Karen Dowling: CARE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL
Karen Dowling loves connecting people — to each other and to God’s purpose for their lives. Serving as executive vice president and chief people and culture officer at IWU, Dowling desires that every student and employee feels genuinely welcome at the university from their first day to their last. She believes it is essential to be intentional in all areas of care and works proactively to support the holistic well-being of every individual in the IWU community.
This devotion to people defines her work. From first-generation and lower-income students to students of color and children of missionaries, Dowling is passionate about ensuring that each person feels a sense of belonging while receiving the support they need to overcome challenges throughout their college experience. Spanish-language tours, multilingual signage, dedicated multicultural worship experiences, and more have emerged through Dowling’s efforts — initiatives designed to help every member of the IWU community feel seen and supported.
DOWLING IS PASSIONATE ABOUT ENSURING THAT EACH PERSON FEELS A SENSE OF BELONGING
Even on graduation day, Dowling remains committed to personal care. She often reads hundreds of names aloud during commencement, making every effort to ensure that each student hears their name pronounced correctly when they walk across the stage.
For employees, Dowling is currently developing new structures for ongoing professional development, intentional mentorship, and community connection. Through her work in the Office of People and Culture, she strives to model biblical hospitality and cultivate an environment that strengthens the well-being of both students and employees.
Dowling’s work was celebrated this February when she was named the 2025 Distinguished Woman Leader Award recipient by the American Council on Education Women’s Network of Indiana (ACE-WIN). The award was presented at the ACE-WIN Annual Conference in Indianapolis in recognition of her contributions to Kingdom diversity at IWU and beyond.
While Dowling’s role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities and areas of impact, her commitment to caring for individual students and employees lies at the heart of everything she does.