Joel Krogstad joined McKnight in July 2021 and serves as the program manager of the McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience. In this role he works closely with the neuroscience research community to bring science closer to the day when diseases of the brain and behavior can be accurately diagnosed, prevented, and treated. Specifically, he oversees the Endowment Fund’s $3.8 million budget, coordinates its two prestigious award programs, and organizes the popular annual conference. As part of administering the award programs and conference, Joel processes more than 150 applications annually, and helps to build connections among the neuroscience research community.
Before joining the Neuroscience program, Joel worked with McKnight’s Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems as a program and grants associate with the Grants & Program Operations department supporting all facets of the grantmaking process for the 10 countries served by the program.
Joel ha dedicado su carrera a trabajar por la transformación social en todas las culturas. Antes de McKnight, fue director del Proyecto de Empoderamiento de Tecnología Comunitaria en Saint Paul Neighborhood Network durante 15 años, contratando y administrando a más de 500 miembros de AmeriCorps en la enseñanza de habilidades tecnológicas básicas y creativas para comunidades de refugiados, inmigrantes y jóvenes en las Ciudades Gemelas. . Anteriormente, Joel también dirigió proyectos de investigación y educación tanto en Ecuador como en Tailandia.
Joel tiene una maestría en educación laboral, comunitaria y familiar de la Universidad de Minnesota, y títulos en ciencias políticas y español de Macalester College. Vive con su esposa y sus dos hijos en Saint Paul y recientemente ha estado trabajando en el cuidadoso arte de girar mientras practica esquí de fondo.
Motto for today: “Success requires the emotional balance of a committed heart. When confronted with a challenge, the committed heart will search for a solution. The undecided heart will search for an escape. A committed heart does not wait for conditions to be exactly right. Why? Because conditions are NEVER exactly right.” – Andy Andrews, The Traveler’s Gift.
