Ethelind Kaba Named Keynote Speaker for Arts, Sciences, and Engineering Graduate Student Commencement
Ethelind Kaba (MA '22, strategic communication) serves as the Executive Director of the Ann Bancroft Foundation, overseeing their efforts to make life-changing opportunities available to early childhood and adolescent girls in Minnesota. Kaba is responsible for strategic direction, shepherding high-impact awareness campaigns, maintaining strong community partnerships, expanding the reach of the Foundation, and working closely with the board of directors and staff to raise the annual budget, and managing the financial operations.
Arts, Sciences, and Engineering Graduate Student Commencement
Thursday, May 8, 2025 | 1 p.m. | 3M Arena at Mariucci
The Arts, Sciences, and Engineering Graduate Commencement ceremony is open to master’s, doctoral, and post-baccalaureate certificate students in the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Science and Engineering.
Leading with purpose
Before joining the Foundation, Kaba was the Vice President of External Affairs at the Center for Economic Inclusion, the nation’s first organization exclusively dedicated to advancing economic inclusion across all sectors in a major metropolitan area. In her role, she led strategic, effective communications, storytelling, marketing, and brand management and fund development initiatives to support efforts to build a racially equitable and inclusive economy.
Passionate about advancing equity, human dignity, and potential, Kaba previously founded The Stargirl Initiative, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering teen and tween girls, for which she was named a Changemaker by MN Women’s Press.
She also offers her experience and talents to several organizational committees and boards, including: The Jeremiah Program, a nationwide organization dedicated to transforming the lives of low-income single mothers and their children; Augsburg University, a private university known for its commitment to an intentional experience for all students, defined by excellence and guided by faith; and Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, advocates for affordable housing.
A multidisciplinary storyteller, Kaba has worked with local Twin Cities emerging artists, designers, and small business entrepreneurs to build engaged audiences. In all her work, she strives to spark in others the same curiosity about the human condition that motivates her.
Eight CLA Alumni Recognized in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal 50 Black Leaders List
Last March, eight CLA alumni were listed in the Business Journal's 50 Black Leaders You Should Know in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Area list. Big congratulations to Gabrielle Grier, Ethelind Kaba, Anissa Keyes, Lea Olsen, Abdul Omari, Ashely Booker, Delphanie Daniels, and Lisa Sayles-Adams for this memorable achievement! Read and learn about each of their careers in Minneapolis/St. Paul.
Education and recognition
Kaba’s formal educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in legal studies from Hamline University, a master’s degree in strategic communication from the College of Liberal Arts Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and a policy fellowship from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. In 2022, Kaba was selected to a cohort to represent the Twin Cities region at Harvard Business School’s Young American Leaders Program.
