Kimberly Churches is the chief executive officer of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), a leading voice in advancing equity for women and girls through research, advocacy, and education. Prior to joining AAUW, Kim was the managing director of the Brookings Institution, an internationally recognized public policy think tank. In that capacity, she strategically guided Brookings, providing vision and problem-solving skills while focusing on expansive partnerships, external relations, and advancement.

Kim also served as associate vice chancellor at the University of Denver, a director of development at the University of North Florida, and a division director at the American Heart Association. Kim is widely recognized for her success at working collaboratively in education, as well as for capacity-building for grassroots groups and national and international nonprofits.

In addition to her work at AAUW, Kim serves as the board treasurer of 1455, a new center for the literary arts in Virginia. She is a board member of DC Girls Baseball, a competitive baseball league for girls ages nine to 18. Kim also serves as a director on the board of the Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights, and is a member of the International Women’s Forum of Washington, D.C., and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

With her pragmatic approach, Kim is a dynamic and sought-after speaker at national conferences and conventions in many industries. She is regularly interviewed by top national media outlets and her insights on how to advance gender equity are routinely quoted in the New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today and more. She has also written for national media outlets, including CNN, The Hill and Fortune, and she is a columnist for MSNBC’s Know Your Value website.

Karen Kirkwood is a member of the AAUW St. Paul and St. Cloud branches. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. She has served AAUW as a Branch and State President, and has held various board and committee positions. She is currently a co-fundraiser for the St. Cloud Tech Savvy event. Karen was a member of the successful "Charting the Course" campaign. She is certified as a Start Smart/Work Smart facilitator.

She has been employed as: a special education teacher; a legal advocate for a battered women’s shelter; the owner of a home-based, small business; the office manager for the Minnesota Education Association; and a mental health practitioner for toddlers with autism.

In addition to her AAUW experience, Karen has served on several volunteer boards and committees in her community.

Barb Wonson Luikkonen - Ely

She has been helping us adapt the rules for our virtual meeting. She served on the By-laws committee.

Teresa Sagen - Ely

She chaired the Nominations Committee this year and is also a former state co-president.