Kate is the director of development for NPR Illinois. She has worked in the Division of Advancement since December 2019, first doing marketing and communication work for the office before switching over to NPR in 2022. Prior to joining UIS, Kate spent more than 16 years as a journalist, working in various reporter and editor roles at newspapers in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Her beats over the years included K-12 education, higher education, government and courts, as well as serving as the opinion page editor for the state capitol newspaper in Illinois. She enjoys spending time with her husband, toddler son and two stepsons. Kate earned a master's degree in Public Affairs Reporting from the University of Illinois Springfield and her bachelor's degree in Mass Communication â¿¿ Journalism from Winona State University in Minnesota.