Katie Turek

As the Career and Placement Director at TPC, Katie Turek facilitates the internship placement process by serving as the main point of contact for employers and supporting students in their personal and professional development.  She also teaches the Experiential Learning and Field Placement Course, which has a dual focus on reflective practice and preparing students for lives of purposeful work and civic engagement.

Katie joined the TPC team in September 2021.  She brings 10+ years of experience in leadership, student development, program evaluation, and partnership building in higher education and nonprofit settings.  Most recently, she served as the Associate Director of the Ursinus College Center for Advocacy, Responsibility, and Engagement, a role that involved helping college students develop civic leadership skills and put their values into action through high-impact community engagement experiences.  Katie is a proud AmeriCorps alumna, having served for two years with LIFT-Philadelphia, a nonprofit community resource center.  Katie is also a founding leadership team member for a national nonprofit organization called Write Away, which seeks to foster digital inclusion and provide opportunities for creative writing and expression for learners of all ages.  Katie is an alumna of the University of Pennsylvania (M.S. Ed.) and the Ohio State University (B.A.).  She began her professional career when she moved to Philadelphia 10+ years ago, and she is thrilled to be a part of this exciting journey for many TPC students.  Katie currently lives in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia with her partner and three cats.  In her spare time, you can find her growing veggies in her neighborhood garden, hiking on the Wissahickon, and trying out new restaurants in the city.