Katie Rutkowski

After completing my master’s degree  at Loyola University Chicago, I began my career in higher education administration student affairs at the University of Central Florida. After three years, I returned to Loyola University Chicago, where I served as an Associate Director of Residence Life for seven years. In this role, I  oversaw staff training and development, collaborated on university-wide initiatives, and was a part of the departmental leadership team.

Wanting to explore new opportunities, I decided to pursue work in the non-profit sector, and eventually found myself at Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (BGCC)where I worked for eight years as the Director of Executive Operations. In this position, I worked alongside the President and CEO, leading administrative processes, providing strategic support, and serving as a liaison to the organization’s Board of Directors.

A mentor forwarded the position at RLD Foundation, believing it could be a good fit for me. My initial excitement about the position grew as I learned  about the Foundation’s mission, priorities, and approach to addressing the issues facing veterans, families, and entrepreneurs today.

I’ve always said that who I work for and with is more important than what I do on a daily basis. During the interview process, I quickly got a sense of Paul’s thoughtfulness, wisdom, optimism, humility, and deep commitment to making a meaningful difference. I was drawn to the possibility of being part of the venture he was building from scratch. Since starting, I’ve seen that these characteristics are not only present in Paul’s leadership but also intentionally infused into the team he’s assembled.

While I was inspired to join the Foundation from the start, it’s been incredibly affirming to see that inspiration grow as I’ve become more embedded in the work at the RLD Foundation.

In my role, I provide direct support to Paul as the Executive Director, as well as indirect support to the rest of the leadership team and the RLD Foundation board members. As we scale up, I’ll help establish and refine operations, processes, procedures, and policies to ensure the RLD Foundation is set up for success. I serve as a primary point of contact for the Office of the Executive Director, managing and redirecting outreach while providing administrative and strategic support to the team.

In addition to the role I play in day-to-day operations, I’m excited to take on special projects to advance the organization’s short- and long-term vision. My role allows for detailed routine work (e.g., meeting planning, logistics, outreach response) while also affording me the opportunity to contribute to big-picture tasks like strategic planning support.

The mission and vision of the RLD Foundation are significant in both scope and reach. Achieving them requires a lot of work on large and small scales. I see my role as one of support—ensuring that all the details and structures needed to reach our goals are accounted for.

I have the privilege of seeing the big picture and, in doing so, can help ensure the structures and details are in place to get us there. I hope to use my role to address gaps and needs that arise as we work to tackle important issues in the communities we serve.

The desire to understand differences  has been a long-held value in my life. My experiences in higher education helped me better understand the concept of social justice as a means of addressing inequities in our communities and society. Since then, I’ve sought opportunities to better educate myself about the structures and systems that create privilege at the expense of others.

As a member of the LGBTQ community, I’ve seen and experienced marginalization firsthand. While this aspect of my identity has fostered empathy for others, it has also illuminated my own privileges and the responsibility I have to challenge and address inequities.

Chicago is both a deeply beautiful and flawed city, and seeing its roots along with its potential inspires me. After moving away, I found myself drawn back to the values I see at the city’s core—resilience, hard work, care for others, and kindness.

The people here are incredible, and I love the diversity of voices and perspectives making their way to the forefront as we strive to become an even better place to live and grow.

An analytical person at my core, I love that the RLD Foundation has an embedded focus on using data to inform our goals, priorities, and decisions. I appreciate that developing and utilizing this data will be a collaborative effort with the communities we seek to partner with.

I’m also grateful for the shared understanding that data is only one piece of the puzzle. To truly understand the intractable problems we’re seeking to address, we must honor and uplift the lived experiences of those most impacted. The dual focus on data and humanity is incredibly important.

I enjoy running (slowly) and training for long-distance races. I  most appreciate spending quiet time at home with my spouse and our   dog. Outside of that, I enjoy word games, reading nonfiction, a good brunch, and catching up with longtime friends near and far.