the executive leadership team on diversity, customer experience, and inclusive marketing strategies.

In the nonprofit sphere, Ms. Boykin-Towns serves as Vice Chair of the National Board of Directors of the NAACP and a diamond life member of the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. She has been instrumental in driving strategic modernization, diversifying revenue streams, enhancing digital engagement, and advancing mission-driven impact. She also serves on the board of VNS Health, one of the nation's largest not-for-profit home and community-based health care organizations.

Her leadership and influence have been widely recognized. She has been featured in Bloomberg News, CBS, PBS, Variety, Black Enterprise, PR Week, Essence Magazine, WWD, Crain's, BET, Network Journal, The On Boards Podcast, and The Cut. Savoy Magazine named her a "Top Influential Woman in Corporate America" in 2016. In 2020, she was honored as "Woman of the Year" by Seeds of Fortune and recognized by City & State as one of New York's Power Players in Politics and Government. In 2021, she was selected for Lafayette 148's Unordinary Women Campaign. In 2023, she received City & State's Above and Beyond Women award and was featured in Ebony Magazine as one of five Black female activists and trailblazers making significant strides toward equality for Black Americans and other marginalized communities.

In recognition of her extraordinary career achievements, unwavering commitment to service, and passion as a coalition builder and social change agent, Ms. Boykin-Towns was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in May 2025 by Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College, City University of New York, and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Management from the University of Mount Saint Vincent.

She is married to Darryl C. Towns, former member of the New York State Assembly and currently Chairman of the New York State Parole Board. They reside in Brooklyn, NY, and together are the proud parents of two daughters, Jasmine and Trinity, both engineers and graduates of North Carolina A&T State University.