Carolyn J. Givens is the Executive Director of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF) She oversees and is responsible for providing strategic leadership, financial development, building statewide alliances with legislative, policy and business leaders, as well as day to day operations of the foundation.

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation was launched in 2005 and is headquartered in the College of Education and Human Ecology, The Ohio State University. The Foundation is a catalyst to bring about change in attitudes and perceptions regarding the stigma attached to suicide, mental illness and alcohol and drug abuse and addiction.

Prior to joining OSPF, Givens, was the Director of the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, where she served the cabinet level department in a number of leadership roles throughout her 16 years of public service.

Givens is a graduate of Ohio Dominican University and Harvard University’s Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.