Kim Thomas
Program Officer
Or Email:
kthomas
[at]
mmt [dot] org
What I do at MMT:
I learn as much as I can from applicants and their communities to accurately represent their requests to our Trustees. It's like being a reporter, but the goal is not just an objective story; it's helping organizations have the greatest impact on their communities with use of MMT funds.
What was your life experience before you came to MMT and how does it contribute to your work at MMT?
I joined Meyer Memorial Trust in February of 2006 as a program officer after 16 years at Oregon Food Bank in Portland. During those years, I was responsible for leading OFB’s advocacy and public policy work as well as supervising relationships with 18 regional food banks and over 800 local member programs across Oregon and southwest Washington.
Prior to joining Oregon Food Bank, I worked in higher education and publishing. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio), a Master of Education from the University of Vermont, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Alabama.
What high school did you attend?
Richmond Heights High School, Richmond Heights, Ohio (east side of Cleveland--at the time known as "The Mistake on the Lake")
When you graduated from high school, what did you want to be?
How long did you follow that plan, where did it lead?
Until I encountered a very dense Chaucer class in college and abruptly switched my major from English to Sociology and never looked back.
If I met my high school self, I would say:
Be braver, take more risks.
What were your favorite extracurricular activities in high school? What did you do for fun?
Newspaper, Student Council, where I was the Sergeant at Arms--now that was fun!
What was your favorite music to listen to?
I mostly remember Joni Mitchell's "Court and Spark" and Steely Dan. Wow, that dates me....
Complete this sentence: In high school, among my classmates I was most likely to...
Write the Great American Novel (still haven't done it).
You don't know me unless you know this about me:
I really wanted to be a famous country rock singer, like Bonnie Raitt with a guitar, but I have no musical talent whatsoever. Guess I have to stick to being an MMT Program Officer, for now....
