Kathleen McCarthy joined the Knott Foundation in 2007 and, in 2023, was promoted to the role of Program Director. With a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and a Masters of Public Affairs from the LBJ School at the University of Texas at Austin, Kathleen brings a rich background to her role.

Her journey in policy and administration has been diverse, taking her from a women’s micro-credit group in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to a policy think tank in Austin, Texas, and an artist’s studio in Burlington, Vermont. Originally from New York, Kathleen has called Baltimore home for over 20 years, finding endless charm in the city that continues to surprise her.

In her current capacity as Program Director, Kathleen is instrumental in shaping and implementing the Foundation’s strategic grantmaking initiatives.