Kara Van Dam

Vice President and Chief Executive, Omni at Grand Valley State University

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States

About

Named by the Center for Digital Education as one of Top 30 Technologists, Transformers and Trailblazers of 2016, I am a leader in leveraging design and technology to transform adult education. With 20 years of experience in academic affairs, faculty affairs, partnership-building, curricular and program design, and quantitative data-driven assessment, I have led enterprise-wide initiatives at adult-serving universities to harness the power of experiential, stackable, and competency-based learning to achieve student success. I am a leader skilled in strategic planning, process improvement, change management, and team-building towards a common vision and mission. In my experience as an institutional liaison to the faculty, I am a relationship-builder who has earned the respect of the faculty through being a skilled listener, communicator, facilitator, and mediator across all areas of faculty affairs from policies to processes to governance and the resolution of complaints.

Experience

  • Grand Valley State University (Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States)
    • Vice President and Chief Executive, Omni at Grand Valley State University
      Feb 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 5 mos

    • Vice Provost, Graduate and Lifetime Learning
      Feb 2021 - Feb 2024 · 3 yrs 1 mo

  • University of Maryland Global Campus (6 yrs 11 mos)
    • Vice President and Dean, School of Arts & Sciences at University of Maryland Global Campus
      Jan 2020 - Feb 2021 · 1 yr 2 mos

    • Vice Provost, Overseas Academic Affairs, and Dean of the Undergraduate School
      Jul 2017 - Jan 2020 · 2 yrs 7 mos

      Ensure that the undergraduate school and overseas academic affairs - faculty, staff and students - are supported in rich learning environments, and that the more than 30 bachelor's degrees and undergraduate certificates, as well as overseas graduate and partnership offerings, help students develop as competent and confident people and professionals.

    • Vice Provost, Learner & Faculty Experience
      Aug 2014 - Jul 2017 · 3 yrs

      Lead the Faculty Development, Learning Design & Solutions, the Library, and the academic technology experience teams to create an integrated approach towards designing optimum learning experiences for our students. and developing and recognizing our faculty across their entire life cycle with us.

  • Vice Provost, Academic Affairs at Kaplan University
    Jun 2011 - Mar 2014 · 2 yrs 10 mos

    Support and improve governance and administrative policies and procedures; facilitate strategic B2B, B2C, and military partnerships; improve and expand online faculty development opportunities; conduct budgetary oversight and planning for the School of General Education, the Center for Teaching & Learning, Faculty Operations, the KU Library, and the Curriculum Division.

  • Kaplan University (6 yrs 2 mos)
    • Dean, School of General Education
      Dec 2008 - Sep 2011 · 2 yrs 10 mos

      Ensure a rigorous yet engaging online General Education Program. Accomplishments include significant improvements in student retention, student learning, and faculty satisfaction; and the development of a fully online annual General Education Conference (1000+ attendees).

    • Assistant Dean of Faculty
      Aug 2005 - Dec 2008 · 3 yrs 5 mos