KAREN ARMSTRONG, EdD
Mount Juliet,TN
Summary
Dynamic executive leader with a proven ability to drive strategic advancements through innovative administration and collaborative leadership. Demonstrated expertise in fostering community relationships and enhancing workforce programs, economic development initiatives, and partnerships. Skilled in leveraging data-driven insights to aptly serve traditional, non-traditional, and dual enrollment students while promoting inclusive values. Active involvement in community boards and university partnerships reflects a commitment to improving educational outcomes and strengthening community connections through impactful program development.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Inclusion, Equity, & Diversity
THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
Mount Juliet, TN
03.2020 - Current
- Demonstrated expertise in college and academic administration, emphasizing community partnerships.
- Nearly a decade of progressive supervisory and leadership experience, with 5 years of demonstrated success in driving strategic initiatives and fostering institutional growth across both community college and university environments.
- Collaborated with the Vice Provost of Online Education to integrate principles of dignity and belonging into course content across various departments, including Academic Advising, Student Disability Services, Academic Development Services, Student Affairs, Learning Design and Faculty Development, Program Planning and Management, and Continuing Education at Penn State University Park.
- Deeply committed to advancing the mission and strategic objectives of higher education institutions, with extensive experience at both the community college and university levels.
- Proven track record of fostering student success, promoting academic excellence, and driving meaningful community engagement.
- Expertise in engaging with diverse populations, leveraging an evidence-based approach to promote dignity, belonging, and cultural sensitivity, while upholding the highest standards of confidentiality and discretion in all professional interactions.
- Coordinated outreach initiatives, collaborating with municipalities, government officials, nonprofits, business leaders, and community members statewide.
- Led initiatives promoting dignity and belonging for Penn State's online campus, positively impacting 20,000 students and 650 employees.
- Collaborated with the Development Department to improve fundraising approaches for supporting outreach initiatives.
- Broadened the university's donor base.
- Developed key performance indicators to track the success of initiatives.
- Designed comprehensive training programs and online modules alongside Human Resources for a workforce exceeding 45,000.
- Collaborated with faculty to identify and prioritize educational equity initiatives.
- Implemented strategic initiatives to boost institutional outreach and expand the university's networks.
- Accomplished strategic supervisor and collaborator with a demonstrated ability to drive high-performance teams and cultivate cross-functional partnerships, consistently advancing organizational goals and initiatives.
- Proficient in utilizing advanced higher education technologies, including Brightspace, Canvas, Concur, Microsoft Office Suite, Taguette, and Nuventive, to streamline operations, enhance learning experiences, and support data-driven decision-making.
- Orchestrated tailored employee programs to align with the organizational DEIB philosophy, strategies, goals, and talent development for equitable growth opportunities.
- Led a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Council, driving initiatives to enhance DEI-focused professional development, and promote employee engagement through strategic, impactful solidarity actions that cultivate a more inclusive organizational culture.
- Editor-in-Chief, Cases on Leadership for Equity and Justice in Higher Education. Led the editorial direction of an open-access academic journal focused on advancing scholarly discourse on equity, leadership, and justice within higher education.
- Served as a public spokesperson at industry events or conferences.
Career Counselor
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
University Park, PA
02.2016 - 03.2020
- Developed and nurtured strategic relationships with key industry contacts and recruiters to enhance student career outcomes and cultural competency, ensuring successful preparation for internships, externships, and employment opportunities.
- Collaborated with recruiters to promote awareness of reasonable accommodations and foster workplace inclusion, ensuring equitable opportunities for diverse candidates, and enhancing organizational accessibility practices.
- Served on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee for the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), contributing to the development of high-quality research, content, and programming that addressed critical needs within the field, while enhancing member value and engagement.
- Led nationwide dissemination of career development insights through strategic presentations and publications, effectively reaching a diverse audience of faculty, staff, students, and community members, and significantly enhancing career preparedness across multiple demographics.
- Conducted comprehensive assessments of students' skills, interests, abilities, values, and personality traits to develop personalized job search strategies, resulting in improved outcomes, and successful career placements.
Social Justice Adjunct Professor
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY
Mount Juliet, TN
02.2024 - Current
- Developed and implemented inclusive curriculum designs that integrated key principles of social justice, fostering an equitable learning environment, and promoting critical thinking on societal issues.
