Author Bio - Kathleen Bethel
Kathleen A. Bethel may be best known for the tree in her front yard. Her current book, “The Wishing Tree,” shares the stories of some of the 30,000 people who come to make a wish each year. Prior to retirement, Kathleen Bethel was the CEO of SARSEF, a science and engineering foundation that provides educational outreach to over 30,000 students throughout Arizona, and an administrator at the University of Arizona’s College of Engineering for ten years. Previously, Kathleen Bethel served as a school principal and educator for thirty-three years.
Kathleen Bethel (Baker) earned her doctorate at Texas Tech University, studying the change process in public schools, and master’s and bachelor's degrees in education at the University of Arizona. Kathleen spends her spare time writing, traveling, practicing yoga, and enjoying her first grandchild.
Kathleen Bethel Awards
Kathleen Bethel: Awarded “Top Nonprofit CEO of the Year” by “Tucson Business” Tucson Metro Chamber’s ‘Copper Cactus Award” for Non-profit excellence: Kathleen Bethel
Kathleen Bethel CEO Impact SARSEF CEO, By the Numbers, by Betsy Bolding
Kathleen Bethel: Writing Fellow -National “Public Voices: The OP-ED Project.”
“Woman of Influence” Kathleen Bethel, Women’s Foundation of Arizona
Peter Drucker Institute’s National “Top Ten Non-profit Leadership”
First place for “Women in Science and Engineering” WISE: Kathleen Bethel
Arizona’s “Governor’s Award for Volunteerism”
“Hall of Fame” Sunnyside Unified District’s contributions to the community
“Boss of the Year” Kathleen Bethel, for leadership and administrative excellence
Adlerian Society’s “Self-Actualization: Award for Community Interest” Kathleen Bethel
Earned Doctorate of Educational Administration, Kathleen Bethel, Texas Tech University
Kathleen Bethel Publications
Bethel, Kathleen A. For thousands, Tucson's wishing tree can start something good Special to the Arizona Daily Star, December 23, 2025.
Bethel, Kathleen Withey. Special to the Arizona Daily Star, September 23, 2025. We must find a way to fix nation, not break it
Bethel, Kathleen Withey. Special to the Arizona Daily Star, Lead story, March 23, 2025, Page A14. Experiencing Congressional Whiplash
Bethel, Kathleen A. Sister Suffragettes’ Secret Weapon? Successful Men Special to the Arizona Daily Star, Lead story, November 9, 2024.
Bethel, Kathleen A. Special to the Arizona Daily Star, October 31, 2024, Lead story, Page A8. We must be ready for the aftermath
Bethel, Kathleen A. Special to the Arizona Daily Star, Lead story, August 28, 2023, updated October 1, 2024. Local opinion: The women in the box are the perfect gift
Bethel, Kathleen A. “Old Age” in Oberon Poetry Magazine, 2024.
Bethel, Kathleen A. Lead story, Special to the Arizona Daily Star, Tucson Opinion, July 26, 2023. It’s a Barbie world and we won’t go back
Bethel, Kathleen A. Lead story, Arizona Daily Star, July 5, 2023, Page A10. Time to take back the American flag
Bethel, Kathleen A. Arizona Daily Star, March 17, 2023, Page A10. An ideal day to find your Irish roots
Bethel, Kathleen A. Arizona Daily Star, January 17, 2023 Page A6. No more New Year’s resolutions
Bethel, Kathleen A. Arizona Daily Star, April 2, 2023, Page A14. Teachers deserve awards for valor
Bethel, Kathleen A. Lead story, Special to the Arizona Daily Star, June 29, 2022, Page A6. This brave old lady ready to take on the legislators
Bethel, Kathleen A. Arizona Daily Star, Page A4, Lead story, April 13, 2022. Therapy is wonderful, even if you don’t need it
Bethel, Kathleen A. Arizona Daily Star, December 19, 2021, Page A6. Make a wish
Bethel, Kathleen A. Special to the Arizona Daily Star, April 17, 2021, Page A6. Lead story. Lessons from COVID-19
Bethel, Kathleen A. Lead story, Special to the Arizona Daily Star, December 30, 2020. A donation can be a defiant end
Bethel, Kathleen A. Special to the Arizona Daily Star, December 16, 2020, Lead story, Page A6. Call me doctor
Bethel, Kathleen A. Lead story, Special to the Arizona Daily Star, July 21, 2020, Page A4. Keep your kids home
Bethel, Kathleen A. Arizona Daily Star, June 16, 2020, Page A4-5. Envisioning a remade America focused on education and Envisioning Part Two
Bethel, Kathleen A. Lead story, Special to the Arizona Daily Star, May 20, 2020. Tips on parenting
Bethel, Kathleen A. Special to the Arizona Daily Star, March 02, 2020, Lead story, Page A4. Science, Book Fairs make for an exciting weekend
Bethel, Kathleen A. Arizona Daily Star, October 1, 2019, Page A4. Quality Preschools matter for kids and their entire communities
Bethel, Kathleen A. Special to the Arizona Daily Star, June 05, 2019, Page A6. Little green men, a cheese moon, and looking back on our planet
Bethel, Kathleen A. Lead story, Special to the Arizona Daily Star, April 2, 2019. There are a million reasons to give to Tucson’s nonprofits
Bethel, Kathleen A. Special to the Arizona Daily Star, Lead story, March 5, 2019. SARSEF helps kids make a better world
Bethel, Kathleen A. Arizona Daily Star, April 9, 2019, Page A10. The future is bright and so are our students
Bethel, Kathleen A. Lead story, Special to the Arizona Daily Star, Page A9, October 28, 2018. Thinking critically is a critical skill for Trump, kids
Bethel, Kathleen A. Buffalo News, October 16, 2018. The President could take a cue from young learners
Bethel, Kathleen A. Special to the Arizona Daily Star, August 02, 2017, Page A08. To improve our kids’ thinking, we should ask better questions
Bethel, Kathleen A. Arizona Daily Star, March 1, 2017, Page A7. Science, like responsible journalism, can filter out the lies
Bethel, Kathleen A. Arizona Daily Star, March 11, 2015, Page A11. It’s science fair season in Southern Arizona
Bethel, Kathleen A. Arizona Daily Star, August 24, 2014, Page A07. Great things happen when community, curious kids join forces
Bethel, Kathleen A. Special to the Arizona Daily Star, August 29, 2007, Page A17. Science, engineering a plus for young minds
Bethel, Kathleen A. ” Arizona Daily Star, January 10, 2007, Page A1.
Bethel, Kathleen A. Arizona Daily Star, January 22, 2008, Page A07. Segregation is coming to our schools next year,
Bethel, Kathleen A. ,” Arizona Daily Star, Tucson Voices, April 15, 2001, Page A14. Tucson’s Best Schools
Bethel, Kathleen A. Tucson Citizen, August 9, 2004, Page A2. Parents: Stay involved through high school
Gardner, Jeff. Tucson Public Media, September 27, 2022, July 2, 2019. SARSEF CEO Kathleen Bethel Retires
Bolding, Betsy. “SARSEF CEO Retires: Looking at Kathleen Bethel’s Impact by the numbers” Arizona Daily Star, June 25, 2019. Looking at Kathleen Bethel’s Impact