Meet Kate Dean: Small Town Politics in Uncertain Times: A Retrospective
Commissioner Kate Dean will reflect on 8 years in local elected office during tumultuous and contentious times in our country. She will reflect on the November 5th election and what that might mean for Jefferson County.
Kate Dean has been a driving force for rural economic development and environmental sustainability in Jefferson County. Elected to the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners in 2017, Kate’s journey began 20 years ago when she moved to the area as a young farmer and entrepreneur dedicated to building the local food economy. Since then, she has channeled her passion for rural communities into groundbreaking work that bridges public, private, and nonprofit sectors to tackle complex rural challenges.
Her diverse background includes leading the Jefferson Landworks Collaborative to preserve farmland, managing WSU Extension’s Small Farm Program, and serving as Regional Director for the North Olympic Development Council, where she facilitated regional collaboration on economic and community development. Kate also holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington.
Kate’s expertise spans local food systems, rural economic development, and climate change preparedness. She is a published author of reports such as USDA Farmland Changing Hands and Preparing for Climate Change on the North Olympic Peninsula and Small Towns.
Join us as Kate shares her insights on rural resilience, community collaboration, and sustainable economic development in her talk at Peninsula College.
Studium Generale East Speaker Series, 2024-2025
Peninsula College, Port Townsend Campus, Fort Worden
202 Eisenhower Ave., Port Townsend WA
Every First Thursday of the Month, November 2024–June, 2025, 6:00-7:30 pm
Free and open to the Public. All are welcome!
Curated to inspire and elevate the ideas of the students and inhabitants of East Jefferson County. Please join us for this innovative program.