Biography

Kari (she/her) is the Program Director –Jewish Life at the William Davidson Foundation. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2015, Kari was the Detroit Regional Director for the American Jewish Committee. She led the AJC Detroit office to win the national Szabad Excellence Award twice for her innovation and commitment to new ideas and programmatic leadership. Before joining AJC in 2007, Kari spent 11 years working with the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, most recently as its Leadership Development Director. She received the Pappas Innovative Idea Award for creating and nurturing the Jewish Entrepreneur’s Network.

Kari is a graduate of the University of Michigan, with a BA in History, and an MSW and Certificate in Jewish Communal Service. In her volunteer life, she is a proud board member of Clover Hill Park Cemetery and of OneTable, as well as an active 2nd generation speaker at the Zekelman Holocaust Center. Kari is a former executive committee member and founding member of the Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit. She is an avid reader and gluten free baker. Kari and her husband, Eddie, live in Franklin, Michigan with their college-age daughters Noa and Adina, and dog. 

Why I Serve on the JPro Board:

As a career Jewish professional, I value both the elevation of the field and the support for individual growth and opportunity. JPro strikes that balance, and makes us and our community stronger.