Dr. Kara
Monroe

Dr. Kara Monroe is founder and president of Monarch Strategies, a consulting firm providing expert consulting to higher education organizations across the country as well as leadership development and creative problem-solving facilitation and training to organizations of all types. Prior to founding Monarch Strategies, LLC, Dr. Monroe served Ivy Tech Community College for more than 20 years.  

Dr. Monroe is an accomplished writer and storyteller with work published in partnership with professional organizations such as WCET as well as on the podcast she created, “Our College, Your Voices.” Together with her miniature double doodle Kona, Monroe is an active volunteer with hospice, – doing pet visits with patients and their families. 

How has education changed your life/your family? 

I am a first-generation college student and while I experienced the challenges of not knowing how to navigate college, college and education were always expected of me and fully supported. That said, I still struggled in my freshman year with the transition to college. I was a lucky one as friends — both new and those I met at college as well as family — provided needed supports but I saw how the college itself failed in doing so. As such, I’ve always wanted to make the process of navigating the college experience easier.  

Additionally, beyond college, I strongly believe in living in an atmosphere of growth. As such, I’m a lifelong learner and curiosity seeker and I recognize where traditional education pathways don’t always meet the needs of adult learners — and even some young learners. As such, I am passionate about finding ways to streamlining the transition between experience and credit which is an ongoing unrealized promise in most of higher education.