Karen Pugliesi

Dr. Karen Pugliesi has served as VP & Provost since June 2021. She is Professor of Sociology and has served in a variety of leadership positions at NAU for over 20 years. As NAU’s provost Pugliesi has strengthened collaboration within the division of Academic Affairs and worked closely with the university’s deans and faculty to align priorities and investments with the NAU 2025 – Elevating Excellence roadmap. She has led collective efforts centered on enhancing the learning experience and ensuring graduates of NAU’s degree programs achieve outcomes that propel careers and the engagement of NAU alumni as leaders in professions and communities. Pugliesi and the university’s leadership team of vice provosts and deans have pursued several initiatives supporting NAU’s strategic plan. These include NAU Health, an ambitious initiative to grow health professions, behavioral health, and nursing programs to increase access to quality health care in Arizona’s underserved communities. NAU will move into preparation of primary care providers with a distinctive medical school in the planning phase. 100% Career Ready, which will ensure that NAU’s baccalaureate and master’s programs prepare students and support them for strong initial placement and advancement in likely career paths. Faculty recruitment strategies that have been adapted to increase success in recruiting talented teachers and scholars who will contribute to advancing the university’s mission and goals. A restructuring and renewed focus on NAU Online and academic pathways with community colleges statewide that offer programs responsive to Arizona’s dynamic economy, which together are increasing access to NAU’s programs across the state and beyond. And a systemic commitment to student success through an all-hands approach led by the college deans to shaping program portfolios, reduce curricular complexity, and promote evidence based, inclusive course design and inclusive pedagogy to drive student academic momentum. Pugliesi previously served as Dean of the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Dean of University College, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies, and Chair of the Department of Sociology & Social Work during her tenure at NAU. Her research has focused on the impact of chronic stressors linked to social roles, work conditions, and familial caregiving on well-being; social support networks; emotion management in the workplace; and the links between social conditions, stress, and medicalization of emotional experiences.