Kara Hughes is a Senior Solutions Specialist at Grand River Solutions. She previously served as the Senior Investigator for the College of the Holy Cross Office of Title IX & Equal Opportunity. In this role she investigated allegations of discrimination, harassment, sexual and relationship violence, stalking, and retaliation, in addition to conducting intake interviews, implementing supportive measures, assisting with adjudication processes, and facilitating compliance-based trainings for students, faculty, and staff.

Kara’s training as an investigator was gained in New York City, where she investigated police misconduct with the NYC Civilian Complaint Review Board; allegations she investigated included excessive force and abuse of authority. She later investigated NYC Department of Education employees with the NYCDOE Chancellor’s Office of Special Investigations, managing cases including those with allegations of corporal punishment and verbal abuse.

In addition to her time as an investigator for Holy Cross, Kara has experience working on college campuses as an instructor, having taught English composition at the University of Pittsburgh, the City University of New York, and Suffolk University, as well as at Boston College as part of its McNair Scholars Program.

Kara earned her Bachelor’s degree in sociology from Harvard University and a Master in Fine Arts in fiction writing from the University of Pittsburgh.