Karen Thomas
Position title: Associate Director of Academic Affairs Initiatives
Email: karen.thomas@wisc.edu
As the Associate Director of Academic Affairs Initiatives, Karen leads and coordinates cross-campus efforts to support the academic advising community. She also provides holistic advising and career services to students in the UW-Madison Online undergraduate degree program.
Karen has enjoyed working in various roles at UW-Madison since 2009. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Human Resources from UW-Whitewater and a master’s degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education Administration from UW-La Crosse. As a first-generation college student and a transfer student, Karen is passionate about helping students navigate transitions as they pursue their education.
Outside of her campus responsibilities, Karen enjoys spending time with her family, tackling DIY projects, and keeping up with the latest interior design trends.