Karen Barnes

Karen Elaine Barnes is a Canadian academic. Barnes was the founding president and holds the title of president emerita at Yukon University.

Education Barns earned her Bachelor of Arts and Professional After Degree in Education from the University of British Columbia and both her Masters (1993) and Doctorate in Education (2003) from the University of Alberta.

Career Barnes spent 17 years at NorQuest College in Edmonton, beginning in 1986, before moving to Lethbridge College in Alberta, where she served as Dean of Arts and Science from 2002 to 2008.

In 2008, Barnes was hired as a Vice-President at Yukon College. During this period she was active nationally with the Association of Canadian Community Colleges, including chairing its Calgary conference program committee and serving on national teaching and staff award juries and as faculty for its Leadership Development Institute for Deans and Directors. At Yukon College, she developed new diplomas and degree programs and was involved in establishing the college's School of Mining.