Karin Edwards

Dr. Karin Edwards is a native of the Bronx, New York. She holds a B.A. in psychology and a master's in education administration, both from the State University of New York at Albany. Karin also earned a Ph.D. in education from Johnson and Wales University in Providence, R.I. She has more than 30 years of experience in higher education, including working at selective four-year public and private colleges and universities. Although her experiences at these institutions were fulfilling, it is at community colleges where she found her niche.

Edwards has a record of creating and managing change, building successful teams, relationships, and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, and assessing and responding to community needs while at the same time maintaining focus on students and their success. She is a leader who understands and accepts the social justice imperative of community colleges, the imperative to expand opportunities and move beyond equal access to equitable success.

She is president of Clark College in Vancouver, Washington, serving up to 12,000 students per quarter. Clark College is Southwest Washington's largest public institution of higher education. Edwards oversees the core functions of the office of the president, including leading with racial equity, building recognizable improvement in community trust, reducing disparities in student achievement and employee retention, managing resources and agreements, and serving as the primary face of Clark College.

Although it was a significant transition from the East Coast, she enjoys the Pacific Northwest. She appreciates the majestic mountains and mighty rivers, and she has grown fond of hiking, spending time on the coast, and exploring the great outdoors. She enjoys spending time with her husband, two adult children, and three lovely granddaughters.