Director at Large (ex-officio)
Carissa Kowalski Dougherty is the Director of Knowledge Management at The Morton Arboretum, where she develops internal communication strategy, leads staff learning initiatives, and collaborates on cross-functional projects that support organizational effectiveness. She co-founded Arborversity, the Arboretum’s staff learning platform, and oversees public-facing information hubs like the Plant Clinic and the Sterling Morton Library.
Through her consulting practice, Transformative Questions, Carissa partners with nonprofits to improve processes, design digital learning experiences, and support intentional change. Her background includes over ten years of digital strategy, data management, and online audience engagement as the Director of Digital Information and Access at the Art Institute of Chicago. She’s spoken nationally and internationally on topics ranging from workforce development to design thinking, from project management to culture-building—and she’s always up for a good question.
Carissa holds an MA in Architecture History, Theory, and Criticism from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a BS in Journalism and Applied Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has also earned professional certificates in Foresight (futures thinking) from the University of Houston and Organizational Effectiveness from Northwestern University (thanks to the Chanticleer Scholar program). Her professional and personal passions include improving digital literacy and combatting mis/disinformation. She currently serves on several community boards and committees, and yes, she absolutely makes spreadsheets for fun.
Carissa has long been engaged with the American Public Gardens Association, serving on the Editorial Advisory Group, Program Selection Committee, and as the Vice Chair and Chair of the Technology and Innovation Professionals (TIPs) community. She currently serves as the Chair of the Council of Communities.
