Areas of Research

• Team-based work systems
• Merit pay and performance appraisal
• HIV/AIDs impact on employment

Classes Taught
MGMT 4510 – Human Resource Management
MGMT 3000 – Principles of Management/Organizational Behavior
MGMT 4010 – Organizational Behavior
MGMT 4560 – Staffing and Planning
MGMT 5010 – Essentials of Management

Brief Biography
Ph.D. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, R.B. Pamplin College of Business, Department of Management, 1999
M.S. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, R.B. Pamplin College of Business, Department of Management, 1993
B.S. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1987

Karen is currently serving as the Assistant Dean for Assurance of Learning and Assessment for the College of Business and Technology at East Tennessee State University. She coordinates the assessment of student learning outcomes across seven diverse departments (i.e., Accountancy; Geography, Economics, Finance, and Urban Studies; Management and Marketing; Computer and Information Sciences; Family and Consumer Sciences; Military Science; and Technology) and multiple accrediting bodies (i.e., SACS, AACSB, ABET, CADE, and AAFCS). She has given multiple presentations on assurance of learning and assessment-related topics and has helped many schools build and refine their assessment systems.

Karen is advisor to ETSU's chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management, recognized in 1998 as the best chapter in the nation. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Northeast Tennessee Professional Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management and is the founder and coordinator of the annual HR Expo professional conference. In 1999, she received the University's first Jan Phillips Mentoring Award in recognition of her efforts on behalf of ETSU's students and is a five-time nominee for the College's Teaching Award.

Karen is a facilitator and trainer for the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) having co-authored materials for its Applied Assessment Seminar. She has helped many colleges and universities develop and refine their assessment programs. Her primary areas of research include assessment of student learning, the skills gap, team-based work systems, and shared mental models.