Katrena R. Hanks serves as the Director of Grants and Programs with the 1890 Universities Foundation. Her primary areas of expertise are the Centers of Excellence at 1890 Institutions, the flagship initiative of the nineteen historically black colleges and universities. Prior to joining the Foundation, Ms. Hanks provided leadership for competitive grant programs with the United States Department of Agriculture and served as a community redevelopment planner along Florida’s Treasure Coast.
Ms. Hanks earned a Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from the College of Charleston, where she received the Outstanding Student Award in recognition of distinguished performance.
She is an avid traveler and photographer with submissions to the Smithsonian Magazine’s annual photo contest. Ms. Hanks is a Charleston, South Carolina native and resides in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee.