Boston Promoted to Senior Assistant Dean for Student Success and Chief Student Officer

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Karen Boston

Karen Boston, who has been serving as assistant dean for student success at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, has been promoted to senior assistant dean for student success and chief student officer.

Boston has served in a variety of leadership roles over many different aspects of student achievement and success since joining the Walton College in 1996, including overseeing the college's Undergraduate Programs Office. In that capacity, Boston guided all aspects of recruitment, new student orientation, Walton's first-year student experience, advising, schedule of classes and graduation. She also has overseen curriculum management and many other aspects of the student experience at Walton College.

"Dr. Boston has always been an advocate for Walton College students, dedicated to their success both in the classroom and in their careers as they head out into the business world," said Matt Waller, Walton College dean and Sam M. Walton Leadership Chair in Business. "This promotion to senior assistant dean for student success and chief student officer is well deserved by her, and we are excited that she has agreed to take on this expanded role."

As senior assistant dean for student success and chief student officer Boston will be responsible for creating and leading a comprehensive approach to the student experience with a focus on student engagement, retention and success. She will be instrumental in making sure Walton College students complete degrees and enjoy successful career outcomes.

"There are few people in the Walton College who have the institutional memory and depth of knowledge that Dr. Karen Boston has," said Anne O'Leary-Kelly, senior associate dean and the William R. & Cacilia Howard Chair in Management in the Walton College. "She built her career in Walton, has demonstrated her ability to create programs and teams, and she is now leading innovations in mission critical areas like career readiness and student success. We are so pleased to make visible Karen's many contributions through this promotion."

Boston also will be responsible for providing leadership and strategic vision for Walton Career Services, Business Communication Lab, Student Success Office, Community College Articulation Agreements and Partnerships, Online Programming and Strategy and International Curricular and Global Engagement Initiatives.

Her new position provides leadership, vision and strategies related to the Walton student experience by:

• Working collaboratively with the university and other Walton College departments and units to maximize student success
• Identifying opportunities for student success integration among and between units both inside and outside the Walton College

Boston earned bachelor of science, master of education and doctor of education degrees, all from the University of Arkansas. Her M.Ed. and Ed.D. degrees are in higher education administration.