Katherine’s commitment to VISIONS emerged in 1996 as a leader in the Dominican Republic. She has also led programs on the Montana Blackfeet Reservation, Peru, Nicaragua and Ecuador, and she served as Latin America Coordinator before becoming owner and Director in 2009.
Katherine earned undergraduate degrees in Environmental Studies and Policy Studies at Dickinson College, PA, where she also played Varsity basketball. She took a junior year to study conservation and social issues in Venezuela and Costa Rica. She later earned an MBA from the University of Montana, with a thesis on corporate social responsibility. Before joining VISIONS full-time in 2007, Katherine worked with a start-up tech firm and also did contract work for environmental nonprofits.
Katherine is a Montanan who enjoys sharing her home state and her home with lots of visitors. For five years, she also hosted and helped sponsor Youra Moeun, a young woman who she met while spending time at VISIONS now-retired program in Cambodia, and who then moved to Bozeman to pursue a degree at MSU.
A common thread through her life is carrying environmental and social concerns into the fabric of her work and other pursuits. Beyond VISIONS, this has included being one of the founding members of a community-oriented neighborhood (Bozeman Cohousing), and now developing her farm into a place for regenerative agriculture. Katherine gets outside regularly to connect with the natural world—and often with friends or family; always with dogs.
Recent Blog Posts
VISIONS AND THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS
A volunteer service trip with VISIONS Service Adventures shaped a student’s college application journey and future aspirations. It gave her new perspectives, more to write about than just “fluff”, and exceeded her teenage volunteering expectations.
How Service Learning Programs Can Help Build the Leaders of Tomorrow
It’s no secret that the leaders of tomorrow must be equipped with a unique set of skills and values to make a positive impact on our society. One powerful way to nurture these future leaders is through service learning programs.
Spotlight: Tim Parsons, Former VISIONS Leader and Office Staff
Tim has led VISIONS programs all over the world – Mississippi, Australia, South Carolina, Dominica, Alaska, Montana Blackfeet Indian Reservation and Montana Northern Cheyenne. Today he uses the skills that he developed as a VISIONS team member to enhance his life and others’ around him.
Santos Ramos: The Patron Saint of VISIONS Dominican Republic
Meet Santos Ramos, our “Saint” of VISIONS Dominican Republic. Since 1991, Santos has been an integral part of VISIONS, dedicating his life to serving communities, building schools, and providing homes. Read on to discover his remarkable story and lasting impact.