KATEJEROME

Publishing Executive • Children’s Author • Intergenerational Advocate

Kate Jerome's  extraordinary career seamlessly blends corporate leadership with creative prowess. An accomplished publishing executive, award-winning children's book author, and intergenerational product expert, she brings an exceptional blend of storytelling, educational insight, and strategic leadership to her work.

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Kate began her career as a high school biology teacher before transitioning into educational publishing. Rising quickly through the ranks at Scott Foresman, she ultimately served as its President and as a Senior Vice President on the HarperCollins Executive Board. Her leadership helped shape high-impact K–12 curriculum programs that advanced reading, science, and environmental literacy nationwide.

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As a staunch advocate of STEM, Kate launched her own company, KNI, to collaborate with National Geographic in developing an award-winning science series for kids. With a portfolio that now boasts over 200 fiction and nonfiction books, her contributions to children's literature are vast and varied. One of her notable works includes Who Was Amelia Earhart? a part of Penguin’s esteemed New York Times best-selling Who Was? series. Her most recent series on ocean conservation for middle school students, OceanX Adventures, is being done in collaboration with the Dalio Foundation's nonprofit OceanX initiative.

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In 2015, Kate was selected as one of the inaugural Fellows at Stanford University’s Distinguished Careers Institute. This experience re-energized her mission to translate cutting-edge intergenerational research into tangible products and led to the birth of Little Bridges. As Cofounder and lead innovator of Little Bridges, Kate creates award-winning activity kits designed to strengthen connections between children and adults.

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Kate also served as President of the innovative publishing company, Insight Editions, where she led the development of award-winning titles across pop culture, nature, and the arts.

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Kate's commitment to continuing education and mentorship is demonstrated by her roles in many esteemed organizations. She is an active Director Emerita for the South Carolina Aquarium, working with the education team to create Dock Talks --an innovative program developing kids in-person communication skills through ocean conservation content. She also serves as a National Advisor to Reading Partners, a program dedicated to helping children master essential reading skills. She has been a mentor for Stanford's Knight-Hennessy program and is currently an Ambassador for Stanford's Center on Longevity and a Distinguished Mentor for the University of Chicago's Leadership and Society Initiative.