Stories
Kara Kenan
Meet Kara
English Language and Literature, B.A., UND
Psychology, Minor, UND
English, Rhetoric and Writing, M.A., NDSU, 2010
I am the Director of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships for Cancer Nation. In this role, I work to make sure the needs and experiences of people affected by cancer are reflected in policy, advocacy, and other survivorship efforts. My work focuses on bringing the patient voice into conversation about quality care, access, research, and the systemic changes needed to better support survivors.
How did your time as an English major prepare you for your current role or your career?
So much of my work in advocacy is about understanding audiences, shaping messages, and making complex information clear and persuasive. My time as an English major prepared me for advocacy work because it taught me how language influences people, showed me how to adapt communications effectively for different audiences, build evidence-based arguments, and how to identify gaps and bias in messaging. In my work, that translates directly to communicating with patients, policymakers, researchers, clinicians, and the public, helping make sure patient experiences are represented in ways that are compelling and accurate.
What advice would you give to someone considering an English major?
To me, an English major is so much more than reading, writing, and communication. In a changing world, where AI is increasingly pervasive, the skills you develop through an English major will be the ones you lean on time and again. You’ll learn to communicate more effectively and to read and write well, sure—but you’ll also strengthen your critical thinking skills, your ability to recognize faulty arguments, evaluate sources and evidence, understand how language shapes meaning, and adapt your message for different audiences. Those are skills that matter in almost any career, but they’re becoming even more valuable in a world where we are constantly being asked to decide what is credible, what is persuasive, and what is actually worth paying attention to.