Karen McFadden

Karen McFadden is the inaugural Associate Dean of Academic Services & Innovation at Columbia University's School of Professional Studies (SPS). In this role, she leads a centralized academic services unit comprising over 50 full-time staff across key areas including academic operations, curriculum and instruction, online support and academic technology, faculty assessment and development, faculty affairs, faculty recruitment, and instructional support. Her collaborative, solutions-oriented leadership has been pivotal in fostering innovation, scaling value-added services, and enhancing operational excellence to support SPS’s diverse portfolio of programs, including 18 graduate degrees, Columbia Pre-College programs, Columbia Summer Sessions, and an extensive range of non-degree offerings.

Karen’s career at SPS has been marked by a series of diverse roles that have allowed her to build rich relationships through the school and the larger university. As Director of Academic Innovation, she led the development of new program initiatives that aligned academic strategies with institutional goals. She also served as Deputy Director of Career Services for the Applied Analytics program and was the school’s first Director of Faculty Recruitment, shaping policies and practices to attract and support a world-class faculty of scholar practitioners.

Before joining Columbia, Karen gained significant experience in corporate roles and as the founder of a boutique executive recruiting firm. These experiences honed her ability to lead teams, develop strategy, manage complex change initiatives, and drive innovation across products, platforms, and processes.

Karen is a proud Columbia University alumna, with a Master of Science degree in Applied Physiology and Nutrition. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania.