Dr. Karen Petersen
About President Petersen
Inaugurated as the 13th President of Hendrix College in 2023, Dr. Karen Petersen leads the College through a period of innovation, growth, and transformation while advancing Hendrix’s mission of preparing students for lives of accomplishment, integrity, service, and joy.
Leadership in Action
President Petersen’s leadership extends beyond the office and into the life of the College and community. Explore moments that reflect her commitment to student success, innovation, engagement, and the future of Hendrix College.
Leading Hendrix Forward
President Petersen has championed a vision of liberal arts education that preserves the strengths of a Hendrix education while expanding opportunities for students to gain experience, build confidence, and prepare for meaningful careers.
Under President Petersen’s leadership, Hendrix is connecting liberal arts learning with meaningful professional experiences that prepare students for future success.
President Petersen has led efforts to strengthen Hendrix’s long-term financial foundation through strategic planning, philanthropic investment, and responsible stewardship.
President Petersen has championed partnerships that expand student opportunity through professional co-ops, employer connections, and pathways to graduate and professional programs, helping students translate their Hendrix education into meaningful next steps.
Through civic leadership and community partnerships, President Petersen has helped create new opportunities for students while strengthening Hendrix’s connections across Conway and Central Arkansas. Her work has included support for initiatives that enhance community vitality, strengthen local partnerships, and expand opportunities for student engagement and career-connected learning.
A Vision for Higher Education
President Karen Petersen’s vision for Hendrix builds on the enduring strengths of a liberal arts education while preparing students for the opportunities and challenges of the future. Through a commitment to academic excellence, meaningful mentorship, career readiness, and innovation, she is helping shape experiences that empower every student to thrive.
Changing Lives
Having experienced firsthand how higher education can transform lives, President Petersen believes a residential liberal arts education remains one of the most powerful forces for personal and professional growth. Her vision for Hendrix is to ensure every student has access to the opportunities and support needed to achieve their potential.
Prepared for a Complex World
President Petersen believes the purpose of a liberal arts education is not to prepare students for a single career, but to equip them with the critical thinking, communication, adaptability, and problem-solving skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Her vision for Hendrix combines intellectual curiosity with practical experience, preparing graduates for success across professions and throughout their lives.
Career Readiness & the Liberal Arts
A broad liberal arts education and meaningful career preparation are not competing goals. President Petersen’s vision for Hendrix connects intellectual exploration with real-world experiences that help students graduate with clarity, confidence, and direction.
Mentorship & Community
A residential liberal arts education thrives on meaningful relationships and active engagement. President Petersen believes Hendrix College is uniquely positioned to foster close connections among students, faculty, mentors, and communities, creating opportunities for students to lead, serve, and contribute as engaged citizens.
Preserving & Innovating
The future of liberal arts education depends on honoring its enduring strengths while adapting to the needs of today’s students. At Hendrix, that means preserving the intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and personal growth that define a liberal arts education while creating innovative pathways that prepare students for the opportunities and challenges ahead.
Featured Media
The Future of Liberal Arts Education
Community Engagement
- Conway Area Chamber of Commerce Board
- Conway Business Executive of the Year
- Civic Engagement
- Entertainment District in The Village at Hendrix
Presidential Messages
Student Success and Career Readiness
- Via Hendrix
- Via Hendrix Announcement
- Higher Ed Must Evolve
- Co-ops Required for All
- Liberal Arts Evolve Via Hendrix
Higher Education Leadership
Other Resources
About President Petersen
- 13th President of Hendrix College
- Inaugurated in 2023
- Native Arkansan
- B.S., Middle Tennessee State University
- M.A., Vanderbilt University
- Ph.D., Vanderbilt University
- Favorite thing about Conway: the roundabouts
FAQs
Dr. Karen Petersen
Dr. Petersen was inaugurated as the 13th president of Hendrix College in June 2023.
Via Hendrix combines the strengths of a liberal arts education with career-connected learning. Through integrated advising, professional mentorship, and a required semester-long, full-time professional co-op experience, every student graduates with meaningful experience, clarity, confidence, and direction all in four years.
President Petersen’s priorities include expanding student opportunity, connecting liberal arts education with meaningful professional experience, strengthening community partnerships, and preserving the transformative power of a residential liberal arts education while positioning Hendrix College for long-term success and sustainability.
Through Via Hendrix, students combine a rigorous liberal arts education with integrated advising, professional mentorship, and a semester-long, full-time co-op experience. This approach helps graduates develop the knowledge, experience, and connections needed to thrive in their careers and communities.
Reach the president at president@hendrix.edu.