
As women in the Brainerd Lakes area prepare for the upcoming Clear Vision With Confidence event at Cragun’s with Keynote Speaker, Rachel Cruz, I thought you may like to know a little bit more about the LOCAL panel speakers that will also be gracing the stage all in support of Confidence Learning Center.
Meet Dr. Hara Charlier
Hara is originally from rural, upstate New York where she grew up in the small town of Owego and went to high school with her now husband, Russ. College was a winding journey for Hara. She attended five different colleges on the way to her Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University. Two of those were community colleges, each playing a critical role in her life. She tries to “pay it forward” every day.
After earning her Master’s degree in Microbiology, she began her career in higher education teaching at Miami University (Ohio) before moving into the community college world at Blue Ridge Community College in Virginia. After teaching biology, microbiology, and anatomy and physiology for over a decade, she says her heart is always in the classroom. Eventually, Hara earned her doctorate in Community College Leadership and somewhat reluctantly moved into an administrative position. Thankfully, she soon realized that she loved working with dedicated teams to help students change their lives. She served as a dean and a vice president at two community colleges in Virginia (Blue Ridge and Virginia Highlands) before moving to Minnesota to become president of Central Lakes College.
On their way to Minnesota, Hara and Russ have lived in New York, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, and Virginia. They love being new Minnesotans and try a new outdoor experience each year. They also enjoy camping and dogs…lot of dogs. They reside in Nisswa and a menagerie of animals, including four dogs and a cat. They are now empty-nesters while their awesome daughters, Devon and Lili, pursue their own educational journeys…both of which proudly include community colleges. Hara is currently the President of Central Lakes College.
You can learn more about Hara and the other panel speakers, as well as purchase tickets to this event online at www.ClearVisionWithConfidence.com