Donna Kragt has over 32 years of experience working in both K–12 and Community College systems. Her major areas of responsibility were institutional research, evaluation research, strategic planning, and accreditation. She also led whole-scale engagement sessions to bring multiple stakeholder groups into the decision-making process. Her experience includes over 32 years at Grand Rapids Community College with the first seven years working in the K–12 system prior to taking a position at Grand Rapids Community College. She served as dean of institutional research and planning for 20 years prior to retiring in 2021.
Education
M.A. (Educational Leadership) | Western Michigan University
Past Experience
Dean of Institutional Research and Planning | Grand Rapids Community College
Director of Research | Grand Rapids Community College
Director of Research | Grand Rapids Public Schools
Assessment Specialist | Grand Rapids Public Schools
How has education changed your life/your family?
Education for their children was a goal of my parents. They wanted us to have more opportunities to succeed in work than they enjoyed. As a first-generation college student, I had the opportunity to grow and to see a world that was larger than my own backyard. For my brother and I, education was a path we traveled out of hardworking poverty. It provided us the tools to take advantage of opportunities, and it is my hope that I have helped others travel this path successfully.