Kino Border Initiative Announces New Executive Director

BY ISN STAFF | February 12, 2021

The Kino Border Initiative (KBI) has announced that Joanna Williams will become its next executive director. On March 1st, 2021, she will replace Fr. Sean Carroll, S.J. who has been serving in this role for the past twelve years.

Williams has served as the KBI’s director of education and advocacy for nearly 6 years and in that time has designed and led programs critical to KBI’s mission. Williams is deeply committed to binational and regional collaboration, including through her leadership role in the advocacy work of the Jesuit Migration Network of Central America and North America, of which the Ignatian Solidarity Network is also a member.  

She first joined the KBI community a decade ago as a full-time volunteer for several months. After that experience, she accompanied migrants in a variety of capacities including through Fulbright research on the reintegration of returned and deported migrants in the Mexican States of Jalisco and Puebla and work on the ACLU of Arizona’s border rights program. She is a graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and holds a masters degree in public policy from Arizona State University.

“I am so excited about Joanna becoming the KBI’s next executive director,” stated Fr. Sean Carroll, S.J. “She brings a wealth of experience to her new position from her work in education and advocacy. She combines a keen intellect with a deep love for our mission and for the migrant men, women and children we serve. She will be a great leader for our bi-national migrant ministry.”

“We at the Ignatian Solidarity Network are excited to continue to work with Joanna Williams in her new role as executive director for Kino Border Initiative,” said Chrisopher Kerr, ISN’s executive director. “We have partnered with KBI and with Joanna for many years. Her expertise, compassion, and commitment to advocacy have provided significant opportunities for collaborative formation and action with students and other members of our shared network.”