Sophie Kruger

Executive Director

For Sophie Kruger, her relationship with the CAA began when she was quite young. At that time, she didn’t fully realize the artist inside her, but she did believe in her creativity. And tapping into that, she participated in many classes here until she eventually grew away from it as she approached middle school age.

Even in her teen years, her knack for leadership and passion for community was very apparent. At the dance studio, she served as a helper for little dancers. At her church, she helped kickstart two youth programs and served as a youth leader. In the Kellogg community, she helped plan events, such as serving on the Kellogg Quincentennial Planning Committee. 

Having been homeschooled in the years after elementary school, she eventually decided to dual-enroll in Newton High School to pursue additional courses before entering college. There, she again fell in love with the arts.

In 2020, just as the pandemic began to interrupt plans, Kruger decided that rather than delay college, she switched gears and enrolled online at DMACC.

After graduation, she transferred to Central College in Pella, where she sought a degree in the arts. During her time there, she embraced the opportunity to become an intern at CAA. Here she felt at home both in the creative environment and with the other artists. Now she knew: in one way or another, she was going to be here for a while. 

Once her internship at CAA had ended, the Board, impressed by her participation approached Kruger to act as Assistant Director.

After a short while in that position, Executive Director Linda Klepinger who was retiring, offered Kruger to step into the top role. If she would accept the job, Klepinger pledged to be a mentor. So, Kruger happily accepted. Though she has only held the position for a short while, she has high hopes for the future and is excited to see where the Centre can go under her leadership.

In addition to her time as Director, Kruger also has a studio upstairs. Click here to read more about her work as an artist. 

A long-time Jasper County resident, Sophie lives in Newton with her husband, Anton Jakobus. They married in 2022. She graduated from Central College in 2024.