Karen Pollack PhD's Blog

Karen Pollack PhD administrative and leadership roles at Penn State have varied starting as an intern in the Office of Public Information as an undergraduate in 1987 to my current role as assistant vice provost for online undergraduate and blended programs for the World Campus. In this role, she also serves as project director for the Blended Learning Initiative. She has had the good fortune to be involved in the planning and implementation of the World Campus as one of the first two program managers hired. From 41 enrollments in four programs in 1998 to more than 50,000 enrollments in 90 programs today, it has been a tremendous learning experience.

As project director for the Blended Learning Initiative she has been responsible for managing a $2.1 million budget and providing leadership in the selection, development, and delivery of 30 courses. These courses are being developed both in on-line and hybrid (part on-line, part face-to-face) delivery modes. The goal of the project is to introduce more flexible delivery options and increase instructional effectiveness for students at all Penn State locations.

Karen has participated in the strategic planning process in both Business and Operations and in Outreach. She has been particularly committed to groups and causes that support adult learners.

As a program manager it was my responsibility to lead the planning and development of the first undergraduate and graduate degrees that were offered on the World Campus. Through these experiences, she has gained a fundamental understanding of the undergraduate and graduate curricular affairs processes in addition to some valuable insights and perspectives on the factors that contribute to successful learning experiences in on-line or technology-enhanced learning environments.