Montgomery County Community College

Biography

Dr. Karen A. Stout has served as President of Montgomery County Community College, a multi-campus college in suburban Philadelphia since 2001. Under her leadership, the College is recognized nationally for its work in student success as an Achieving the Dream Leader College. The College is also consecutively ranked among top community colleges in the country for its use of technology by the Center for Digital Education. Additionally, the College has been named to the President’s National Honor Roll for Community Service for five consecutive years, has been designated as a Military Friendly institution by G.I. Jobs for four consecutive years, and has earned national recognition from Second Nature for its work in climate leadership.

Dr. Stout is active in national and local organizations. She serves as Chair of the President’s Advisory Board to the Community College Research Center (CCRC) at Columbia University Teacher’s College, is a member of the American Association of Community Colleges Board of Directors, and is a Commissioner with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. At the local level, Dr. Stout is Chair of the CreativeMontco cultural planning initiative and is a member of the Montgomery County Workforce Development Board and the board of the Montgomery County Economic Development Council. From 2005-2007, she served as President of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges.

Dr. Stout holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Delaware, a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Baltimore and a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Delaware. She was named to the University of Delaware’s Alumni Wall of Fame in 2005 for her outstanding professional and public service achievements. In 2006 she earned President of the Year honors from the American Student Association of Community Colleges.