- Mentored students in the development of research skills and critical thinking abilities, fostering academic growth, and enhancing their capacity for independent inquiry and problem-solving.
- Designed and delivered an engaging and inclusive course curriculum, ensuring alignment with academic objectives, and fostering an interactive, student-centered learning environment.
- Led dynamic classroom discussions and delivered impactful lectures, fostering an interactive learning environment that encouraged critical thinking and student engagement.
- Provided constructive feedback on student work, offering detailed insights to enhance understanding, improve performance, and foster continuous academic growth.
- Adapted teaching strategies to address diverse student needs, utilizing differentiated instruction, and inclusive practices to ensure equitable learning outcomes for all students.
Board Member
DIGNITY BEYOND BORDERS
Boston, MA
12.2023 - Current
- Contributed to the strategic direction and governance of Dignity Beyond Borders, ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission to advocate for human dignity and rights on a global scale.
- Collaborated with fellow board members to develop and implement programs that promote hope and access for victims of terrorism and mass violence, enhancing the organization’s impact on domestic and international communities.
- Provided oversight and guidance on key organizational initiatives, ensuring that policies and actions aligned with the values of dignity, healing, and hope.
- Cultivated and nurtured donor relationships, securing critical financial support to expand initiatives focused on assisting victims of terrorism and displaced families, enhancing the organization's capacity to deliver impactful humanitarian aid.
- Monitored and evaluated organizational performance through consistent assessments, providing strategic recommendations to enhance program efficacy, outreach, and long-term sustainability, ensuring measurable impact.
Counselor Coordinator
FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE AT JACKSONVILLE
Jacksonville, FL
02.2012 - 08.2015
- Provided campus oversight by collaborating with key stakeholders, ensuring seamless coordination between multiple departments, students, faculty, advisors, and staff, to promote a positive academic environment.
- Cultivated and maintained donor relationships, securing funding and resources to support student initiatives, and enhance academic programming, thereby strengthening institutional partnerships.
- Partnered with Academic Affairs to align academic strategies with student success initiatives, contributing to curriculum development, faculty support, and academic policy implementation.
- Led crisis intervention efforts by offering immediate support and guidance to students facing personal or academic challenges, ensuring timely resolution and access to campus resources.
- Mediated conflicts among students, faculty, and advisors, utilizing conflict resolution techniques to foster constructive dialogue, and ensure positive outcomes for all parties involved.
Adjunct Professor- Counseling Special Populations
UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT
Bridgeport, CT
01.2010 - 06.2011
- Instructed and facilitated courses on counseling strategies, equipping students with practical tools and theoretical frameworks to effectively support individuals facing mental health, and emotional challenges.
- Designed and delivered a curriculum focused on evidence-based counseling techniques, fostering the development of strong interpersonal and therapeutic skills among future counselors.
- Provided mentorship and guidance to students in the application of counseling theories and strategies, encouraging critical thinking, and ethical practice in multiple clinical settings.
- Led interactive workshops and case study discussions, helping students refine their counseling skills through real-world scenarios and reflective practice.
- Evaluated student progress and provided constructive feedback, ensuring mastery of counseling approaches, while promoting professional growth and competency in clinical practice.
Teen Parent Program Coordinator
STAMFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Stamford, CT
04.2001 - 06.2011
- Managed a comprehensive program designed to support high school students aged 13-21 from under-resourced communities, fostering academic and personal growth through tailored resources and guidance.
- Developed and implemented initiatives to address and reduce explicit and implicit prejudice faced by teen parents in marginalized communities, promoting inclusion and support for at-risk youth.
- Conducted continuous program assessments, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and compliance with state grant criteria, while optimizing program outcomes.
- Established a strategic partnership between the University of Connecticut and Stamford Public Schools, securing scholarships for qualified students in the Teen Parent Program, to facilitate higher education access.
- Designed and executed targeted interventions to empower teen parents, providing them with the tools needed for academic success, personal development, and community engagement.
- Collaborated with community stakeholders, including local schools and organizations, to strengthen program impact and create sustainable pathways for student success.
- Tracked and reported program data, presenting findings to stakeholders and funders to demonstrate program effectiveness, and secure continued financial support.
