The Columbia Public Schools Foundation (CPSF) is pleased to announce the hiring of its first executive director, Katie Harris.

As the first executive director in the Foundation’s 26-year history, Harris will be responsible for the leadership and management of the nonprofit organization. “The Columbia Public Schools Foundation is thrilled to introduce Katie Harris as our inaugural Executive Director,” said Sally Silvers, secretary of the Foundation’s board of directors. “After 26 years rooted in the community and run by an all-volunteer board, it is fitting that our next chapter will be authored by a CPS-educated visionary leader. Because of our community’s widespread support of CPSF, this is possible.”

“It’s an honor to advance the Foundation’s mission of enhancing and enriching public education,” said Harris. “I’m grateful to the Foundation’s board of directors for their confidence in me, and I look forward to continuing their support of our students and teachers. It’s an exciting time to come aboard after the Foundation’s celebration of its 25th anniversary and to look toward the future.”

Harris is a CPS graduate, having attended Shepard Boulevard Elementary, Jefferson Junior High School and Hickman High School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and psychology, summa cum laude, from Drake University in Des Moines, Ia., and a master of fine arts degree in creative writing from George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. Harris is the director of marketing communications for Knorr Marketing Communications. She also is past co-chair of the Nora Stewart Early Learning Center Board of Directors and a past chair of the Cultural Affairs Commission for the City of Columbia.

The Columbia Public Schools Foundation is a private foundation established by community volunteers dedicated to the enrichment of public education through community giving. The Foundation has funded projects in every school, allocating more than $1.6 million to enhance education in the Columbia Public Schools. CPSF was founded in 1996 and has supported teachers and students for more than 25 years.