Kathy Postel

Since 2001, Kathy Kretman has served in a number of roles at Georgetown University, which currently include the Waldemar A. Nielsen Chair in Philanthropy; Director of the Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership; and Research Professor at the McCourt School of Public Policy. She has devoted most of her career to the development of leaders in the public, nonprofit and philanthropic sectors.

One of the highlights of Kretman’s career has been directing Georgetown’s internationally recognized nonprofit executive certificate program, which has 1,500 alumni across the globe. She also created customized leadership programs for USAID, United Way International, National Urban League, National Hispana Leadership Institute, and the Corporation for Enterprise Development, among others.

Prior to coming to Georgetown, Kretman served on the faculties of the George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management, and the Corporation for National and Community Service’s Executive Leadership Institute.

Earlier in her career, Kretman advised CEO’s on corporate social responsibility for the American Council of Life Insurance; researched economic development issues as a National Urban Fellow at New York City’s Regional Plan Association; and investigated discriminatory practices in employment, municipal services’ delivery, and voting rights for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.

Currently, Kretman serves on the President’s Council of Woods Hole Research Center, a scientific research organization that studies climate change impacts.

Kretman was recently named the Leslie Whittington Faculty of the Year at Georgetown.

Kretman holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Maryland, an M.A. in Public Administration from George Washington University, and a B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin.

Expertise

Civic Education, Leadership Development, Nonprofit Management, Philanthropy

Education

• University of Maryland-College Park - Ph.D., Political Science
• George Washington University - M.A., Public Administration
• University of Texas - B.S., Government