Katherine O'Brien

Katherine O’Brien creates spaces for communities to engage in sharing knowledge to build meaningful connections. She is enthusiastic about supporting lifelong learning and working with Middlebury College students as they discover the passions that will guide their learning at Middlebury and beyond. Katherine’s passion for the environment has driven her to get a doctoral degree in biology and develop expertise in science communication. Katherine has worked with libraries, theaters, and museums as community partners to develop meaningful and sustainable programs that connect colleges to their communities.



As the Director of Programs Katherine advises Middlebury Alternative Break programs, works with the MiddVolunteer leaders, and advocates for community connected Project Based Learning projects.



In Vermont you must roll with the season, so depending on the time of year you will find Katherine changes up her outside of work activities. In the winter she is an avid knitter but an enthusiastic swimmer in the summer and you are likely to see her on the Trail Around Middlebury in the fall.