Dr. Kathryn Burkgren, Associate Vice President of Organizational Development and Effectiveness and HR strategist at Cornell University, partners with and provides strategic consultation and executive coaching to leaders across Cornell’s multiple campuses and beyond to create individual and organizational excellence. She works with leaders to help them better understand themselves and what is important to them and from that, shape strategy and decisions to advance individual, team, and organizational effectiveness. And, as part of Cornell's strategic transformation Kathy leads, oversees, and manages the impact on HR as it relates to Cornell Experience Modernization Initiative, Resilient Cornell, and HR Optimization efforts.

She oversees a team responsible for consulting, developing, and coaching senior leaders and their teams in the areas of organizational development and organizational effectiveness. She is an Executive Coach accredited through International Coaching Federation and certified through Assenter Coaching, LLC. Her passion is helping leaders discover their purpose, passion, and personal mission by giving them the space and freedom to explore new possibilities aligned to the mission and vision.

She is a past NCCI president and holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University in educational psychology with an emphasis in organizational behavior and a B.S. Dual Degree—Ag Journalism (May, 1986) and Ag Education (May, 1985), Agricultural and Life Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA.