Kara Gardner, an accomplished educator, learning consultant, and author, has made significant contributions to the field of higher education around the globe. Gardner has a Bachelor of Arts in Music and English from Skidmore College and a Ph.D. in Music and Humanities from Stanford University. Gardner's vast experience includes training teachers on how to apply the principles of learning science in virtual classroom settings and cultivating a team of committed faculty for Minerva, a new institution seeking to reform higher education. Her passion for teaching has led her to receive recognition such as the 2017 Kurt Weill Book Prize for her work "Agnes de Mille: Telling Stories in Broadway Dance." Gardner has held various leadership positions at Minerva Schools at KGI, including Deputy Accreditation Liaison Officer and Associate Dean of Partnership Teaching and Learning - which is a testament to her expertise and professionalism. Additionally, she has held academic positions at renowned institutions, such as San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Stanford University, where she served as a Lecturer in Humanities. Gardner's dedication to the field of education and the performing arts is remarkable; her myriad of experiences ranging from being an author to a faculty member have undoubtedly made her an influential figure in academia.