EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI — Cincinnati, Ohio
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, August 2016
Kara graduated from UC with a B.A. in Journalism. She served as editor-in-chief of the college newspaper, and she was the recipient of the Coons Lafcadio Hearn Journalism Prize, the Charlie Stix Investigative Reporting Scholarship and the Journalism Department Head Award. She interned at two Pulitzer-Prize winning newspapers during college: The Virginian-Pilot and the Dayton Daily News. She also worked as a communications intern for the UC Office of the Provost.
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, August 2016
Kara graduated from UC with a B.A. in Journalism. She served as editor-in-chief of the college newspaper, and she was the recipient of the Coons Lafcadio Hearn Journalism Prize, the Charlie Stix Investigative Reporting Scholarship and the Journalism Department Head Award. She interned at two Pulitzer-Prize winning newspapers during college: The Virginian-Pilot and the Dayton Daily News. She also worked as a communications intern for the UC Office of the Provost.
EXPERIENCE
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & EVENTS — THE NANCY & DAVID WOLF HOLOCAUST & HUMANITY CENTER — Cincinnati, Ohio
January 2022 to Present
As the Director of Marketing & Events, she is responsible for elevating and promoting the museum’s mission through marketing, communications, and event planning. This role provides the strategic leadership, drives the vision, and leads the planning efforts for a broad scope of marketing initiatives and live, digital, and hybrid events. Responsibilities include developing an annual marketing and events plan in addition to supporting marketing efforts for the development and education teams while leading, creating, and executing a portfolio of public programming and major marketing events including the Upstander Awards and Upstander 5K. Managing and leading a team of event and communication professionals, Kara's team drives all aspects of event logistics, including site and venue selection, agenda guidance, collateral development, production support, catering, sponsorships, and budget management. Kara also serves as the day-to-day contact with media outlets, as well as the primary liaison with communications personnel at fellow organizations and strategic partners, She proactively pitches and secures placement of media coverage for the organization within mainstream outlets, in addition to handling incoming media requests. She also develops communications and institutional messaging, crafts press releases, and organizes press conferences/media functions to support announcements.
COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING MANAGER — THE NANCY & DAVID WOLF HOLOCAUST & HUMANITY CENTER — Cincinnati, Ohio
January 2020 to January 2022
As the Marketing and Communications Manager for the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, she is responsible for elevating and promoting the museum’s mission of ensuring the lessons of the Holocaust inspire action today. Her job duties include: press relations, website management, event planning, social media management, marketing, among various other duties. She also created and manages the museum's Cincy Upstander Project, which aims to inspire the community to become upstanders through a city-wide art campaign, monthly programs, museum tours, and training opportunities.
ARTHUR F. BURNS FELLOW — INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR JOURNALISTS/ AXEL-SPRINGER PUBLISHING HOUSE — Berlin, Germany
July 2016 to October 2018
Kara was chosen as one of 10 journalists from North America for the Arthur F. Burns International Reporting Fellowship. The fellows work for two months in a foreign setting, serving as correspondents. She reported on foreign affairs for German newspaper Die Welt in Berlin, Germany.
ALL-MEDIA JOURNALIST — COX MEDIA GROUP OHIO/DAYTON DAILY NEWS — Dayton, Ohio
2016 to 2019
Kara worked as an all-media journalist, reporting on military affairs, business topics, aviation and the environment. As military affairs reporter, Kara was responsible for covering Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the largest single-site employer in Ohio. She wrote about complex topics and investigated important military and veteran issues. She also appeared live on WHIO Radio and managed some of the news organization's social media accounts. In this role, she won a First Place Associated Press Explanatory Journalism Award for coverage of water quality issues. She also created multiple digital stories daily and taught digital best practices for content creators. Kara was a top digital traffic generator for Cox Media Group Ohio websites in 2017 and 2018.
January 2022 to Present
As the Director of Marketing & Events, she is responsible for elevating and promoting the museum’s mission through marketing, communications, and event planning. This role provides the strategic leadership, drives the vision, and leads the planning efforts for a broad scope of marketing initiatives and live, digital, and hybrid events. Responsibilities include developing an annual marketing and events plan in addition to supporting marketing efforts for the development and education teams while leading, creating, and executing a portfolio of public programming and major marketing events including the Upstander Awards and Upstander 5K. Managing and leading a team of event and communication professionals, Kara's team drives all aspects of event logistics, including site and venue selection, agenda guidance, collateral development, production support, catering, sponsorships, and budget management. Kara also serves as the day-to-day contact with media outlets, as well as the primary liaison with communications personnel at fellow organizations and strategic partners, She proactively pitches and secures placement of media coverage for the organization within mainstream outlets, in addition to handling incoming media requests. She also develops communications and institutional messaging, crafts press releases, and organizes press conferences/media functions to support announcements.
COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING MANAGER — THE NANCY & DAVID WOLF HOLOCAUST & HUMANITY CENTER — Cincinnati, Ohio
January 2020 to January 2022
As the Marketing and Communications Manager for the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, she is responsible for elevating and promoting the museum’s mission of ensuring the lessons of the Holocaust inspire action today. Her job duties include: press relations, website management, event planning, social media management, marketing, among various other duties. She also created and manages the museum's Cincy Upstander Project, which aims to inspire the community to become upstanders through a city-wide art campaign, monthly programs, museum tours, and training opportunities.
ARTHUR F. BURNS FELLOW — INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR JOURNALISTS/ AXEL-SPRINGER PUBLISHING HOUSE — Berlin, Germany
July 2016 to October 2018
Kara was chosen as one of 10 journalists from North America for the Arthur F. Burns International Reporting Fellowship. The fellows work for two months in a foreign setting, serving as correspondents. She reported on foreign affairs for German newspaper Die Welt in Berlin, Germany.
ALL-MEDIA JOURNALIST — COX MEDIA GROUP OHIO/DAYTON DAILY NEWS — Dayton, Ohio
2016 to 2019
Kara worked as an all-media journalist, reporting on military affairs, business topics, aviation and the environment. As military affairs reporter, Kara was responsible for covering Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the largest single-site employer in Ohio. She wrote about complex topics and investigated important military and veteran issues. She also appeared live on WHIO Radio and managed some of the news organization's social media accounts. In this role, she won a First Place Associated Press Explanatory Journalism Award for coverage of water quality issues. She also created multiple digital stories daily and taught digital best practices for content creators. Kara was a top digital traffic generator for Cox Media Group Ohio websites in 2017 and 2018.
JOURNALISM AWARDS
ARTHUR F. BURNS INTERNATIONAL REPORTING FELLOWSHIP — Chosen as one of twelve North American fellows for the Arthur F. Burns reporting fellowship. For two months, fellows work as temporary staff members at German news organizations
NATIONAL PRESS FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM — Chosen for the National Press Foundation's "Why Americans Are Working Longer" fellowship in Washington, D.C.
COX MEDIA GROUP OHIO CROSS-PLATFORM INNOVATION AWARD — Awarded by Cox Media Group Ohio for "new approaches to stories, reporting, marketing, process, problem-solving or design. Work or ideas that help us accelerate the convergence of our media platforms."
OHIO ASSOCIATED PRESS MEDIA EDITORS 2016 BEST EXPLANATORY REPORTING — Awarded first place in the state for explanatory reporting for coverage of lead in drinking water
COX MEDIA GROUP OHIO CUTTING-EDGE AWARD — Awarded by Cox Media Group Ohio for "creative, innovative work and/or big ideas that carry us toward our successful future"
NATIONAL PRESS FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM — Chosen for the National Press Foundation's "Why Americans Are Working Longer" fellowship in Washington, D.C.
COX MEDIA GROUP OHIO CROSS-PLATFORM INNOVATION AWARD — Awarded by Cox Media Group Ohio for "new approaches to stories, reporting, marketing, process, problem-solving or design. Work or ideas that help us accelerate the convergence of our media platforms."
OHIO ASSOCIATED PRESS MEDIA EDITORS 2016 BEST EXPLANATORY REPORTING — Awarded first place in the state for explanatory reporting for coverage of lead in drinking water
COX MEDIA GROUP OHIO CUTTING-EDGE AWARD — Awarded by Cox Media Group Ohio for "creative, innovative work and/or big ideas that carry us toward our successful future"
UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS
CHARLIE STIX JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP
COONS LAFCADIO HEARN JOURNALISM PRIZE
DAVID ALTMAN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING SCHOLARSHIP
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI JOURNALISM DEPARTMENT HEAD AWARD
SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM'S MARK OF EXCELLENCE BEST IN-DEPTH REPORTING
COONS LAFCADIO HEARN JOURNALISM PRIZE
DAVID ALTMAN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING SCHOLARSHIP
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI JOURNALISM DEPARTMENT HEAD AWARD
SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM'S MARK OF EXCELLENCE BEST IN-DEPTH REPORTING
