Kara Fink, 2005
Pursuing a career that touches the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people is a natural fit for Kara Fink, who grew up in Boise. She earned a degree in international business and is outreach and partnership manager at the Idaho Office for Refugees.
“I get to build relationships and create opportunities for people from all around the world to come together and learn about each other,” Fink said. “My goal is to help strengthen communities so all our neighbors can thrive.”
As a student at Boise State, Fink was a member of the Honors College. She found a strong community there and classes that challenged her.
“The international business program at Boise State was a huge draw, and I was blown away by the work being done by professors like Nancy Napier.”
Napier, a Distinguished Professor Emerita, founded the program.
“It’s been an incredible honor to be part of Boise State and the international business program as it has grown its global presence,” Napier said. “Watching our graduates succeed is, of course, the best part. Kara is one of our great stories.”
The rigorous classwork at Boise State helped Fink land a spot with the prestigious Fulbright program where she studied social structures and economic development in towns along the German/ Polish border.
“When I asked the Berlin Fulbright Commission why I was chosen, a large reason was my unique project. That was thanks to the Boise State staff who helped me shape ideas and make connections,” she said.
Fink earned a graduate degree in development anthropology at Durham University in England before returning to Boise.
“Working in resettlement is challenging and the need to build more welcoming communities for our neighbors who are fleeing war isn’t going to disappear. But it is rewarding work that has a direct impact,” Fink said.
Fink collaborates with Boise State on the annual Idaho Conference on Refugees and programming that supports students with refugee and immigrant backgrounds.
“Kara’s knowledge of Boise State, coupled with her dedication to the Idaho Office of Refugees, has made her an invaluable partner in promoting campus/community synergy,” said Kara Brascia, director of the Boise State Service-Learning program that has connected faculty and students with refugee resettlement agencies for two decades. “Her energy, persistence, and genuine caring have helped sustain and advance this important collaboration.”