LATEST NEWS |  Diver Elected Chairwoman of Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2007

CLOQUET - Karen Diver, former board chair and current trustee of the Women's Foundation, made history Wednesday when she was sworn in as the first woman tribal chair of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa on February 7, 2007.

"We could not be more thrilled for Karen and for members of the Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa for electing its first tribal chairwoman," said Lee Roper-Batker, Foundation president and CEO. "Karen embodies the hopes and aspirations many women and girls hold to run for elected office, and win. As a community foundation dedicated to expanding women's political represen-tation, we believe this milestone victory is one that women and men across the state can celebrate."

Diver has served as a Women's Foundation trustee for the past six years. "We know Karen to be a brilliant, inspired and effective leader," said Roper-Batker. "And as our chair from 2004 to 2006, it was Karen's strong strategic vision that helped position the Women's Foundation to move equality forward for women and girls statewide."

As chairwoman for the Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Diver will administer the Band’s business investments and holdings, which accounts for over $300 million in annual revenue and includes nearly 1,600 employees. As a member of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Diver most recently served as the Band's director of Special Projects.

Diver has extensive experience in building diverse women's leadership and sheparding projects focused on community and organizational development. This includes 11 years as executive director for the YWCA Duluth and as a past appointee to the Governor's Workforce Development Council during the Carlson administration. In addition to serving on the board of the Women's Foundation, she is a current trustee of the Blandin Foundation.

Diver holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, and a Masters in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, where she attended as a Bush Leadership Fellow.

>> Be sure to catch Karen Diver at UPStart, March 21! Click here for details.

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