Kara Trebil-Smith joined Seed Coalition in December 2019 as a program manager, transitioning to the Director of Member Engagement role in 2022. She supports our member-facing programs, networking events, and professional development opportunities, and oversees the VISTA program.
Kara has spent more than 15 years working in higher education with an emphasis on community engagement. She earned a BA from Wartburg College and a Master’s in Education from the University of Northern Iowa. In 2018 she completed her doctoral degree in higher education from the University of Denver where her research focused on building the capacity of community engagement professionals to practice inclusion of racially minoritized students. Before joining the organization full-time, Kara led our Perceptions of Partnership project, a study on nonprofit and higher education collaboration.
Kara’s favorite way to spend her time is cooking (when she can take her time), listening to podcasts, reading books recommended by friends and colleagues, and exploring parks and green spaces with her family.
