Walton Family Foundation names new director

Karen Minkel will succeed Rob Brothers as the Home Region director for the Walton Family Foundation upon his approaching retirement in April.

Minkel joined the foundation in 2012 and has served as senior research officer providing analysis and evaluation of grants. Her past experience in the classroom and in leading urban planning projects, along with public policy education uniquely equip her as director, according the Buddy Philpot, executive director for the foundation.

She received her bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and her master’s degree in public policy from the University of California at Berkley. Minkel joined the Foundation after working for seven years in urban planning, three of those as director of strategic planning for the city of Fayetteville. She also spent time as a classroom teacher in New York City Public Schools as a Teach for America corps member.