Dr. Karen Whitney is a Senior Consultant and Member at ZRG The Registry, a division of ZRG’s Education, Nonprofit, and Social Impact practice. She brings extensive experience in higher education leadership, interim executive service, organizational development, student life, and leadership advising.

Karen has had a long association with ZRG The Registry, first as a client who appointed interim senior administrators and later as an interim leader, senior consultant, and principal for interim placements.

Her career includes service as President of Clarion University and Interim Chancellor for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. She has also held leadership roles as Vice Chancellor for Student Life and Clinical Associate Professor of Education at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, along with earlier roles at the University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of Houston.  

Karen’s work today focuses on helping higher education leaders, executives, and board members succeed through advising, coaching, facilitation, training, and leadership development. She is also a nationally recognized writer, speaker, consultant, and advisor on organizational and leadership development.

Karen earned her BA and MA from the University of Houston and her PhD in higher education administration from the University of Texas at Austin.

‍