About Karen flood, PHD
Karen's deep experience as an academic dean, resident dean, academic advisor, and college instructor, combined with her training as a higher education coach, sets her apart.
Karen was at Harvard University for 30 years, serving as Associate Dean of the Harvard Summer School, a Resident Dean in Harvard College, Interim Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Women, Gender, and Sexuality program, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies for the History and Literature program, and Lecturer.
Karen has extensive knowledge of what it takes to be successful in undergraduate courses, having overseen the curriculum of the Harvard Summer School for a decade, taught numerous courses in Harvard College, and advised hundreds of students throughout their college journeys. Because of this knowledge, Karen is able to coach students on how to balance the demands of their course load and how to set priorities and meet deadlines.
As a Resident Dean Karen supported students making decisions about dropping or withdrawing from courses, declaring a major, applying for fellowships, studying abroad, or taking leaves of absence. She also worked closely with students experiencing academic or personal difficulty, connecting them to the various resources on campus and mentoring them through this stressful period. Karen was on the Board of Freshman Advisers for nine years, so has a special understanding of the challenges of transitioning to college.
Karen taught courses at Harvard in American history and literature, women and gender studies, and history of science. She also advised numerous senior theses. She received several certificates of distinction in teaching, and she received the Jan Thaddeus Teaching Prize in History and Literature.
Her Ph.D. is in American Studies from Harvard, and she received her BA degree from Yale College, where she graduated summa cum laude. Prior to graduate school, Karen was a high school English and History teacher in Seattle, Washington.
Having grown up on Riverside Drive in New York City, Karen now lives in Cambridge, MA with her family. Outside of work she enjoys hiking, running, writing, and reading novels.
Karen has completed the Coach Practitioner training program offered by the UCF Higher Education Coaching Academy, as well as Beacon College’s Certificate for Coaching Adolescents with Learning and Attention Issues.