Staff
Mimi O'Brien, Executive Director
Mimi O'Brien became the executive director of The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation in December 2012. She joined the foundation after a 21-year career in corporate and foundation development at Duke University. As part of her work at Duke, Mimi staffed the Josiah Charles Memorial Trent Foundation, serving as executive director from 1997-2012. The Trent Foundation was established by Mary D.B.T. Semans (daughter of Mary Duke Biddle) and her husband, Dr. James H. Semans, in honor of Mrs. Semans’ first husband, Dr. Josiah Charles Trent. During this time, she had the opportunity to work closely with the Semanses and the Biddle Foundation.
Mimi has an M.A. from Duke University and a B.A. from Berea College (KY). She volunteers with several Durham organizations through the Rotary Club of Durham. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Duke University Federal Credit Union and the Rotary Club of Durham. Originally from Dayton, OH, she has lived in Durham since 1991 and calls this wonderful city home.
Kathleen Collier, Program Associate
Kathleen became the Program Associate at The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation in August 2023. Prior to joining the foundation, she served as the Arts in Education Director at the North Carolina Arts Council. During her tenure at the NC Arts Council, she managed the agency's statewide arts in education, arts in healthcare, and arts accessibility grant programs and initiatives. Kathleen has a background in museum education with a focus on supporting arts integration programs and partnerships with school audiences. She has worked in the education departments both at the North Carolina Museum of Art and at The Mint Museum in Charlotte.
Kathleen has a M.A. from the University of Glasgow (UK) and a B.A. from Furman University (SC). She enjoys printmaking and exploring the Triangle's many outdoor parks and nature trails with her family. Originally from Greenville, SC, she has lived in Raleigh since 2015.
Kathy Harrison, Executive Assistant
Kathy Harrison, a proud native North Carolinian, graduated from Meredith College. She worked with Spectator Publications for over 13 years in Raleigh, NC. After Spectator, Kathy worked in the State Capitol under Governor James B. Hunt’s last administration before coming to The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation in the fall of 1997.
In addition to her work with the foundation, Kathy was Dr. and Mrs. Semans’ personal assistant and gained great knowledge of the people, the arts and education throughout North Carolina and New York City through them.
Kathy lives in Chapel Hill and enjoys gardening.