Mandy Potapenko, BA

Senior Program Manager
Institute for Health and Humanity Medical College of Wisconsin

Mandy Potapenko brings over 17 years of experience in criminal justice and community safety to the My Way Out board. Her career has been defined by a commitment to creating pathways for individuals to succeed and building stronger, safer communities through collaboration and evidence-based practices.

Most recently, Mandy served as a National Programs Advisor with the U.S. Department of Justice's National Institute of Corrections, where she provided strategic guidance to states and counties nationwide. She managed cooperative agreements, developed policy recommendations, and created best practice guides to help communities improve their justice systems.

Prior to her federal service, Mandy spent eight years as Executive Director of the Milwaukee County Community Justice Council, where she led collaborative efforts among justice system leaders, community organizations, and residents. She secured over $30 million in funding for critical initiatives and championed data-driven approaches to improve system effectiveness while building bridges between agencies and community members.

Mandy is passionate about My Way Out's mission because she has seen how the right support can transform lives and strengthen communities. She believes deeply that a person's past does not define their future, and she is honored to support an organization that helps justice-impacted individuals build successful, thriving lives.

Mandy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Women's Studies with a minor in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and lives in Wauwatosa, where she continues working toward a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

We’re thrilled to welcome Mandy Potapenko to the My Way Out, Inc. Board of Directors!

Mandy brings over 17 years of leadership experience in criminal justice and community safety, with a career defined by her commitment to building stronger, safer, and more equitable communities through collaboration and evidence-based practices.

Most recently, Mandy served as a National Programs Advisor with the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute of Corrections, where she provided strategic guidance to states and counties nationwide. She led cooperative agreements, developed policy recommendations, and authored best practice guides to help communities improve their justice systems.

Prior to her federal service, Mandy spent eight years as Executive Director of the Milwaukee County Community Justice Council, where she united justice system leaders, community organizations, and residents around a shared vision for reform. Her leadership helped secure over $30 million in funding for key initiatives and advanced data-driven solutions that improved outcomes and strengthened trust between agencies and communities.

Mandy is passionate about My Way Out’s mission because she has witnessed firsthand how the right support can transform lives. She believes deeply that a person’s past does not define their future—and she is honored to support an organization helping justice-impacted individuals build successful, thriving lives.
Mandy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Studies with a minor in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and resides in Wauwatosa, where she continues her work to ensure every person has the opportunity to thrive.

We are honored to have Mandy join our mission to empower justice-impacted individuals and build stronger, more inclusive communities.
Please help us welcome Mandy to the My Way Out family!

#OneTeamOneFight #Leadership #Reentry #CommunityImpact #MyWayOut