Kenna Barrett is a fundraising coach based in Silver Spring, MD. Over a 20-year period–thanks to the partnership of many donors, friends, and colleagues–Kenna has raised millions of dollars in all types of organizations, from start-ups to world-class universities. Currently, she serves as the Chief Development Officer of University Libraries for the University of Maryland.

Kenna teaches fundraising at Sacred Heart University and has taught at Johns Hopkins SAIS. Kenna is a regular presenter in the fundraising community on topics such as “Making the Ask” for Introverts, the Science of Schmoozing, The Inner Game of Fundraising, and more.

But here’s the thing: like many of her kin, she fell into her fundraising career quite unexpectedly. She was initially bound for academia. Along the road to becoming a professor, Kenna realized that engaging donors to support a worthwhile mission was a perfect fit for her writing skills, natural curiosity, and changemaking spirit.

As a coach, Kenna loves to work with introverts, writers, working parents, career-changers, and anyone else who wants to perfect their pitch–whether to solicit a gift, land a job in philanthropy, or simply level up their professional persona.