# Kara Paymar

> Kara Paymar is the Minneapolis-based chief marketing officer of Strategic Education, Inc., with a career that runs from advertising and real-estate communications through independent consulting to senior leadership in online higher education. Her public record shows a marketer comfortable with both large-scale execution and institutional responsibility: a former colleague credits her with assembling the team behind a 2,500-page website launch in four months, while her recent comments on artificial intelligence emphasize inclusive governance, human judgment, and leadership accountability.

- **Role:** Chief Marketing Officer at Strategic Education, Inc.
- **Organizations:** Strategic Education, Inc., Capella University, Kara Paymar Consulting, HomeServices of America, Edina Realty Home Services, Gang Carlson Cunico Advertising & Public Relations
- **Nationality:** American
- **Known for:** Progressed from director of brand and digital experiences at Capella University to chief marketing officer of Strategic Education, Inc., Was credited by a former colleague with assembling the cross-functional team that launched a 2,500-page website in four months without a CMS., Led marketing work across brand strategy, digital experience, product marketing, consumer marketing, and corporate communications.

## Career timeline

- **1990-1992** — Worked in account roles at Gang Carlson Cunico Advertising & Public Relations.
- **1992-2000** — Held marketing and corporate communications leadership roles at Edina Realty Home Services.
- **1999-2000** — Served as vice president of marketing and corporate communications at HomeServices of America.
- **2000-2012** — Founded and led Kara Paymar Consulting as managing director.
- **2012-2015** — Served as director of brand and digital experiences at Capella University.
- **2012** — Helped assemble a cross-functional team credited by a former colleague with launching a 2,500-page website in four months without a CMS.
- **2015-2018** — Held vice president roles spanning brand strategy, digital strategy, and product marketing at Capella and Strategic Education.
- **2018-2021** — Served as senior vice president of consumer marketing at Strategic Education.
- **2021-2024** — Served as chief marketing officer of Capella University.
- **2024-present** — Serves as chief marketing officer of Strategic Education, Inc.

## Achievements

- Progressed from director of brand and digital experiences at Capella University to chief marketing officer of Strategic Education, Inc.
- Was credited by a former colleague with assembling the cross-functional team that launched a 2,500-page website in four months without a CMS.
- Led marketing work across brand strategy, digital experience, product marketing, consumer marketing, and corporate communications.
- Signed Capella University's 2022 federal trademark application for the C Capella University mark in her capacity as CMO.

## Latest updates

- **2026-04** — Discussed inclusive AI governance and human accountability in marketing with Campaign US.
- **2025-04** — Publicly celebrated Capella colleagues representing the university at the Higher Learning Commission annual conference.
- **2024-04** — Began serving as chief marketing officer of Strategic Education, Inc., according to public professional-profile data.

## Links

- Website: https://strategiceducation.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karapaymar

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/kara-paymar
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-10