Harcum College Announces Kathy Koar as New Board Member at Hand2Paw

BRYN MAWR, PA — Harcum College is proud to announce Kathy Koar '99, EdD candidate, CVT, as the newest member of the Board of Directors for Hand2Paw. Hand2Paw is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that combines animal rescue with paid employment and support for young people.

Koar brings more than 25 years of experience in veterinary education, along with a deep commitment to animal welfare, education, and creating opportunities for the next generation of veterinary professionals. She currently serves as Program Director of the Harcum College Veterinary Nursing Program in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, where she has spent more than 25 years teaching and preparing students for careers in veterinary medicine.

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A 1999 graduate of Harcum College's Veterinary Technology program, Koar also holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Muhlenberg College and a master's degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. She has been a Certified Veterinary Technician in Pennsylvania since 1999 and is currently enrolled in the Interdisciplinary Doctor of Educational Leadership (EdD) program at St. Joseph's University.

Koar's career reflects a unique combination of veterinary medicine, education, and leadership. Prior to becoming Director of Veterinary Nursing at Harcum, she spent 15 years teaching in the Upper Darby School District, including her early years as a fourth-grade teacher, and 12 years working in Penn Vet's Emergency Service.

Throughout her more than two decades at Harcum, Koar has been recognized for her contributions to education and the veterinary profession. Her honors include Harcum College's Outstanding Alumnus Award and the Lindback Award for Excellence in Teaching. She was also named the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) Veterinary Technician of the Year in 2020.

Koar is an AVTE Fellow in Veterinary Technician Education and holds certifications in Social Behavioral Research (CITI) and the Psychology of Leadership. She currently serves as the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) District 2 Representative and contributes to its DEIB and VNI Committees. She also serves on the PVMA Legislative and Regulatory Committee.

As a member of Hand2Paw's Board of Directors, Koar will help support the organization's mission to create meaningful connections between youth and shelter animals while providing young people with opportunities to develop professional skills and explore careers in animal welfare and veterinary medicine.

"I'm honored to join the Hand2Paw family and support a mission that brings together my passion for young people, animals, and education," said Koar. "I look forward to helping create more opportunities for youth to discover the rewarding possibilities within animal welfare and the veterinary profession."

Visit harcum.edu/vet to learn more about Harcum's Veterinary Nursing Program.

About Harcum College: Founded in 1915 as the first college in Pennsylvania to grant associate degrees, Harcum College is a private, residential college located on Philadelphia's historic Main Line. A leader in career-focused education, Harcum provides students with outstanding preparation in 20+ in-demand programs including Dental Hygiene, Early Childhood Education, Physical Therapist Assistant, and Veterinary Nursing. With a commitment to experiential learning and personalized support, Harcum empowers students to achieve their academic and professional goals. Courses are offered on-site at Harcum's Bryn Mawr campus and at regional partnership sites, as well as online.

About Hand2Paw: Hand2Paw traces its beginnings to 2009, when University of Pennsylvania student Rachel Cohen noticed the connection between young people experiencing homelessness and the comfort they found with animals. The organization subsequently developed paid internships around that idea. Their main Unleashing Opportunities program is a six-month paid internship for ages 18–24. Participants work directly with rescued animals while learning workplace and life skills. They also have Pawspurr, a shorter six-week paid program focused on career readiness, humane education, communication, conflict resolution, and animal-welfare experience.