Interim Associate Dean Karen R. Young Retires

After 17 years working at NC State, Interim Associate Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs Karen R. Young is retiring, effective July 1.

Young has held multiple positions in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Prior to her current role, she served as assistant dean for academic affairs and director of undergraduate programs since 2010. Earlier, she worked as a teaching assistant professor of psychology and as coordinator of advising for the Department of Psychology. Additionally, she is an author, lecturer, presenter and member of the dean’s executive leadership team.

“Throughout her service to the university, Karen has been steady in her commitment to our students,” said Deanna Dannels, dean of the college. “She is a consummate professional, a champion for student success and a skilled mentor for students in distress. She has an incredible ability to meet students where they are and help them see a pathway forward, even if that pathway looks different than they thought. She has touched the lives of countless in our NC State community and our college is better because of her longstanding work here.”

During her time as assistant dean, Young has:

• Developed and enacted many new processes within the college, including the Provost’s Professional Experience Program and Moodle self-registration training for new students.
• Collaborated effectively with a variety of units across campus, particularly those in Enrollment Management and Services and the Division of Academic and Student Affairs.
• Served as a strong campus partner during process and policy transitions at the university level.
• Provided invaluable feedback to numerous departments, including the Office of Undergraduate Courses, Curricula and Academic Standards, when they implement new systems.

Young has also been recognized at the college, university and national levels for her excellence in advising administration. For example, she received the National Academic Advising Association’s Outstanding Advising Administrator Certificate of Merit and NC State’s Academic Advising Administrator Award.

In her scholarship, Young authored articles for such publications as Innovative Higher Education, Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education and Research in Higher Education. Her research interests focus broadly on student success, but she has a particular interest in the impact of student and faculty feedback on student success in higher education. 

Young is an NC State alum, having earned master’s and doctoral degrees in psychology from NC State. After graduating, she served as an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Alabama in Huntsville before returning to work in NC State’s psychology department. 

“Since joining the campus community as a graduate student 25 years ago, I have been inspired by the talent and commitment of the people who work here at NC State,” Young said. “I am so very thankful to have had the opportunity to engage with so many amazing employees and students during my time here. I, like so many at NC State, have come to work every day with the hope of helping at least one person each day, and it has been an honor and privilege to be able to provide support and assistance to a wide variety of people over the years.”  

The college has launched a search for its next assistant dean for undergraduate programs and will make an announcement when the process is complete.