Puranjot Kaur grew up in Coventry, Rhode Island, and moved to Mount Desert Island in 1998 to attend the College of the Atlantic, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Human Ecology with a focus in secondary science education and adolescent psychology. She brings more than 20 years of experience in education, organizational leadership, and community engagement, and currently serves as the Title IX Coordinator at the College of the Atlantic. In this role, she provides strategic oversight of civil rights compliance, leads campus-wide education and prevention initiatives, and advises senior leadership on policies that foster equity, accountability, and community well-being. Earlier in her career, she led marketing and communications for several nonprofit organizations, developing strategy, elevating organizational visibility, and advancing mission-driven work rooted in connection and belonging.

Puranjot is the co-founder of Open Table MDI, with her husband, Mahandeva Singh. As Secretary of the Board, she is committed to ensuring the organization continues to provide consistent, nourishing meals in a welcoming space where all are treated with dignity and respect, and to stewarding its resources with care, transparency, and long-term sustainability.

Contact Me About: Open Table MDI Programs/Partnership, Press Inquiries, Fundraising

I believe food can be a powerful tool to foster health, belonging, and justice in our community. I have the privilege of serving Open Table MDI and am committed to leveraging the resources and contributions that have been generously made to our organization so that this important work can continue for years to come.

My family finds great joy in teasing me about my love of maple syrup. In the Fall, I particularly love this recipe for Southern Skillet Black-Eyed Peas (which includes maple syrup as the sweetener) and is served with Buttery Biscuits and Maple Butter!