Karen D. Kimmel, Ph.D. Biography
Karen joined the faculty of the Federal Executive Institute in September of 2008, after teaching for five years as a civilian at the Leadership Development Center, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut. She has honed her leadership skills through careers in the military, higher-education, and the private sector.
During her 25-year military adventure, Karen served in California, Hawaii, Illinois, Texas, Washington, DC, and the Republic of Korea. She holds diplomas from Air War College, Air Command and Staff College, and Squadron Officer School. She served on two medical Institutional Review Boards, one of which was responsible for approving the judicious use of human subjects for high-risk research of critical importance to national security. Karen earned the U.S. Air Force Flight Safely Award for over 2,500 flight hours in a variety of fixed and rotary-winged aircraft. Her final military assignment was as a department chair at the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
After her retirement, Karen served as a department chair at St. Philip’s College, San Antonio, Texas. She also consulted for government prime contractors in the field of education and training, medical response to weapons of mass destruction, and the provision of health care at altitude.
Karen earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Texas A&M University; a Master of Science degree from St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri; and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, North Carolina. She has received honors for her work from the Aerospace Medical Association, the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, the Freedom’s Foundation at Valley Forge, the Air National Guard Bureau, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the Business and Professional Women’s Association.
Karen’s professional interests include executive coaching and organizational performance, and her current field of inquiry is the application of research from the fields of Positive Psychology, Mindfulness, and Neuroscience to improve leadership skills.