Nikki Kain is the assistant director of programming for the Karsh Institute of Democracy. Prior to her role at the Karsh Institute, Kain served as volunteer director for the Virginia Children’s Book Festival (VCBF), a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) dedicated to making reading accessible to every child, regardless of circumstance. At the VCBF, she led a team of 100+ volunteers to serve more than 10,000 children annually through year-round programming. Kain also previously served as operating partner for a community-focused restaurant group, where she led catering operations through eight years of rapid growth. She has specialized in operational scaling, community engagement, program development, and data analysis.

A proud first-generation college student, Kain holds a BS in elementary education and an MEd in literacyand culture from Longwood University, as well as an MPP from UVA’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy.