Kathy Gardner Thomforde

Born and raised in central Illinois, Kathy has spent most of her career in higher education. After earning a Ph.D. in marketing from Northwestern University, Kathy worked for a year and a half at 3M Company in St. Paul before returning to academia and to her passion for teaching. She spent two years on the faculty at the University of Minnesota, followed by twenty-one years on the faculty at St. Olaf College. Over the years, she has pursued a strong interest in the application of marketing principles to not-for-profit organizations, including symphony orchestras, higher education, and K-12 public schools. Her book entitled Improving Schools Through Community Engagement: A Practical Guide for Educators, was published by Corwin Press in 2004.

Kathy enjoys traveling with her husband, Chris, to visit children and grandchildren who live in Switzerland, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Florida. She volunteers with an organization that provides tutoring and writing support to underserved Twin Cities youth.