Education
DOCTOR OF EDUCATION - LEADERSHIP FOR EDUCATIONAL EQUITY
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, COMASTER OF SCIENCE - COMMUNITY COUNSELING
University of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, CT, United StatesBACHELOR OF ARTS - COMMUNICATION ARTS
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY, United StatesSkills
- High-Level Administration
- University Community Outreach
- Government Relations Expertise
- Education Partnership Development
- Supervisory Skills Development
- Personnel Supervision
- Strategic Visioning
- Collaborative Academic Partnership
- Student Affairs Engagement Strategies
- Collaboration with Faculty Senate
- Performance Analysis
- Program Evaluation
- Data Analysis
- Financial Budget Management
- Fundraising Relationship Management
- Organizational Change Management
- Dignity & Belonging Consultant
- Hybrid Learning Administration
Certification
Change Management, Prosci
Publications (Partial List)
- The Road Ahead is Dignity, Hicks, D., Armstrong, K. Nanes, E., Harvard Business Review, In Progress
- We're Not Ok Black Faculty Experiences and Higher Education Strategies, Allen, A., & Stewart, J., 2022, Cambridge University Press, https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009064668
- Mental health missteps: A graduate student case study, Armstrong, K., Kotlarczyk, K. H., Morales, V., & Ramos, E., 2022, Cases on Leadership for Equity and Justice in Higher Education, 2022(4)
- That's Not What I Meant: Addressing Unintentional Bias, 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, 2019, https://community.naceweb.org/blogs/karen-armstrong1/2019/06/25/what-exactly-is-diversity-equity-and-inclusion
- Silos to Bridges: Creating Avenues for Collaboration, 2017, The National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development, 8, https://www.nisod.org/archive_files/nisod-papers/The%20NISOD%20Papers-October2017.4.pdf
Presentations (Partial List)
- Vibrant, Emotional Health Conference, "Innovation in Resilience"
- The American Association of Colleges & Universities, "Disability, Diversity, Equity, and Justice: Critiquing disability access across the continuum".
- State College Borough Public Board Meeting, "The Dignity Model: State College Borough Employee Feedback; Assessing for a dignity-based approach in the professional development of local government employees".
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical School, "Addressing Otherness in the Workplace".
- SHRM Inclusion Conference, "Fostering Inclusion and Belonging: Signature Events that Build Community".
- The Pennsylvania State University Summer Leadership Conference, "Assisting Students Who Choose to Disclose - A Leadership Model".
- National Career Development Association (NCDA), "Integrating Social-Cultural and Career Theories to Conceptualize Marginalized Groups' Careers".
- First Year Experience Conference, "Bridges: Creating Avenues of Collaboration".
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Social Justice Adjunct Professor
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY
02.2024 - Current
Board Member
DIGNITY BEYOND BORDERS
12.2023 - Current
Director of Inclusion, Equity, & Diversity
THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
03.2020 - Current
Career Counselor
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
02.2016 - 03.2020
Counselor Coordinator
FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE AT JACKSONVILLE
02.2012 - 08.2015
Adjunct Professor- Counseling Special Populations
UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT
01.2010 - 06.2011
Teen Parent Program Coordinator
STAMFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
04.2001 - 06.2011
DOCTOR OF EDUCATION - LEADERSHIP FOR EDUCATIONAL EQUITY
University of Colorado Denver
MASTER OF SCIENCE - COMMUNITY COUNSELING
University of Bridgeport
BACHELOR OF ARTS - COMMUNICATION ARTS
Hofstra University
Similar Profiles
Haris SiddiquiHaris Siddiqui
Student Worker at Penn State Cafeteria, Pennsylvania State UniversityStudent Worker at Penn State Cafeteria, Pennsylvania State University
Kaitlyn O'BrienKaitlyn O'Brien
Personal Trainer at Pennsylvania State University State CollegePersonal Trainer at Pennsylvania State University State College
Kathryn SikorskyKathryn Sikorsky
Microeconomics Grader at Pennsylvania State University State CollegeMicroeconomics Grader at Pennsylvania State University State College
Newlyn BonidieNewlyn Bonidie
IDEA Ambassador at Pennsylvania State University State CollegeIDEA Ambassador at Pennsylvania State University State College
Zander RosenbaumZander Rosenbaum
Assistant Kitchen Manager at Jb's Pour HouseAssistant Kitchen Manager at Jb's Pour House