Kathie Sidner, MS

Kathie Sidner serves on the Workforce and Military Affairs team at the University of North Carolina (UNC) System Office.  She supports UNC System economic and workforce development efforts, military affiliated students, and defense and industry partnerships. Ms. Sidner has over 20 years of experience in government, national security, and higher education, with expertise in strategic partnerships, research development, program management, and all-source analysis.

Kathie has led various initiatives including marketing campaigns, outside research studies, and credit articulation to increase military student access and success.  She has secured $40M+ to support UNC System research collaborations with military units based in North Carolina and other Department of Defense agencies. She has managed classified research programs, and internship programs with US Special Operations Forces through which nearly 75 students from UNC institutions participated in hands-on summer programs, embedded with SOF units.  She is a leading member of the UNC System’s Economic Transformation Council, which coordinates efforts across the 16 UNC universities to advance UNC’s workforce development and economic impact for the state. 

Ms. Sidner earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from N.C. State University.  Prior to joining the UNC System, she worked in the U.S. Intelligence Community as a chemical weapons and counterterrorism analyst and provided technical program management for two US Army university affiliated research centers (UARCs) in nanotechnology and biotechnology.  Kathie is a proud graduate of Leadership North Carolina (Class 30).

Kathie’s favorite activities include spending time outdoors, hiking, kayaking, listening to live music, game night with friends and family, and playing on the beach or in the mountains with her two children.