Katie Kissel

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT KATIE KISSEL

Katie Kissel is a dedicated \"Feed People First\" advocate with a decade-plus history of driving strategic partnerships that advance social impact, sustainability, and equitable access to basic needs. As the current Co-Chair and Acting Executive Director for Unearthing Farm & Market in Atlanta, GA, Katie champions local food security through their innovative flex pay model, ensuring food, education, and open greenspace are accessible to the entire community—no one is turned away for lack of funds. Her direct leadership has boosted community engagement by 50% and guided fundraising to secure over $150K for organizational goals. Furthermore, as a Co-Founder of the Georgia Black Owned Farms Corp, she actively builds high-impact partnerships and advocates for Georgia\'s farmers.Before dedicating herself fully to nonprofit leadership, Katie spent over a decade immersed in the food industry. This hands-on background spans from working on her family farm and running a 70-staff restaurant to managing the sales and logistics of global food ingredient sourcing. This vast understanding of both global and local food systems provides a unique foundation for her current research.As a recent Master’s graduate from Georgia State University, Katie’s academic work follows a two-pronged approach to food system transformation:1. Philosophical Understanding: Developing a deep understanding of how basic needs must operate outside the true free market system to align with fundamental human dignity.2. Policy & Economics: Researching the economic justification for real policy change that tangibly benefits every member of society.Katie’s decade of experience in nonprofit governance and operations—including fundraising, community outreach, policy advising, and financial management—ensures she brings a holistic skill set to advance any mission-driven organization toward greater stability and growth. 🤝