Karen Pennell, Member
Current Term: 2008-2011
Pennell is the Assistant Vice President and Regional Manager of the Southwest Region at ACT, Inc. Pennell provides the leadership for planning, managing, and evaluating the delivery of ACT's assessment and business services within a five-state region (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas). Pennell works with K-12 education, colleges and universities, business and industry representatives, community leaders, state agencies and coordinating boards, and legislative committees on student assessment, workforce and economic development, recruitment and retention issues.
Prior to assuming her present responsibilities as Assistant Vice President and Regional Manager, Pennell served as Director for Postsecondary Assessment and Business Services, Program Associate to the ACT National Office in Student Financial Aid Services, and Director Financial Aid Services of the ACT Southwest Region. Prior to joining ACT in 1984, Pennell held the position of Director of Financial Aid at Rose State College in Midwest City, Oklahoma and Assistant Director of Financial Aid at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. Pennell has also held positions at the Illinois State Scholarship Commission and started her career as an Admissions Counselor at the University of Illinois, Chicago.
Pennell has a M.Ed. in College Student Personnel Administration from Indiana University and a B.S. in Education from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She has also taken extensive coursework (ABD) at the University of Texas towards her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration.