Crystal A. Cotton (she/her) is the Chief People and Culture Officer, serving as the executive advisor to senior leadership on organizational culture, people management and operations, and professional development. A homegrown leader with over 30 years of nonprofit human resources experience, Crystal brings deep expertise across the full employment lifecycle, learning and development, and inclusive workplace practices.

Crystal holds certifications in corporate training, EEO studies, trauma‑informed care, and DEIB that ground her human-centered approach to people and culture management. As a graduate of Coro Leadership New York, she employs innovative leadership practices, including adaptive leadership principles, to advance organizational change. She is currently applying her studies and experience in relational culture‑building to support CJA’s thriving multigenerational workforce by spearheading CJA’s Creating Inclusive Workplaces Initiative—a program designed to deepen connection to the values, relationships, experiences, and identities that are central to CJA’s mission and culture.

Crystal fuels her passion for developing others as an adjunct instructor and faculty mentor at her alma mater, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where she earned her master’s degree in public administration. She is also the founder of Crystal Clear Connextions, a career coaching consultancy supporting BIPOC women in career transition.