Karen Warren '90 returned to her alma mater in July 2026 from Wesleyan University, where she served as the associate vice president for information technology and deputy CIO. A graduate who earned her degree in English with cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa honors, Karen possesses a deep understanding of the liberal arts environment and a personal commitment to our mission, as well as a deep love for the campus and Williston Memorial Library in particular.
Her more than three decades of experience include significant achievements in strategic infrastructure and enterprise-wide initiatives. At Wesleyan, Karen provided critical leadership for the university’s Workday implementation and spearheaded the adoption of AVoIP technologies for learning spaces. She is a forward-thinking leader in emerging technology, having facilitated cabinet-level discussions on the impact of artificial intelligence in higher education.
Karen’s career is also defined by her commitment to inclusive leadership and community service. During her 15-year tenure at the American School for the Deaf, she served as IT director and became fully conversational in American Sign Language. Her professional expertise is recognized nationally through her service on the Board of Directors for EDUCAUSE, her previous role as chair of the board for the Northeast Regional Computing Program (NERCOMP), and her receipt of the Outstanding Leadership Award from the Connecticut Education Network. In April, Karen was awarded the Mark Berman Community Leadership Award at the NERCOMP annual conference. Her ability to bridge technical solutions with institutional needs makes her an ideal leader to guide our Library, Information and Technology Services (LITS) team into its next chapter.