Black Hills Area Foundation mission

Kathleen will talk about the purpose/story of the Black Hills Area Foundation and how we work with nonprofits and individuals to impact our communities.

Kathleen is an Illinois native who has been living in the beautiful Black Hills since 2012. After a quick trip to Spearfish with friends, she and her husband decided it was exactly where they wanted to put down roots. Since then, Kathleen has used her counseling and communication skills to uplift our region’s higher education and health care institutions. From supporting BHSU and SDSU students as they navigate college life, to managing internal communications for Monument Health caregivers during Covid-19, she has tried her best to support those in her community when they need it most. Before joining the Black Hills Area Community Foundation, Kathleen served as Director of Stewardship & Communication for the South Dakota Mines Center for Alumni Relations & Advancement. She holds a bachelor's degree in Public Relations from Illinois State University and a master's degree in College Counseling from South Dakota State University. 

Kathleen's husband, Trenton Ellis, is an Associate Professor of Human Services at Black Hills State University. They absolutely love living and raising their daughter, Isla, in Spearfish and always look forward to the outdoor activities each season brings to the Black Hills.