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Meet The Staff

Picture of SPP staff member Kara Knott.
Kara Knott (she/her)
Director

I joined Student Parent Programs in 2019 after working in NYC for more than 20 years providing direct service, leadership, and consultation in a variety of youth and family-serving organizations. My career has focused mainly on addressing the complex social, emotional, and systemic challenges facing young people, families, and the institutions that serve them. It's been incredibly rewarding to bring my experience to the work here at UMass supporting student parent success! I spend my non-work hours trying to make as much time as I can for the people (including 3 almost-grown kids), activities, and causes that I care deeply about. I received my M.S.W. from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College and my B.A. from Hampshire College.

@email

Picture of SPP staff member Wren Juskiewicz.
Wren Juskiewicz (she/her)
Program Assistant

I worked in family support for over a decade before joining the Office of Student Parent Programs in May of 2024. I received my BS in Psychology from Houghton College in 2013 and my MS in Autism & Applied Behavior Analysis from Elms College in 2018. As a member of a family with intensive needs, I'm dedicated to connecting families with the resources they need to thrive and supporting their success in the face of systemic challenges. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to serve the resilient community of Student Parents at UMass in the SPP office.

@email

Drop by our kid-friendly office space throughout the academic year!

Hours

Monday–Friday
8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

or by appointment

Contact

103 Bartlett Hall
@email
413-545-7172

Map