Karen
Pugliesi is Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies at Northern Arizona
University, where she previously served as Chair of the Department
of Sociology and Social Work. Her academic background is in sociology
and she has experiences with both quantitative and qualitative research
methodologies. Her disciplinary research includes studies of the
impact of stress, work conditions, and familial care giving on health
and well-being, social support, and gender and mental health. In
her current position, she is responsible for promoting the quality
of undergraduate education and student learning, including general
education, the freshman year experience, academic advising, class
linked academic support, and university-wide instructional planning.
She also oversees the University Honors Program, First Year Seminar,
Grand Canyon Semester, and Interdisciplinary Studies.
She serves as Northern Arizona University’s coordinator of institutional accreditation, and orchestrates academic program review and specialized program accreditation. She advances assessment of student learning throughout the university, oversees the Office of Academic Assessment, and oversees the e-Learning Center, which promotes the use of technology for student learning and the design of electronic and blended learning environments. She collaborates with leadership across the university in efforts to improve retention and graduation. She led Northern Arizona University’s self-study and other preparations for its comprehensive review in 2007 with the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association and serves as a consultant-evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission.