Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
CONFERENCES, PRESENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS & PUBLICATIONS (PARTIAL LIST)
Timeline
BusinessAnalyst
Dr. Karen Armstrong

Dr. Karen Armstrong

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Consultant
Nashville,TN

Summary

Experience with guiding higher education leadership towards practical, effective methods of infusing inclusion, equity and diversity into campus structures, policies, strategic plans, and programs. Through developing an environment of belonging, both within and beyond the campus community, relationships and connections are established based on similarities, individual uniqueness, and the celebration of differences.

Overview

22
22
years of professional experience

Work History

Director of Inclusion, Equity, & Diversity

The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA
02.2016 - Current
  • Clinically trained multicultural, LGBTQA+, disability, and special populations counselor, with extensive experience in DEI-centered change management and professional development for government and non-profit organizations
  • Serve on a leadership team, advising and coaching on strategic plan development that embeds research-based diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) with leadership, government officials, business partners, employees, and constituents across the state of Pennsylvania
  • Utilizing key performance indicators (KPIs) to document the progress of strategic plans and increase accountability
  • Orchestrate tailored employee programs that align with organizational, DEIB philosophy, strategies, goals, and talent development leading equitable growth opportunities
  • Direct oversight of a virtual Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (DEIB) Council offering hybrid engagement activities for geographically dispersed employees, infused with professional development that increases DEIB acumen and leadership opportunities across employee-base
  • Planning and presenting at forums, panels, and conferences consistently demonstrating the organization's DEIB values through actions and behaviors
  • Function as a subject matter expert (SME) to internal and external partners on DEIB best practices, offering consulting, and coaching to supervisors, as well as a peer-to-peer DEIB best practices Symposium
  • Measure, analyze, report, and present data on internal and external, priorities and partnerships, via a SWOT (strengths, weakness, opportunities, threats) analysis
  • Served on the Editorial Board of an open-access educational journal utilizing case studies and instructional lessons
  • Provide robust, comprehensive programming that addresses relevant topics in society, such as “How to Talk to Your Kids about Race and Racism with Sonia Manzano 'Maria' from Sesame Street"
  • DEI Higher Education Content Expert for the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), working with multiple stakeholders, nationally to provide robust engagement opportunities around the subject matter
  • Serving on the NACE DEI Committee, authoring, updating, and revising policy standards used by career service offices at colleges and universities throughout the country, including Penn State
  • Serve as co-chair for the university-wide Diversability Committee, focused on inclusive programs for faculty, staff & students
  • Implement search committee best practices as determined by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), utilizing bias reduction practices
  • Effectively leveraged DEI best practices for students, faculty, and staff through World Campus Student Affairs and the World Campus Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council (DEIC) developing timely, engaging virtual and in-person programs
  • Bias Intervention facilitator, teaching various bias intervention techniques for the Stand for State and Smart Track Programs
  • Utilize professional counseling skills to facilitate race-based discussions for the DEIC, routinely fostering authentic and professional engagement by participants
  • Plan live stream and on-demand content with WPSU to offer on multiple projects through Students Affairs and the DEIC, planning diversity-focused, inclusive programming
  • Originate a video series in partnership with WPSU on disclosure in the workplace around multiple topics including disability accommodations, coming out in the workplace, establishing racial/ethnic affinity at work, and highlighting military affiliation in the workplace
  • Collaborate with World Campus Admissions to develop and host an identity-focused, career services webinar for prospective students
  • Serve on the Hendrick Adult Learners Conference planning committee for two consecutive years, working with the World Campus Student Affairs Director to ensure a virtual adult learner perspective
  • Serve on the University Staff Advisory Council, addressing policy matters and advising central administration beginning August 2020
  • NACE Conference Panel Planning Committee for May 2021 addressing varied perspectives through an inclusion, equity, and diversity perspective

Counselor Coordinator, Downtown Campus

Florida State College @ Jacksonville
Jacksonville, FL
02.2012 - 08.2015
  • Commission by campus president to lead the development of campus goals on implementation of DEI focused professional development for faculty and staff
  • Benchmark DEI professional development workshops through partnering with colleges and universities throughout Florida, including the University of Florida and Florida State University
  • Collaborate with administration, faculty, and staff of professional development on DEI content for faculty and staff workshops
  • Supervise the scholarship program for the college's second largest donor, routinely partnering with development
  • Author strategic plans and policy for recruitment and retention for a scholarship program
  • Supervise staff, successfully securing donor funding for full time staff providing support for scholarship participants
  • Manage a scholarship program for students with a low socioeconomic status (SES), increasing annual enrollment through retention by 67%
  • Supervise staff for the Minority Male program infusing a career focus and mentoring directly connected to the academic programs
  • Maintain the highest standard of professional practice in accordance with the American Counseling Association, by honoring diversity and utilizing a multicultural approach, supporting the worth, dignity and uniqueness through a professional, social, and cultural context
  • Partner with local domestic violence and homeless shelters to foster support and collaboration from
    Duval County community partners
  • Complete initial assessments and provided counseling sessions to cover all aspects of client history,
    situation and skills
  • Campus Title IX Compliance Officer in coordination with Campus police, ensuring all federal
    regulations were maintained, including timely reporting
  • Provide career counseling for at risk or who have previously stopped out from one semester to the next
  • Organize accommodations and taught self-advocacy skills for students with disabilities
  • Provide international student acculturation counseling and support services

Teen Parent Program Coordinator

Stamford Public Schools
Stamford, CT
04.2001 - 05.2011
  • Develop educational program for pregnant or parenting teens ages 12-18 in need of increased educational and social support systems
  • Establish community partnerships for facilitation of resources and services to meet their needs in the areas of academics, job preparedness, health, legal, financial, housing
  • Supervise effective implementation of all program activities for students to ensure compliance, meeting or excelling performance standards and policies
  • Observe and maintain record of student academic progress and in accordance with the district curriculum
  • Foster a collaborative relationship with school social workers and community center executives to
    provide internship, employment, and childcare for teenage parents/students in the program
  • Secure continual grant funding through maintaining the highest standard of documentation of daily routines, student retention, persistence, graduation, and budget management
  • Benchmark and monitor additional local, regional, and national pregnant and parenting teen programs to maintain continual professional development and awareness of best practices
  • Establish a partnership with funding for qualifying program participants to attend the University of Connecticut following high school graduation

Adjunct Professor- Counseling

University Of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, CT
08.2010 - 05.2011
  • Implement different teaching styles to meet the varied needs and learning styles
  • Create lesson plans and developed instructional materials covering all required topics and learning objectives
  • Integrate multimedia technology in classroom instruction for well-rounded and engaging approach to instruction
  • Incorporate higher-level learning and assisted the students to practice practical counseling and conflict resolution techniques

Education

Doctor of Education in Leadership For Educational Equity - Education

University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, CO
08.2021 - Current

Master of Science - Community Counseling

University of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, CT

Bachelor of Arts - Communication Arts

Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY

Skills

  • Bias Intervention
  • Program Design
  • Advocacy & Allyship
  • Pre & Post Assessments
  • Identity Development
  • SHRM Search Committee Practices

CONFERENCES, PRESENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS & PUBLICATIONS (PARTIAL LIST)

Conference Committees

  • Penn State Career Development Professionals' Conference; Breakout Sessions & Virtual Engagement Planning Committee (May 2020)
  • World Campus Student Leadership Conference Education Committee; Organizing Keynote & Breakout Sessions Chair (Oct 2019; Oct 2020)
  • NACE Conference Panel Planning Committee organizing facilitator, panelists, topic and questions: "Advancing Diversity & Inclusion at Your Institution" (May 2019)

Conference-Presenter

  • The Pennsylvania State University Summer Leadership Conference, "Assisting Students Who Choose to
    Disclose - A Leadership Model" (July 2018)
  • National Career Development Association (NCDA), "Integrating Social-Cultural and Career Theories to Conceptualize Marginalized Groups' Careers" (June 2018)
  • National Career Development Association (NCDA), "Yikes! Adult Learners and Technology: Addressing Clinician and Client Anxiety" (June 2018)
  • Hendrick Best Practices Adult Learners Conference, "Reimagining Internships: A Virtual Perspective" (May 2018)
  • First Year Experience Conference, "Bridges: Creating Avenues of Collaboration" (Feb 2017)

Workshops-Organizer/Facilitator

  • Leadership Through Social Justice: A Workplace Lens (July 2020)
  • Racial Injustice Roundtable Discussion (July 2020)
  • Building Your Civilian Resume After Military Service (Feb 2019)
  • Positioning for Career Advancement (June 2017, 2018)
  • Suicide Prevention: Identifying Warning Signs (Sept 2012, Sept 2013, Sept 2014)
  • Understanding Bias in the Classroom (March 2014, March 2015)
  • Conflict Resolution: Effective Defusing Strategies (Oct 2014, Sept 2015)

University Wide Virtual-Events Organizer/Chatter

  • Pride Month Keynote: Chella Man- An LGBTQA, Transgender, Deaf Activist (Apr 2020)
  • Best Practices for Online Learners Training featuring autism expert and Yale professor Jane Brown (Apr 2018)
  • Disability in the Workplace: An Employment Perspectives with President Obama's Advisor, Taryn Williams (Oct 2016)

Publications

  • "That's Not What I Meant: Addressing Unintentional Bias", NACE web; Jan 2020. https://community.naceweb.org/blogs/karen-armstrong1/2020/01/07/thats-not-what-i-meant-addressing-unintentional-bi.
  • "What Exactly is Diversity, Equity and Inclusion"; NACE web, June 2019. https://community.naceweb.org/blogs/karen-armstrong1/2019/06/25/what-exactly-is-diversity-equity-and-inclusion.
  • "Addressing Practitioner Anxiety as it Relates to Technology". Career Convergence, May 2019. https://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sd/news_article/229409/_PARENT/CC_layout_details/false.
  • "Silos to Bridges: Creating Avenues for Collaboration". The National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development. Paper Number 8 (Oct 2017). https://www.nisod.org/archive_files/nisod-papers/The%20NISOD%20Papers-October2017.4.pdf.

Timeline

Doctor of Education in Leadership For Educational Equity - Education

University of Colorado Denver
08.2021 - Current

Director of Inclusion, Equity, & Diversity

The Pennsylvania State University
02.2016 - Current

Counselor Coordinator, Downtown Campus

Florida State College @ Jacksonville
02.2012 - 08.2015

Adjunct Professor- Counseling

University Of Bridgeport
08.2010 - 05.2011

Teen Parent Program Coordinator

Stamford Public Schools
04.2001 - 05.2011

Master of Science - Community Counseling

University of Bridgeport

Bachelor of Arts - Communication Arts

Hofstra University

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Dr. Karen ArmstrongDiversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Consultant